The goal of the Polymer Chemistry Area is to develop fundamental studies in macromolecular chemistry (innovative reactions, chemical mechanism description…) taking into account a sustainable development approach and the constraint of specific conditions such as polymerization or chemical modification of polymers in molten state, in dispersed medium or at high temperature. Original systems such as thin layers onto substrate and organic/inorganic hybrids materials are also promoted. Our chemical skills are ranging from organic chemistry (transfer agent for RAFT polymerization, control agents for NMP polymerisation, specific monomers...) to polymer synthesis through various polymerization routes such as polycondensation (polyurethanes, polyepoxides, polyamides, polyesters...), free radical polymerizations (RAFT, NMP, ATRP...), and ring-opening polymerizations (lactides, glycolides, organocyclosiloxanes). In laboratory, specific tools such as reactors for polycondensation at very high temperature (350°C) and low to high pressure (0.5 mbars to 50 bars) or equipped extruders allow the synthesis of polymers at different scales ranging from the gram to few kilograms.

Our researches are in close relationship with those of the other poles, the role of chemists being also to support the projects of the latter’s.

The research activities of the Polymer Chemistry Area are gathered in three main axis :
 Axis I : Molecular and Macromolecular Engineering
 Axis II : Sustainable chemistry
 Axis III : Macromolecular Chemistry at Surfaces and/or Interfaces Especially, the pole has decided to focus on specific research domains dealing with dynamic reactions, supramolecular chemistry, and bio-based polymers.