RESEARCH
Areas of Interest
The key research areas at SGPL
stem from Prof. Reza Nofar's goal of developing novel biopolymeric systems, sustainable light weight
multifunctional structures, and new manufacturing technologies in the field of polymer science and
engineering.
In this context, Prof. Nofar has
achieved outstanding progresses in the area of advanced biopolymeric systems and their compounds. These
materials have been tackled mainly for commodity and engineering applications with energy saving and green
environment aspects as well as for biomedical applications. Prof. Nofar has also obtained significant
achievements in the field of sustainable lightweight multifunctional nanocomposites that have applications in
electrical devices, energy conversion/storage, and electromagnetic pollution control.
Microcellular Polymer Foams:
Prof. Nofar has obtained outstanding
contributions in identifying the relationship between microcellular foam processing (i.e., foam
extrusion, foam injection molding, and bead foaming) of various
thermoplastics including polylactide (PLA) and its nanocomposites and blends as well as on PLA’s
crystallization kinetics in the presence of dissolved gas/supercritical fluids.
His findings are compiled in his
first authored book, entitled “Polylactide Foams: Fundamentals, Manufacturing, and
Applications” that is published by Elsevier in 2017. The translation of his
book is also published in Chinese. Prof. Nofar has also filed a patent on the development of an innovative
technology to manufacture expanded PLA bead foams. His review article entitled “Poly (lactic acid)
foaming” is also published in the Journal of Progress in Polymer Science.
Prof. Nofar’s new research
area is to introduce foam three-dimensional (3D) printing technology as a sustainable novel
route to produced microcellular thermoplastics besides the conventional foam manufacturing technologies that are
foam extrusion, foam injection molding, and bead foaming.
Multiphase Polymer Blends:
Prof. Nofar has systematically
investigated the development of various thermoplastic based blends including that of PLA and its nanocomposites
with the incorporation of nanoclay, cellulose nanocrystals, nanosilica, and carbon nanotubes. He has focused on
identifying the rheological and morphological relationship in PLA based blends and blend nanocomposites with the
controlled selective localization of nanoparticles.
In this context, Prof. Nofar has
published his second authored book entitled “Multiphase Polylactide Blends: Towards Sustainable
and Green Environment” by Elsevier in 2021. His review article entitled
“Poly (lactic acid) blends: Processing, properties and applications”, which covers
over 700 references, has also published by Int. J. of Biological Macromolecules.
Multifunctional Polymer Nanocomposites:
Prof. Nofar has also contributed on development of light-weight and cost-effective
micro/nanocellular multifunctional conductive nanocomposites with tailored functional properties via controlling the
distribution and orientation of conductive nanoparticles through various foam morphologies. Several high impact
scientific research and review articles have been published so far.
Recycling of Thermoplastics:
Prof. Nofar
and his group at SGPL conducts research on recycling of thermoplastics including recycled polyethylene
terephthalate, recycled polyamide, waste thermoplastic polyurethane, recycled polypropylene and recycled
polyethylene to recover their properties. Various approaches are incorporated to reevaluate recycled and
waste thermoplastics including mechanical and chemical recycling, using various types of chain modifiers to
rebuild the molecular structure, blending with other plastics and development of microfibrillated structures
out of such waste and recycled materials.
Bioplastics and Biocomposites
While the major focus and expertise
of Prof. Nofar have been on polylactide or polylactic acid (PLA), its melt processing and characterization and
improving its crystallizability and melt properties and to overcome the PLA’s drawback, he has been
working on various series of bioplastic and biocompounds for various commodify and engineering applications.
These includes the foamed structures of PLA, its blends with PBAT, PBSA, PHBH, PHB, and TPU as well as its
cellulose based nanocomposites including PLA cellulose nanocrystal nanocomposites. The expertise extends towards
PBAT based and PHA based bioplastics and compounds to increase the use of renewable resources to reduce the
carbon food print and landfills with non-degradable polymers. The current aim is to tailor the durability and
degradability of the developed compounds for tailored applications.
Polymer Processing and Rheology
In all scientific activities and
research done by Prof. Nofar and his group at SGPL, the base is on polymer processing and rheological analysis
of various developed systems. In the field of Polymer Rheology, Polymer Nanocomposites, and Sustainable
Polymeric Systems, besides his scientific findings which have been published in high impact factor journals,
Prof. Nofar has also published important review articles entitled: “Rheology of poly (lactic
acid)-based systems”, “Polylactide cellulose-based
nanocomposites”, “Influence of nanoparticles and their selective localization
on the structure and properties of polylactide-based blend nanocomposites”, and
“A Review on Multifunctional Epoxy-Based Joncryl ® ADR Chain Extended
Thermoplastics”. Without the knowledge of polymer processing and rheology, none of the above
noted investigations could have been successful and further progress is ongoing based on these major bases.
Prof. Nofar’s scientific outputs are mostly presented in the international polymer processing society
(PPS) and international rheology (e.g., ICR, SOR, AERC) conferences that are annually being held.