Sanjay Rastogi (S.)

Summary:

I hold Chair in Polymer Technology at the Loughborough University, UK and am professor in the Biomaterials program of Maastricht University, The Netherlands. I provide leadership to a group of 2 PhDs, 3 post-docs and a team of six newly appointed assistant professors. My research focuses on a basic understanding to design molecular structure for desired physical properties, and to develop optimal processing techniques in order to produce products with the required macroscopic properties. To accomplish this goal, I with my group adopt chain-of-knowledge approach combining chemistry, physics and rheological aspects of polymer science. We frequently collaborate with researchers within and outside the Netherlands and UK.

Beside my research obligations I am involved in teaching and management activities. I have been of the program co-ordinators of the Dutch Polymer Institute (www.polymers.nl DPI), a consortium representing more than 20 chemical industries around the world. I am actively involved in the nucleation of Bio-Inspired cluster within DPI.

At present,  I am seconded from Loughborough University to Teijin Aramid, Arnhem (NL) in transferring our solvent free concept for the development of high modulus high strength tapes required for body armor protection. In the company, together with the start-up of the new business under the brand name Endumax®,  I chair innovation programs for future and steer teams for bringing fundamental concepts to realization in market. For details on the industrial developments of our basic research please visit the websites www.teijinendumax.com and http://www.teijinaramid.com/innovation/open-innovation-2/

In University of Maastricht we aim to set a world leading group bridging the structure-property relationship for synthetic as well as bio-based materials. Since 1987, I have been involved in the development of several experimental tools while using the first, second and third generation synchrotron radiation sources at Daresbury (UK), DESY (Hamburg) and European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF Grenoble), respectively. Among the unique experimental tools that have been developed in-house are diamond window piston cylinder type pressure cell, stretching cells for uniaxial deformation and shear cells. For experimental studies I have made use of WAXD, SAXS techniques in the state of art facility beamlines ID11, ID02, BM26 and micro-focus beamline ID13 of ESRF. At present in my group we are synthesizing a range of deuterated samples to follow structural changes in the non-equilibrium polymer melt. Some of the highlights of the work from ESRF can be found on our three different disciplines that we executed in ESRF

(a)   Making the most of Polymers; Hydrogen bonds prove key to improved future nylons;  http://www.esrf.eu/files/Newsletter/NL50.pdf; ESRF news edition June 2009 page 9.

(b)   Scientific Highlights ESRF 2008, “Crystallization and dissolution of flow induced precursors”, Balzano, Peters, Rastogi, Fernandez-Ballester, Bras; page26-27, HL2008 http://www.esrf.eu/files/Highlights/HL2008.pdf

(c ) Scientific Highlights ESRF 2000, “Inverse melting in polymers”, http://www.esrf.eu/UsersAndScience/Publications/Highlights/2000/scmatter/SCM6.html

I am a frequent user of other advanced techniques that include solid state NMR.