Center for Education and Research on Macromolecules

Sector(s):
Institution / Head office: 
University of Liege
Summary: 

The CERM is a laboratory devoted to the preparation and the characterization of macromolecules and polymer materials with a special attention paid to their implementation in the frame of a wide range of applications. CERM has a strong expertise in the synthesis of biocompatible and biodegradable polymers and their use for various biomedical applications such as the synthesis of carriers for controlled drug release and scaffolds for tissue engineering.

Description: 

The CERM is a laboratory devoted to the preparation and the characterization of macromolecules and polymer materials with a special attention paid to their implementation in the frame of a wide range of applications. CERM has a strong expertise in the synthesis of biocompatible and biodegradable polymers and their use for various biomedical applications such as the synthesis of carriers for controlled drug release and scaffolds for tissue engineering. CERM develops a platform based on the technology related to supercritical carbon dioxide as an environmentally friendly medium. In this frame, an extractor is available which allows to prepare highly pure and biomedical grade polymers. Finally, CERM is active in various fields such as controlled polymerization, macromolecular engineering, conducting polymers, supramolecular chemistry, nanomaterials, blends and composites.



Equipment Available at the CERM:

  • Transmission Electron Microscope: Philips CM100 (+ image analysis) <?xml:namespace prefix = o />
  • Ultramicrotome (room and low temperature)
  • Optical microscope: Leitz Orthoplan 871070
  • UV Spectrometer: Hitachi U-3300
  • Infra-red spectrometer: Perkin Elmer 1600
  • Interferometric Refractometer Optilab DSP, WYATT
  • Multinuclear NMR: Bruker 400 and 250 MHz
  • Semi-preparative HPLC: Waters 2424 with ELS detector
  • GPC in water Waters 717 with RI detector
  • GPC in DMF Waters 1515 with RI and UV detectors
  • GPC in THF SFD S5200 with RI and UV detectors
  • Differential Scanning Calorimetry: TA Instrument DSC Q100
  • Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer: TA Instrument 983 
  • Thermogravimetric analysis: TA Instrument TGA 2050 coupled to a Nicolet Nexus FT-IR spectrometer and TA Instrument TGA Q500
  • Tensiometer: Krüss K10
  • Coulter Delsa-Potentiel Zeta - 440
  • Quartz crystal microbalance
  • Potentiostat/Galvanostat EG & G 263A and EG & G 273A
  • Glove boxes: Mecaplex and MBRAUN (O2, H2O < 10 ppm)
  • Low and high pressure laboratory autoclave: Parr (up to 350 bars) and Autoclave Engineers (up to 250 bars)
  • Roll-mill: Agila
  • Internal mixer: Brabender
  • 2 Molding presses: Fontijn
  • Mechanical testing machine for tensile and compression testing : Instron 5566
  • Fractoscope system
  • Rheometer: Rheometrics Scientific ARES  and TA instruments ARES G2
  • Microextruder 5CC: DSM
  • Mini injection moulding machine: DSM (izod impact specimen mould and tensile specimen mould) Pump ISCO 260D (up to 600 bars)
  • 20 Low-capacity supercritical CO2 reactors (from 12 ml up to 80 ml)
  • High-capacity supercritical reactors: 250ml, 2l, 50l (pilot plant)
  • Supercritical CO2 sapphire cell
  • Supercritical CO2 extrudor
  • Supercritical CO2 extractor (800 ml)
  • Supercritical CO2 high-pressure homogenizer
  • Cabestan pump for injection under pressure
  • Karl Fisher coulometric tester for water content : Titroline
  • Cooled centrifuge (up to 30000 rpm and 500 ml) : Sigma 3-30K

 

 

Address: 

Center for Education and Research on Macromolecules

Chemistry Institute (B6a)

University of Liège

4000 Liège (Sart-Tilman)

Belgium

Email contact form
Website: 
http://www2.ulg.ac.be/cerm/