The Disputation will be live streamed for everyone else.
The livestream will be activated 15 minutes before the Defense starts.
Trial lecture
September 5th, 10:15 AM, Auditorium 4, Chemistry building
Trial lecture title: "Green chemistry approaches to polymer processing and manufacturing"
Kreeringssammendrag/Conferral summary
Avhandlingen undersøker hvordan elastomere materialer påvirkes av eksponering for karbondioksid (CO2) under forhold som finnes i transportdelen av karbonfangst og -lagring (CCS). Studien viser hvordan materialparametere som tverrbinding og fyllstoffer påvirker CO2-opptak, plastifisering og endringer i materialenes nøkkelegenskaper. Resultatene gir viktig kunnskap for å utvikle mer pålitelige tetningsmaterialer som kan bidra til sikre og effektive CCS-systemer.
Main research findings
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is a mitigation technology aimed at reducing industrial CO2 emissions, and reliable transport infrastructure is essential for its operation. Polymers are widely used in sealing components exposed to high-pressure CO2, yet their performance under varying transport conditions has been only limitedly explored in academic studies compared to metallic materials.
This research examines how polymer composition, crosslinking, and filler content influence thermal performance, mechanical stability, CO2 uptake, and chemical integrity after exposure. The results show that increasing reinforcing filler reduces CO2 absorption and limits plasticization, while shifts in glass transition temperature caused by CO2 were largely reversible upon depressurization. Liquid CO2 showed minimal extraction of low molecular weight components, indicating limited removal of additives or uncrosslinked chains under the tested conditions. Crosslinking density supported the retention of mechanical behavior after exposure, and higher filler loadings improved resistance to damage during rapid gas decompression. The combined effect of formulation parameters and exposure conditions revealed the link between polymer compound design and CO2 transport behavior, demonstrating how material parameters govern structure–property relationships before and after CO2 exposure. Through experimental characterization across various polymer materials, the findings provide a comparative framework for selecting and optimizing polymer sealing materials for CCS applications.
Schematic overview of the carbon capture, transport, utilization, and storage (CCUS) process.
Candidate contact information
www.linkedin.com/in/anu-m-636032148
anu.muthukamatchi@kjemi.uio.no
+47 96815700
Adjudication committee
Senior Scientist Daniele Cangialosi
University of the Basque Country, Spain
Senior Scientist Gabriela Gil Alvaradejo
DYNEA, Norway
Senior Scientist Ainara Nova Flores
Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Norway
Supervisors
Professor Reidar Lund
Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Norway
Senior Scientist Ben Alcock
Sintef AS, Norway
Senior Scientist Luca Ansaloni
Sintef AS, Norway
Chair of defence
Professor Ola Nilsen
Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Norway