Matilde Concilio
@matildeconcilio.bsky.social
200 followers 210 following 6 posts
♻️ Synthetic polymer chemist working on dynamic networks and 🧬 deeply interested in biomaterials 🧪 Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Williams group at the University of Oxford ⚗️ Former PhD researcher in the Becer group at the University of Warwick
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matildeconcilio.bsky.social
Just like that, #APME2025 has come to an end! It was a real pleasure to present my research on dynamic networks♻️ I’m always amazed by the number of new connections made at events like this—outstanding science in an outstanding location 🌋Hope to see you all again in Canada in two years!
matildeconcilio.bsky.social
Had a fantastic time presenting my work on polyester-based reprocessable vitrimers ♻️ at #SCHEMASpring25 on Tuesday! I’m very grateful for the opportunity!
You can read all about it here: pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
matildeconcilio.bsky.social
Thrilled to share this work on precise COOH-functionalized polyesters in reprocessable vitrimers, now online in JACS! This research highlights the role of catalysts in vitrimer chemistry and how tailored catalyst mixtures can control vitrimer properties and bond exchange pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
Precise Carboxylic Acid-Functionalized Polyesters in Reprocessable Vitrimers
Thermosets are valued for their exceptional dimensional stability, mechanical properties, and resistance to creep and chemicals. Their permanent molecular structures limit reshaping, reprocessing, and recycling. Incorporating exchangeable chemical bonds into cross-linked polymer networks provides materials with thermoset-like properties that are also reprocessable. Here, ring-opening copolymerization (ROCOP) of unpurified, commercially available epoxides and succinic anhydride is employed to synthesize well-defined, low molecular weight polyesters with controlled functionalization. Polymer networks are then formed through the catalyzed reaction of these copolymers with the epoxy-containing cross-linker diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A. Catalyst mixtures of zinc bis(2-ethylhexanoate) and 1,8-diazabicyclo(5.4.0)undec-7-ene are used to assess the role of the catalysts in the curing and dynamic bond exchange reactions. Varying the catalyst ratios results in polymer networks with tunable mechanical properties (90% < εb < 450%, 0.30 MPa < UTS < 24 MPa), high creep recovery (%recovery > 90% after five creep cycles), and good reprocessability.
pubs.acs.org
matildeconcilio.bsky.social
Last week I had the opportunity to visit Scott Bader and test some of my materials. It was an incredibly instructive experience. Learning how to prepare and test samples for industrial applications gave me valuable insights to optimise my work. I also fabricated my first composite—a proud moment! 👩🏻‍🔬🧪