Executive Summary
The Workshop was convened by an international group of leading researchers in polymer processing
to critically reexamine the field and its future development. It took place on May 10-12 2002, in
Newark New Jersey, with 45 participants from industry and academia from 10 countries.
In the last half-century classical polymer processing focused on current machinery and processes
and has contributed greatly to improving machine design and process optimization. There are, of
course, still many facets of the processes that are ill understood, and their better
understanding will surely bring about further improvements, but probably not “quantum jumps”.
Many elements that we still need to fully grasp in classical polymer processing were outlined.
Modern polymer processing, or rather future polymer processing focuses however not on the machine
but on the product. The long-range goal is to predict the properties of a product made from a yet
non-existent polymer or polymer based material, via simulation based on first molecular principles
and multiple-scale examination. This approach, using the increasing computing power and very
sophisticated simulation, might mimic nature by targeting properties via complex molecular
architectural design. However, two important key challenges have to be met successfully in order
to achieve this goal: first, very sophisticated simulations require very sophisticated molecular
models, which do not exist at present; second, a far more detailed understanding of the full and
complex thermo-mechanical history in the polymer processing machine is needed. Then, such analysis
will not only lead to new products but also will improve existing machines or even lead to
radically new machines; nevertheless the focus remains on the product. The goal is to ‘engineer’
new truly advanced materials with yet unknown combination of properties, which will open up a new
‘golden age’ for the field, reminiscent to that of the 1960s and 1970s, when most of the currently
used polymers were developed.
In view of the foregoing ambitious goals, the term “polymer processing”, “polymer engineering” or
“plastics engineering” becomes too narrow and confining, and a more accurate description of the
new emerging field ought to be “macromolecular engineering”. The new field is inherently
multi-disciplinary in nature. Progress, or frontier world-class research, in the field requires
close collaboration of many disciplines of science and engineering. Hence, the emphasis must shift
from the individual researcher to large team efforts; real progress will be only possible by
pooling substantial resources, and the allocation of the significant resources needed should be
facilitated by a new vision, planning and a comprehensive alliance between government, academia
and industry.
“Macromolecular engineering” is part of a broader scene. Its boundaries on the very fundamental
level merge with molecular biology on one hand, and the growing field of complex fluids, that grows
out of chemistry, physical chemistry, physics, and chemical engineering, on the other. And, this
in turn has profound educational implications, pointing to the possible creation of an entirely
new unified underlying discipline and basic undergraduate curriculum in Molecular, Macromolecular
and Supramolecular Engineering, leading to specialization in Chemical Molecular Engineering
(formerly chemical engineering), Macromolecular Engineering (formerly polymer processing and
engineering) and Biomacromolecular Engineering (formerly biochemical engineering or
biotechnology).
Finally, it is worthwhile to note that the backdrop and driving force that brings about this
turning point of the field is the epic fusion of science and technology into a new
undistinguishable entity, that started at the closing decades of the 20th century, giving rise to
revolutionary developments across the board in science, engineering and technology, such as
genetic engineering, semiconductors, laser technology, optoelectronics and submicron electronics,
information technology, material science, and biocatalysis.
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