Hynek Beneš, PhD

Hynek Beneš, PhD, is the Deputy Head of the Department of Polymer Processing and the Head of the Laboratory of Chemical Degradation and Thermodynamics, Otto Wichterle Centre of Polymer Materials and Technologies at the Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences.

His research activities are focused on development of sustainable polymers using a cradle-to grave approach trying to design new polymers from the bio-based monomers and syntheses up to the end-of-life option. The major achievements encompass the following areas:

1. Bio-based polymer materials - thermosetting epoxy and polyurethane networks and self-assembled nanoclay-polyitaconic acid physical networks (hydrogels and xerogels),
2. Environmental-friendly polymerizations under mild and solvent free conditions (microwave-accelerated polymerizations, ionic liquids as efficient medium, catalysts and initiators of polymerizations),
3. Tailor-made design of polymers considering end-of-life options (covalent adaptable networks, biodegradable polyurethanes and aliphatic polyesters, NIPUs), iv) Depolymerizing / recycling of polymers (polyurethane, PET, polycarbonate, etc.).