Creative polymer science and engineering... Supporting industry in its search for excellence
Technological initiatives
Technological initiatives from the Institute for Polymer Research (IPR) have been instrumental in the development of better polymers for wire and cable applications, polymer modifications to make heat- and oil-resistant rubber, new polymer alloys and blends, systems for recycling polyolefin containers, the computer design of extrusion screws and dies and computer modelling and control of polymerization processes.
The Institute
The Institute carries out applied and fundamental research in areas that are of vital interest to the plastics, coatings, adhesives and elastomers industries. This includes work in such diverse fields as molecular weight characterization, thermal characterization, emulsion polymerization, polymer processing, polymerization kinetics, copolymerization, reactive extrusion, polymer-based catalysts, polymer photochemistry and development of new monomers and polymers.
Member firms in the Institute receive:
- Two days of free consulting per annum by faculty members
- Advanced research results before papers are published
- Participation in Annual Symposium held in May
- Membership on the IPR Industrial Advisory Council
- Reduced rates on analytical and other research services
- Priority on contract research
Intensive short courses
IPR also provides intensive short courses in Canada, USA, South America and Europe, or in-house for members firms.
News
2025 IPR Symposium
2025 IPR Symposium ( Schedule)
Day 1 features our two Keynote Speakers Professor Megan Roberts from the University of Western Ontario, Dr. Nicolas Lanigan from Davwire and our IPR students.
Day 2 features three of the IPR academic members: Professor Tizazu, Professor Xianshe and Professor Simon.
For more information, please contact Colleen Mechler (cmechler@uwaterloo.ca) or Jean Duhamel (jduhamel@uwaterloo.ca)
Professor Boxin Zhao has been awarded the OPEA Engineering Research and Development Medal
Professor Boxin Zhao , member of the IPR, is this year's recipient of the Ontario Professional Engineering Association (OPEA) Research and Development Engineering Medal. For more details please refer to article here.
IPR Member, Tizazu Mekonnen wins Macromolecular Science and Engineering Division Early Career Award
IPR member, Professor Tizazu Mekonnen, was awarded the NOVA Chemicals sponsored Macromolecular Science and Engineering Division (MSED) Early Career Instigator Award.
This honour is bestowed upon researchers who have made substantial contributions to the polymer industry, aligning perfectly with Mekonnen's disruptive research in polymer engineering and sustainability.
Full article can be found here.
Events
Annual IPR Symposium
Day 1 features our two Keynote Speakers Professor Megan Roberts from the University of Western Ontario, Dr. Nicolas Lanigan from Davwire and our own IPR students. The Schedule for day 1 can be found here Schedule for 2025 IPR Symposium
Day 2 features three of the IPR academic members: Professor Tizazu, Professor Xianshe and Professor Simon.
For more information, please contact Colleen Mechler (cmechler@uwaterloo.ca) or Jean Duhamel (jduhamel@uwaterloo.ca)
36th North American intensive short course - Fluorescence: Principles and Applications for the Characterization of Soft Matter Program
36th North American intensive short course - Fluorscence:Principles and Applications for the Characterization of Soft Matter