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Colloquium Prof. Francesco Briatico Vangosa: High pressure dilatometry: a tool to investigate polymer transformations
High pressure dilatometry: a tool to investigate polymer transformations
The kinetics and thermodynamics of transformations are among the most widely studied topics in polymer science. Understanding and controlling these phenomena are fundamental to polymer processing and end-use performance, while also providing valuable insight into polymer structure and physics. In most cases, they are investigated by monitoring the volume or enthalpy response to temperature variations at constant rate or under isothermal conditions following a sudden temperature change. In such experiments, pressure is typically maintained at atmospheric levels. However, neglecting the effect of pressure may limit our understanding of polymer behavior, particularly when considering the structure—and the resulting properties—of materials after a real processing step. In this talk, a series of examples from my research will illustrate how investigating the effect of pressure can broaden our understanding of both the glass transition and polymer crystallization, including the possibility of controlling crystalline polymorphism.
12.11.2026