Chung Yup Kim, (Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, Korea), President Fosong Wang, (Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China), Vice President, Sung Chul Kim, (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Taejon, Korea), Secretary/ Treasurer
Members of the Council
A. Abe, H. Chan, W.H. Daly, G.A. George, C.C. Ho, K. Horie, M. Jiang, T. Lodge, Y. Lee, Dang V. Luyen, J. E. McGrath, D. Officer, T. Ogawa, E. Rizzardo, M. Sugandi-Ratulangi, D. Radic, S. Tantayanon, K.C. Tin, F. Winnik
President's Message: Chung Yul Kim
It is a great pleasure to welcome all the participants to PPC-5 at Kyungju, Korea. I am encouraged to note that the number of the participants exceed 800 and every member association has its members registered at the meeting. The presentations at the Conference cover research works on all fields of polymer science and engineering.
The Conference, as the Constitution of the Federation anticipates, becomes a plaza for all scientists and engineers in the Pacific Basin to exchange ideas and to plan collaborations between them. It is expected that new friendship will be established between the participants and exchanges of scientists and engineers will also be realized between laboratories. The activities of the PPF will promote not only a progress in academia and polymer industries in the region but mutual understanding of people, which, I hope, develops lasting peace in the region for coming years.
I like to express my gratitude toward the Council Members for their precious in preparation of the Conference. My deep appreciation goes to the Korean companies and the foreign institutes which have balanced the budget. The Conference would not be possible without strong efforts of all the members in the Organizing Committee and I like to share all the credit with them.
I hope all the participants have a good time in Korea and wish you successes in your works.
Sincerely Yours,
Chung Yup Kim President, of PPF
Professor Otto Vogl 70 Years Old
Otto Vogl was born 70 Years ago in Traiskirchen, Austria. and received his Ph.D. from the University of Vienna in 1950. In the early period of a scientific career of 50 years he worked on natural products, steroids alkaloids, purines and pyridines. Vogl pursued stereochemistry and chirality throughout his career, which also included the synthesis of the simplest pentatomic molecule: chiral fluorochlorobromomethane; it also included chiral crystallization.
In 1956 Otto Vogl began devoting his work to polymer science and technology; one year later he discovered the polymerization of higher aldehydes. For the next 40 years, Vogl worked on aldehyde polymerization, especially the polymerization of trihaloacetaldehyde, with special emphasis on choral. initiation with chiral anions or chiral counter cations produced polychloral whose optical activity is based on macromolecular asymmetry. The genesis of this polymerization was worked out by subjecting the individual chloral oligomers to rigorous single crystal x-ray analysis.
Otto Vogl also investigated polymerizable and polymer-bound stabilizers, most prominently, UV stabilizers, head to head polymers of commodity plastics, the polymerization of a-olefins and epoxides with functional groups, polycations as bile acid (cholesterol) sequestering agents and polymerization under extreme pressures. In recent years, Vogl became interested in "Polymer Science and the Arts', the restoration of "Old Masters', and Oriental Lacquers.
Vogl also made significant contributions to instrumental characterization of polymers. In 1964 he found that NMR spectroscopy could be used to describe higher order stereochemistry in polymers (pentads). He also showed that the optical activity of chiral polymers could be measured in suspension and established the derivative mode of recording TGA results of polymer degradations, he also carried out the first thermal degradation of polymer blends.
What is here described as the work of Otto Vogl is actually the work of about 100 co-workers under his supervision and cooperative efforts with over a dozen laboratories from throughout the world. Nearly 600 articles, including original scientific papers, science related publications and patents testify for his scientific achievements. Otto Vogl was also active in professional societies; he served as Chairman of the Division of Polymer Chemistry of the American Chemical Society (ACS) , and helped create the Macromolecular Secretariat of the ACS. Internationally, Vogl was very active in promoting the interaction of polymer scientists and polymer science oriented organizations in Europe and the Orient.
In 1984 Vogl began to explore the possibility of creating a Pacific Polymer Federation (PPF). Polymer science was and is one of the fastest growing disciplines of science and the Pacific Basin the fastest developing region in the world. Vogl believed and still believes that regional cooperation is the most effective way of scientific and technological interactions. Together with Takeo Saegusa (Japan) and James O'Donnell (Australia), the PPF was organized and began to function in 1987; PPF was soon joined by the Korean polymer community. The PPF has now, after 10 years of operation, 16 member organizations from the Pacific region.
Otto Vogl was and is also very involved in scientific publication. He is or was on the Editorial Boards of virtually every polymer related journal and is now the Editor of Progress in Polymer Science, the International Review journal.
Forty Eight Years in Polymer Science Research
Takeo Saegusa
I am going to attain my 70th birthday in this October. In Japan, we have special events for birth years of 60th, 70th, 77th, 80th, 88th, 99th, and 100th. The 70th birthday is called the "Koki" which is based on a Chinese old poem saying "it is extraordinarily happy for a person to celebrate his 70th birthday". On this occasion, I would like to look back in brief to my research life in polymer science.
The birth time of polymer science, on the other hand, may be assigned to the period of 1923-1928 when the concept of "Macromolecules" was established by H. Staudinger, in Freiburg, Germany. Therefore the length of history of polymer science is to be estimated at around-70 years, too. I myself started polymer science research in 1949 at Kyoto University, Japan. Thus, the length of my career as a polymer scientist now amounts 48 years, i.e., it is about two thirds of the total length of the history of polymer science. I feel myself quite fortunate in spending all my research life in an important period of a big progress of polymer science.
Concerning the way of exploration of a new field of research, I believe, after 48-years research life, the combination of two or more different fields is quite useful. The first research work of mine was concerned with the synthesis of polymers consisting of polyacrylate backbone and polystyrene branches, which was published in 1954. The new polymer I prepared is to be simply expressed by a word 'graft polymer" according to the terminology proposed by H.F. Mark. The lengthy title of the paper was due to the fact that my manuscript was prepared prior to the publication of the proposal of Professor Mark. I have been proud to find that the concept of "graft polymer" emerged simultaneously, and, of course, independently in Japan and in the United States. I am much indebted to the late Professor Ryohei Oda, my thesis advisor, who suggested me the above research topic. The synthetic method was based on polyacrylate whose methyl ester group had partially been converted to a "per-ester".
I had two valuable experiences at the beginning of my research life. First, I had to learn a lot about organic chemistry of per-ester. I should be careful enough about the explosive nature of per-ester. The second one was an interesting observation which taught me a remarkable difference of the solution (viscosity) property of the newly synthesized polymer in comparison with that of the parent backbone polymer.
Discovery of polymerization of acetaldehyde by alumina was the second exciting event in my research life. Before my discovery many papers had reported that the freezing of monomer (by liquid air, freezing point -121∞C) was indispensable for the occurrence of the polymerization. The so-called freezing polymerization, which had been assumed to occur only at interface between monomer crystal and monomer liquid during the freezing of monomer, interested many scientists. I speculated by intuition that the adsorption of monomer onto a solid surface such as alumina might have an effect somewhat similar to the freezing of monomer, and I could discover the polymerization of acetaldehyde by alumina catalyst at the Dry Ice temperature without the freezing of monomer. The polymer was an elastic material, whose molecular structure was an atactic one.
In the period of 1950s, the polymerization of acetaldehyde became much interesting from two standpoints. First, it is one higher homologue of formaldehyde whose polymerization had been commercialized under the name of "polyacetal resin". The second point is rather a matter of curiosity on the basis of the formality of the apparent analogy of chemical structure between propylene an acetaldehyde.
CH2=CH2 vs. CH2=O
CH3CH=CH2 vs. CH3CH=O
The polymerization of propylene involves the opening of propylene of C=C double bond, whereas that of acetaldehyde C=O double bond. In conformity with the stereoregulation in the polymerization of propylene, we could discover the isotactic polymerization of acetaldehyde by the catalysts of organometallic compounds and of metal alkoxides. Professor G. Natta in Europe and Prof. O. Vogl in the United States attained similar results independently and coincidentally in the same period, although the details of the results were a little different among those of three research groups. It is of interest to note that a similar conception was generated separately in three different laboratories without any mutual communication.
The unintended coincidence of research with Otto Vogl has brought me a lasting friendship on research as well as on a personal bases.
My efforts of exploration of the catalysts for the polymerization of acetaldehyde were extended to the ring-opening polymerization of cyclic ethers, three-, for-, five- and seven-membered ones. Discoveries of several new catalyst systems were based on organometallics, for which deep understanding of chemistry of organometallics was necessary.
'No catalyst alternating copolymerization via zwitterion intermediates" was another exciting exploration, in which two different monomers, one monomer possesses a nucleophilic reactivity, the other an electrophilic reactivity, react with each other spontaneously to produce a 1:1 adduct of zwitterion intermediate. Molecular designing of monomers as well as the analyses of the generations of the zwitterion and their reactions largely depended upon the chemistry of organic reactions. On the basis of a general principle, I could explore over 50 new types of copolymerization reactions.
Organic-inorganic polymer hybrids is a group of new transparent materials in which organic polymer molecule is being mixed with inorganic metal oxide at a level of molecular dispersion. The key of our new preparative method is to secure the strong hydrogen bond interaction at the interface between the metal-OH group of metal oxide and the carboxylic amide group of the organic polymer component. The prototypal procedure is rather simple in which the corresponding metal alkoxide, the precursor of metal oxide, is subjected to the sol-gel procedure in the presence of the above polymer component in solution.
Organic-inorganic polymer hybrids are promising materials, which have a lot of potential applications. Improvement and modification of the hybrid materials require thorough understanding of many branches of material science.
At school, the discipline of chemistry is afforded according to a traditional way in which it is being lectured separately in several elements of chemistry, i.e., analytical, physical, inorganic, and organic chemistry. This way of education is useful to impart to students the fundamental understanding of chemistry. However, in exploratory research seeking for new materials it is recommended to eliminate the traditional classification of the fundamental elements of chemistry. We know polymer science is by nature an interdisciplinary field of research. (September 30, 1997)
PPC-5 Sponsoring Organizations
The Ministry of Science and Technology, Korea; The Korea Federation of Science and Technology Societies; U.S. Army Research Office; Center for Advanced Functional Polymers, KAIST; Korea Petrochemical Industry Association; Saehan Industry Co., Ltd.; SKC, Ltd.; Dongiin Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.; Dongsung Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.; Hankook Caprolactam Co., Ltd.;
Hanwha BASF Co., Ltd.; Hyosung BASF Co., Ltd.; Kolon, Ltd.;
LG Petrochemical Co., Ltd.; Samsung General Chemicals, Ltd.;
Samyang Co., Ltd..
Minutes of Council Meeting, August, 6, 1996
Hotel Intercontinental, Seoul, Korea
Attendees: C.Y. Kim, S.C. Kim, J.E. McGrath, W.H. Daly, E. Amis, A. Abe, K. Horie, E. Rizzardo, G.A George, J. Lee, M. Jiang, S. Tantayanon, N. Surdia, Dang Van Luyen, C.C. Ho, T. Ogawa, D. Radic,
Guests: T. Takahiko, K. Shida, L. Radiman, J.C. Jung, D.Y. Kim
Welcoming Remarks: The meeting was called to order by C.Y. Kim, President, PPF, at 18:00. He welcomed all of the attendees and asked each to give his/her name and affiliation. The minutes from the previous PPF Council meeting were distributed as well as other materials pertinent to the meeting with PPF Newsletter No. 6.
Approval of Minutes The minutes from the previous PPF Council meeting (at Kauai, Hawaii, on December 14, 1995) prepared by J.E. McGrath was approved with a few corrections.
PPC-5: S.C. Kim reported the progress in preparation of PPC-5, Kyongju, Korea. He announced that 10,000 copies of the first circular were distributed over sixteen countries and the second circulars were ready to be mailed. C.Y. Kim informed that the number of invited speakers for each country were decided based on the number of its attendees at PPC-4, Kauai. The United States were counted as one unit for ACS and APS. He also asked a half of the invited speakers selected from industries. S.C. Kim added that the number of invited speakers can be doubled, but the extra financial support will not be provided. He asked for the list of invited speakers by October 31, 1996.
PPC-6: M. Jiang announced that the location of PPC-6 was set at Guangzhou, in the first week of December, 1999. He said that the organizing committee was setting up for PPC-6, and the weather will be fine at the as an average temperature around 20'C.
PPC-7: Mexico was discussed again for the site of PPC-7 as done in Kauai. But there was no conclusion because it was too early to be decided.
PPF - Newsletter: S.C. Kim reported that 1,000 copies were printed. Some information in the section of the PPF member was corrected at the meeting.
Committee Reports: A. Abe proposed to finalize the revised PPF Constitution as discussed in Kauai. J.E. McGrath suggested a vote for approval of the constitution. The proposed constitution was approved unanimously.
Appointment of New Committee Chairman: A. Abe was appointed as the chair of the Constitution Committee, G.A. George for the Membership Committee, and S.C. Kim for the Awards Committee.
Old Business/New Business:
It was discussed if the regional meeting could be supported by PPF or not. It would be encouraged without a financial support And K.
Horie announced International Polymer Conference (IPC97) and distributed the circulars.
Next Council Meeting C.Y. Kim announced that the next council meeting would be held in Kyongju, 1997 during PPC-5.
C.Y. Kim adjourned the meeting at 20:00 (Minutes prepared by S.C. Kim)
PPF MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS
Founding Members:
Division of Polymer Chemistry Inc., American Chemical Society
The Society of Polymer Science, Japan
The Polymer Division, The Royal Australian Chemical Institute
Members:
The Macromolecular Science & Engineering Division of the Chemical Institute of Canada
Macromolecular Division of the Chemical Society of Chile
The Polymer Division of Chinese Chemical Society
Hong Kong Chemical Society
Indonesia Polymer Association
The Polymer Society of Korea
The Polymer and Industrial Section of the Institute of Chemistry of Malaysia
Division of Polymers and Organic Materials, Mexican Academy of Materials of Science
The Polymer Group of the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry
The Plastics and Rubber Institute of Singapore
The Polymer Society of Taipei
The Polymer Society of Thailand
Division of High Polymer Physics, The American Physical Society
Division of Polymer Science, Chemical Society of Vietnam
Council Members:
Ezio Rizzardo, Fosong Wang, Graeme A. George, Ming Jiang, Francoise Winnik, K.C. Tin, M. Sugandi-Ratulangi, Deodato Radic,
Akihiro Abe, Kazuyuki Horie, Chung Yup Kim, Sung Chul Kim, Chee-Cheong Ho, Takeshi Ogawa, David Officer, Hardy Chan, Yu-Der Lee, Supawan Tantayanon, James E. McGrath, William H. Daly, Tim Lodge, Dang Van Luyen
5th Pacific Polymer Conference (PPC-5), October 26-30, 1997
Kyongju, Korea
Registration: Total: 820 from 23 countries
Abstracts: Total 587
Plenary: Lectures: 5, Oral: Presentations: 250 Posters: 330
6th Pacific Polymer Conference, October 26-30, 1999
Guangzhou, China
Organized by the Polymer Division, Chinese Chemical Society, and South China University
PPC-6, The 6th Pacific Polymer Conference, will be held in Guangzhou, China, from 7th-11th December, 1999. The Organizing Committee is pleased to invite you to participate in this important
event for world polymer community. The Conference will provide an international forum for the communication and discussion of new ideas, results and perspective for polymer science and technology.
Organizing Committee: Chairman: Fosong Wang, Vice Chairmen: Huanbin Liu, Mao Xu
Program Committee: Chairman: Mao Xu
Local Committee: Chairman: Demin Jia
Secretariat: Secretary General: Xigao Jin
Scientific Sessions
Synthesis and Reactions of Polymers; Precision Polymerization and Polymer Reactions, Structural Modification of Macromolecules, Fine-designed Polymers, New Progress of Olefin and Vinyl Polymerization
Structure and Properties of Polymers, Polymer Structure and Morphology Structure-Property Relationship, Molecular Simulation and Design Characterization of Polymers
Polymer Blends and Composites Multicomponent Polymer Systems, Polymer Surface and Inter-faces, High Performance Polymer, Composites, Organic/Inorganic Hybrids
Functional Polymers; Conductive and Photo-active Polymers, Liquid Crystal Polymers, Polymer Membranes, Polymers for Electronics
Bio-and Medical Polymers: Biodegradable and Environmental Friendship Polymers, Polymer Solutions and Gels, Polymers for Medical Uses, Natural Polymers
Polymer Engineering and Processing : Rheology and Processing, Novel Processing Technology, Recycling of Polymers
Venue
Guangzhou (Canton) is the biggest trading, industrial and tourist city in South China. As an ancient city, it has a history of more than 2800 years. Guangzhou is lush and green all the year around with flowers blooming in all seasons, thus to be named as 'Tower City'. It has a warm winter with and average temperature around 20'C in December. Guangzhou is also very famous for its Cantonese cuisine and food. It is a major entrance to South China, a lot of direct flights to Guangzhou are available from Hong Kong, Osaka, Seoul, Los Angles, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Singapore, Jakarta, Manila, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Hochimin, etc.
Mailing Address: Xigao Jin
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