The history of the formation and development of forms of interaction between science and industry in the field of the study and development of polymer compounds and composites

Ganin Sergei Vladimirovich ORCID: 0000-0002-2307-9319 PhD in Technical Science Associate Professor; Higher School of Physics and Materials Technology; Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University 194021, Russia, Saint Petersburg, Politechnicheskaya str., 19 ganin_sv@spbstu.ru Ganin Maksim Alekseevich ORCID: 0000-0003-3190-3491 PhD in History Senior lecturer; Higher School of Social Sciences of the Humanitarian Institute; Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University 194064, Russia, Saint Petersburg, Politechnicheskaya str., 29 maxim-ganin@yandex.ru Other publications by this author     Kolomeitsev Ivan Vladimirovich ORCID: 0000-0001-7411-3145 PhD in Philosophy Associate Professor; Higher School of Social Sciences; Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University 194064, Russia, Saint Petersburg, Politechnicheskaya str., 29 kolomejtsev_iv@spbstu.ru

Morozov Il'ya Dmitrievich Postgraduate student; Higher School of Physics and Technology of Materials; Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University 194064, Russia, Saint Petersburg, Politechnicheskaya str., 29 _mid_@mail.ru

Introduction.

It is difficult to imagine the modern world without polymers. Plastics, synthetic rubbers and rubbers, varnishes and paints are all actively used in various fields: medicine, construction, agriculture, mechanical engineering, aircraft engineering, shipbuilding, space industry, etc. The widespread use of polymer compounds is due to the fact that they have a number of useful properties. In particular, they are able to restore their shapes and sizes (highly elastic), provide non-conductivity of current (with the exception of special electrically conductive polymers), can form high-strength fibers and films, are able to dramatically change their properties under the influence of a small number of reagents, etc. ^{[1, C. 150]}

Currently, the level of polymer materials production is becoming an important indicator of the country's development. At the same time, Russia, being one of the world leaders in oil exports (which acts as the starting material for the creation of many polymers), occupies a modest 1.3-1.7% in the global polymer production market. ^{[2, C. 54]} This leads to an unjustified increase in imports of polymer products, which the country could well produce independently. One of the ways to solve this problem at the current stage was the creation of R&D units within private companies and state universities for the study and development of new polymer and composite compounds necessary for the domestic industry.

The important role played by polymer materials in industry, as well as the need to study the causes and specifics of the transformation of forms of interaction between science and industry in this field, determine the relevance of this study.

Literature review. The issues of the formation and development of polymer science and industry in Russia and abroad are the subject of study by many modern authors. The main stages of the development of polymer science are covered in the article by P.M. Pakhomov ^[1]. The history of the discovery and application of individual polymer compounds in industry is reflected in the articles by H.H. Akhmadova ^[3], V.N. Varivodov, D.I. Kovalev, D.V. Golubev, E.M. Voronkov ^[4]. The role of individual scientists in the development of polymer science is devoted to the monograph by A.A. Sonin ^[5], as well as articles by D.V. Kochurov ^[6], S. Sivaram ^[7], M.D. Sokolova, A.R. Khaldeeva, V.V. Pavlova and S.N. Parfenova ^[8], P.M. Pakhomov ^[9]. Articles by L.A. Zenitova ^[10], E.G. Sentyurin, I.V. Mekalina, M.K. Aizatulina, Yu.A. Isaenkova ^[11] are devoted to the history of individual enterprises producing polymer products, as well as laboratories, research institutes and university departments where work was carried out on the study and development of new polymer compounds. The issues of the influence of international relations of scientists on the development of polymer science are investigated by N.F. Bannikova ^[12].The modern problems faced by the national polymer industry are highlighted in the article by authors such as E.M. Deberdieva and M.V. Vechkasov ^[2].

At the same time, the problems of the emergence and development of stable links between polymer science and industry remain out of the field of view of researchers. At the same time, the prospects for the economic, scientific and technical development of our country depend on whether it will be possible to establish effective cooperation between scientific centers for the study and development of polymer and composite materials and the industry. In this regard, the work is designed to fill an obvious gap in the study of polymer science and industry.

The scientific novelty lies in the fact that this article for the first time examines in detail the work in the field of development of new polymer and composite compounds of the R&D department of one of the leading universities in the country - the Competence Center of the National Technological Initiative "New Production Technologies", created on the basis of the Institute of Advanced Production Technologies of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University.

The purpose of the work is to assess the potential of a new form of interaction between science and industry in the development of innovative polymer and composite materials by creating R&D departments in universities.

To achieve this goal, the following research objectives were identified: 1) to consider the main stages of the development of polymer science in Russia, identifying the historical forms of interaction between science and industry; 2) to determine the causes and specifics of the transformation of forms of interaction between science and industry in the development of new polymer and composite compounds at the current stage; 3) using the example of the laboratory "Polymer Composite Materials" of the Competence Center of the National The technological initiative "New Production Technologies" to determine the prospects for the creation of R&D departments on the basis of universities.

The research methodology is based on a retrospective method that allows us to consistently consider the evolution of forms of interaction between polymer science and industry at different historical stages and identify the causes that acted as a catalyst for these processes. The method of comparative analysis is widely used, thanks to which it becomes possible to determine the key similarities and differences of these forms. In addition, the microanalysis method is also involved, which allows, using the example of a single R&D department of the University, to assess the future prospects of the emerging model of science-industry interaction in the development of new polymer materials and composites.

The main stages of the development of polymer science and industry in Russia.

The first work on the synthesis of artificial polymers began in Russia, as well as in Europe, in the XIX century. During this period, Russian chemical scientists made a number of outstanding discoveries.

So, already in 1868, A.M. Butlerov obtained pure isobutylene as a result of the dehydration reaction of tretbutyl alcohol using dilute sulfuric acid. A.M. Butlerov also conducted a thorough study of a number of reactions in which isobutylene participated, paying special attention to the processes of its hydration and polymerization. ^{[13, C. 17]} In 1873, he succeeded to successfully carry out the polymerization reaction of ethylene, as a result of which ethylene polymers were obtained. A.M. Butlerov found that the effect of metals and their salts on ethylene leads to the formation of a number of low-molecular compounds such as butylene, hexene and various diene hydrocarbons. ^{[3, C. 32]}

A significant contribution to the further development of ethylene polymerization technology was made by the Russian scientist G.G. Gustavson. In 1884, he used aluminum bromide as a catalyst at a temperature of 100 degrees Celsius and normal atmospheric pressure. However, despite some progress, it was still not possible to achieve complete synthesis of polyethylene: ethylene polymers obtained by G.G. Gustavson had a liquid oily consistency and belonged to low-molecular weight products. ^{[3, C. 32]}

It was possible to obtain full-fledged polyethylene only in 1898. It was first accidentally synthesized by the German chemist G. Pehman. However, at that time there was no practical use for this substance. The discovery of G. Pehman was forgotten, and polyethylene was rediscovered in 1933 by chemists E. Fossett and R. Gibson. ^{[3, C. 33]}

At the beginning of the 20th century, in Russia, as in other countries, research on the possibility of obtaining artificial rubber intensified. This was due to the fact that the demand for rubber products (made of natural rubber at that time) increased sharply due to the spread of cars and bicycles in the world, and prices for this elastomer were highly volatile. To ensure further sustainable economic development, countries needed to find an artificial substitute for it, which would not differ in its properties from natural or even surpass it.

In 1900, the Russian chemist I.L. Kondakov managed to obtain a rubber-like substance from dimethylbutadiene. In 1910, another Russian chemist S.V. Lebedev carried out the process of thermal polymerization of butadiene (divinyl), creating a polymer similar in properties to natural rubber. This discovery has become a catalyst for scientific work aimed at developing industrial methods for the synthesis of butadiene. It contributed to the emergence of economically profitable technologies for its production. ^{[13, C. 17]}

I.I. Ostromyslensky also made a significant contribution to the creation of artificial rubbers. It should be noted that the scientist carried out a significant part of his research while working for the private Moscow firm Bogatyr, which specialized in the production of tires and other rubber products. The company acquired a number of patents of I.I. Ostromyslensky related to the production of artificial rubber, and also invited him to head a scientific laboratory. In the interests of the company, I.I. Ostromyslensky, in particular, developed the sulfur-free vulcanization of rubber using activators and accelerators of this process, which made it possible to achieve various properties of the resulting rubber. One of the most important discoveries of I.I. Ostromyslensky was the creation of a method for producing butadiene by exposing ethyl alcohol and acetic aldehyde vapors at a temperature of 440-460 degrees to aluminum oxide, which was called the "Ostromyslensky process". On its basis, a method for obtaining rubber from alcohol through butadiene was subsequently developed. This method was supposed to be used in the future in industry. In this regard, it was even planned to build a pilot plant, but these plans were prevented by the outbreak of the World War. ^{[14, C. 116]}

During the Soviet period, work in the field of polymer research was carried out in parallel with the research of foreign scientists. By the 1930s, two leading scientific centers for the study of polymers had already been formed in the USSR - Leningrad and Moscow.

A brilliant team of scientists gathered at the Leningrad school, including S.V. Lebedev, Ya.I. Frenkel, V.K. Fredericks, A.P. Alexandrov, S.N. Zhurkov, P.P. Kobeko, V.R. Regel, E.V. Kuvshinsky, Y.S. Lazurkin, S.E. Bresler and other prominent researchers.

In the second half of the 1920s, S. V. Lebedev and his team successfully developed an innovative method for synthesizing butadiene rubber from ethylene, as a result of which, by 1932, the world's first production of synthetic polybutadiene rubber was launched at a pilot plant in Leningrad. This material has a high level of wear resistance and is widely used in the automotive industry, especially in the manufacture of tires.

The development of the theory of polymer science was facilitated by the scientific research of J.I. Frenkel and S.E. Bresler, who in their research laid the foundation for the configuration statistics of polymer chains.

The outstanding polytechnic A.P. Alexandrov, together with P.P. Kobeko and S.N. Zhurkov, created a statistical theory describing the strength characteristics of polymer materials on the basis of the Leningrad Institute of Physics and Technology. They showed that the physical properties of polymers are directly related to the dynamics of the formation of highly elastic deformation, and also established that the process of polymer glass transition is caused by an increase in relaxation time with a decrease in temperature, and developed a statistical theory of polymer strength. In 1941, A.P. Alexandrov successfully defended his doctoral dissertation on "Relaxation in polymers", which included the results of his research for the period from 1933 to 1941. This work has formed the basis of many sections of modern polymer science, expanding the boundaries of understanding this important area. ^{[1, C.157-158]}

In 1933, a joint scientific study by S.N. Zhurkov and A.P. Alexandrov was published, where the molecular foundations of the glass transition process were considered and aspects of the theory of plasticization of polymer materials were developed. S.N. Zhurkov's independent works were devoted to the analysis of the mechanisms that determine the strength of polymers and the study of the dependence of mechanical degradation on exposure time and temperature conditions. ^{[1, C. 158]} The thermofluctuation concept of strength developed by a Soviet scientist was based on the assumption that chemical bonds in loaded bodies break under the influence of stresses resulting from the thermal motion of atoms, and the external load reduces the magnitude of the potential barrier, accelerating bond rupture. Thus, the strength of the materials turns out to depend on the duration of the load. ^{[15, C. 1452]}

P.P. Kobeko studied the amorphous state of polymers in the field of polymer science. Already in the post-war period in 1952, he published the monograph "Amorphous substances", which for many years to come became a reference book for specialists in the field of macromolecular chemistry. ^{[1, C. 158]}

The work of representatives of the Leningrad school for the study of polymers continued in the post-war years. The research of such scientists as B.A. Dolgoplosk, S.N. Danilov, S.N. Ushakov, A.A. Korotkov, M.M. Koton, M.V. Volkenstein, V.N. Tsvetkov and others had a significant impact on the development of macromolecular chemistry. Given the limited scope of this work, it is impossible to cover all the research, so the emphasis is on the most significant achievements in this area.

In the middle of the century, M.V. Wolkenstein and his students became a pioneer in the introduction of the methodology of statistical mechanics into polymer science. Their key achievement was the development of a rotary isomeric model designed to explain the flexibility of polymer molecular chains. This model has opened up possibilities for accurately determining the spatial dimensions of polymer molecules in various states, as well as for calculating other important parameters related to the structural features and physico-chemical properties of polymers. ^{[1, C. 158]}

Under the leadership of V.N. Tsvetkov, a new scientific direction was formed – molecular physics of high-molecular compounds. The scientist made a significant contribution to the development and creation of modern highly sensitive methods for studying polymers. V.N. Tsvetkov in his works established fundamental patterns that link the features of the chemical structure of molecules with their hydrodynamic, conformational, optical and electro-optical properties.

He paid great attention to the study of rigid-chain and mesogenic polymers, which are widely used in various fields. V.N. Tsvetkov developed theories of optical and electro-optical properties of macromolecules modeled by a persistent chain, established molecular mechanisms affecting the equilibrium and kinetic flexibility of polymer chains. These studies have made an important contribution to the creation of high-strength and heat-resistant polymer materials. ^{[16, C. 1233]}

Representatives of the Moscow scientific school include P.P. Shorygin, S.S. Medvedev, V.A. Kargin, I.P. Losev, I.L. Knunyants, H.S. Bagdasaryan and many other scientists engaged in polymer research.

In the late 1920s, headed by P.P. Shorygin, the first department was established in the USSR, within which specialists in the production of viscose silk began to be trained. And already in 1931, on his initiative, an artificial fiber Research Institute was established in the city of Mytishchi, where the production of synthetic and cellulose fibers was started. ^{[1, C. 159]}

It should be noted that during the years of the USSR, it was the research institutes that acted as guides between fundamental science and industry. Another illustrative example is the currently active Polymer Research Institute. It was founded in 1949 and was originally a laboratory based on the "Roll" plant in Dzerzhinsk. The enlargement of the structure led to the formation in 1964 of the independent Union Research Institute of Organochlorine Products in Acrylates (NIHP), which in 1969 was renamed the Polymer Research Institute named after him. Academician V.A. Kargin. Great success has been achieved at the Research Institute in various years: transparent acrylic materials have been developed, necessary for the manufacture of rigid contact and eyeglass lenses, as well as eye lenses; brands of green organic glass for colorblind drivers have been introduced into production; production of vinyl plastic (NPVC) has begun, etc. ^[17]

The tasks of promoting the development of industry were also solved at the L.Y. Karpov Research Institute of Physics and Chemistry (NIFHI), where polymerization problems were dealt with since the 1930s. The names of outstanding scientists S.S. Medvedev and V. A. Kargin are closely associated with this institution.

S.S. Medvedev's scientific works have been widely recognized in the USSR and abroad. It was he who proved that polymerization is a chain process, and his fundamental research initiated the development of industrial methods for the synthesis of various polymers. ^{[12, p. 94]}

V.A. Kargin made a fundamental contribution to the development of polymer science in the USSR, turning it into a comprehensive discipline. Since the 1930s, he has been actively engaged in research in the field of polymers, in particular high-molecular compounds. Kargin's numerous scientific achievements include the development of a thermomechanical polymer research method, the Kargin thermowells thermal analysis technique, the introduction of the Kargin rule for plasticizing polymer materials, as well as the creation of a model describing the mechanical relaxation properties of polymers. ^{[1, C. 158]}

In the mid-1950s, he initiated the creation, and subsequently became the head of the country's first department of high molecular weight compounds at the Faculty of Chemistry of Moscow State University. ^{[1, p. 159]} The basis for the newly formed department was the breakthrough idea of combining chemical and physical aspects of polymer research, which marked the beginning of the synthesis of two scientific directions in one research space. ^{[1, C. 162]}

Several specialized laboratories have started their work on the basis of the department. In 1955, the laboratory of polymerization processes was founded, headed by Doctor of Chemical Sciences V.A. Kabanov. In 1965 – Laboratory of polymer structure under the supervision of Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences N.F. Bakeev. In 1967 – Polymer modification laboratory headed by academician N.A. Plathe. In 1970 - the laboratory of polyelectrolytes and biopolymers, headed by Corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Prof. A. B. Zezin. ^[18] Scientific teams of laboratories made a significant contribution to the development of polymer science.

In 1959, V.A. Kargin was appointed editor-in-chief of the scientific journal "High Molecular Weight Compounds". Thanks to his diligence and support, the publication of a specialized scientific journal on polymer mechanics "Polymer Mechanics" was also launched. ^{[1, p. 164]}

After V.A. Kargin's death in 1969, further progress in the field of polymer science was largely due to the research work of prominent academicians such as A.A. Berlin, A.R. Khokhlov, A.M. Muzafarov, A.B. Zezin, V.P. Shibaev, V.G. Kulichikhin, A.N. Ozerin, A.L. Volynsky and A.A. Yaroslavov. All of them are connected with the school of an outstanding Soviet scientist. ^{[1, C. 164]}

Summing up this section, it can be stated that in the second half of the XIX century. in Russia, polymer research was mainly academic in nature. During this period, important discoveries were made that formed the necessary foundation for further work in this area.

At the beginning of the XX century. the situation began to change gradually, separate enterprises began to appear in the country, planning to launch the production of polymer products (for example, the Bogatyr company). Laboratories began to appear on their basis, in which the attracted scientific and technical personnel were engaged in applied research in the interests of production. This was a common approach that was used in other knowledge-intensive industries. Thus, we can talk about the first stable form of science-industry interaction in the field of polymer materials research and development.

Nevertheless, it should be recognized that the scale of this process was small. Do not forget that the growth rate of the chemical industry in Russia lagged significantly behind the level that was achieved by domestic chemical science. By 1913, the share of the entire chemical industry in the total industrial production of the country was only 3%. Large-scale industrial production of polymers in such conditions has not yet been discussed. ^{[19, p. 16]}

The further development of polymer science and industry is already associated with the Soviet period. By the 1930s, the key scientific centers for the study of polymer materials (Leningrad and Moscow) were finally formed, whose representatives made outstanding discoveries. As a result, our country has become one of the world leaders in the field of fundamental polymer research. Also, during the years of Soviet power, an effective "bond" was ensured between science and industry by creating research institutes, whose tasks included solving specific issues related to the creation of polymer materials necessary for production.

Unfortunately, with the collapse of the USSR, the old ties between science and industry were largely disrupted and lost their former effectiveness. Soviet research institutes, left without significant financial injections from the state, were often unable to find new partners and attract financing in a market economy. Their equipment was rapidly becoming obsolete, and the recruitment of new scientific personnel was complicated by the modest size of salary funds. At the same time, without research centers, the further development of polymer technologies in the country became almost impossible. By the early 2000s, it became obvious that the changed realities required new approaches to the organization of science-production communication.

The current stage is the transition to the creation of domestic R&D centers for the study and development of polymer and composite compounds.

Problems with the organization of communication "science – production" in the field of polymers, which arose after the collapse of the USSR, led to quite natural consequences. At the current stage, Russia has a certain dependence on polymer imports. Thus, Chairman of the Council of the Union of Plastic Processors M. Katsevman notes that about 16% of polymer raw materials are supplied from abroad, and a number of imported polymer compounds do not have domestic analogues at all. At the same time, polymers are in high demand in the production of consumer goods, electronics and machinery, instrumentation, pipe production, etc. ^[20]

At the same time, Russia, traditionally being one of the leaders in the field of polymer research, has the necessary scientific potential to solve this problem. The task set by the government to ensure the technological sovereignty of the country as soon as possible required an accelerated transition from mainly fundamental research to applied research aimed at developing advanced polymer materials, which are urgently needed by the domestic industry. In this regard, individual educational organizations and private firms, by analogy with Soviet research institutes, began to form their own centers for the study of polymer materials, whose activities would be immediately focused on the needs of industry.

YUKOS became a pioneer in this field among private companies, which in December 2003 opened the R&D division "Research and Development Center" for "the development of promising technologies in the field of oil production, refining and petrochemistry and staff training." ^{[21, C. 129]} Of interest is the fact that when creating the center, the experience of opening the Davy Process Technology technology center in Stockton, Great Britain, in 1999 was used. ^{[21, C. 129]}

In 2006, SIBUR launched its corporate research center "NIOST". ^[22] In 2023, the Center was headed by D. Afanasyev. Currently, NIOST is actively working in the field of petrochemical synthesis and catalysis, the creation of new types of plastics, testing additives, oils and other chemical products, as well as conducting analytical research. ^[23] Individual achievements of NIOST are covered in the press. So, in 2022, newspapers wrote that the Center had managed to develop a basic catalyst for the production of polyethylene. Previously, it was purchased abroad, which in recent years has been complicated by the restrictive conditions of Western sanctions. ^[24]

In 2012, the Polyplastic Group of companies opened its own research institute of the same name. The Polyplastic Research Institute was established on the basis of two scientific and technical centers already operating within the company. He was assigned tasks related to scientific and technical support for the production of pipe units. Since 2013, the Research Institute has been headed by Candidate of Chemical Sciences A.N. Kryuchkov, under whose leadership two departments work: the department of gas, pressure and sewer pipes and materials (OGNiKTiM) and the technological department (TO). OGNiKTiM researches various grades of polyethylene, develops methods for evaluating the strength of pipes, participates in the development of their structures and the production process. At the same time, the department is faced with the task of reducing the cost of polymer raw materials in the production of pipes and reducing the cost of production. IT is engaged in the generalization of technological experience of production, the development of technological support and the organization of the introduction of new technologies, training of personnel of the company's enterprises, etc. ^[25]

One of the problems associated with the work of polymer research centers created within the framework of private companies is their full affiliation with them. As a result, such centers operate primarily in the interests of only one company and do not interact with competitors. They practically do not enter the open market in search of customers.^[26]

The situation is different when creating specialized centers for the development of polymers and composites on the basis of educational organizations. Such research centers, on the contrary, are interested in finding additional funding and customers, which means they are ready to provide their services to all market participants. In recent years, it has been possible to observe the intensification of the work of universities to create their own innovative units. Here are some examples.

In 2016, the Research Center "Polymer Materials Based on Rubbers" was established as a structural unit of the Department "Technology of Polymer Materials and Powders" of Perm National Research Polytechnic University. Until his death in 2022, the Center was headed by a well-known scientist in the field of technical chemistry, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor A.S. Ermilov. This center specialized in conducting fundamental and applied research in the field of polymer composite materials. The main areas of his activity included: the creation of materials with specified properties based on rubbers filled with inert and high-energy dispersed particles; the formation of functional properties of polymers using nanoparticles; work on polymer materials for civil purposes (such as paints, adhesives, pavement, etc.). ^[27]

In 2018, the Polymer Research Center was established in Moscow on the basis of the N.S. Enikolopov Institute of Synthetic Polymer Materials of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The center has a modern instrument complex that allows, among other things, to solve problems of synthesis and research of new polymer materials and composites. The head of the Center is the Candidate of Chemical Sciences V.V. Gorodov. Under his leadership, the team conducts research to identify the molecular weight characteristics of oligomers and polymers, to determine their chemical structure in solutions, on preparative purification and fractionation of polymers, on optical spectroscopy of complex organic molecules and high-molecular compounds, on qualitative and quantitative phase analysis of crystalline and liquid crystalline polymers and oligomers, on the study of morphology and surface structures of polymer materials, by determining their fire-hazardous properties, etc. ^[28]

In the same year, the research center "Innovative Polymer Materials and Products" was opened at the Russian Technological University on the basis of four departments of the Institute of Fine Chemical Technologies. The director of the center was a well-known scientist, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor S.V. Reznichenko. The main scientific directions of the team's work were: creation of composite (including structural) polymer materials with specified properties for various operating conditions; production of elastomeric nanocomposites; development of membrane materials, adhesives and sealants; study of polymer processing technologies in solutions, etc. ^[29]

The process of creating its own R&D centers has not bypassed Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University. In 2018, the Competence Center of the National Technological Initiative in the field of "New Production Technologies" was established there on the basis of the Institute of Advanced Production Technologies.

Within the framework of the Center, the laboratory "Polymer Composite Materials" began its work under the guidance of Ph.D. I.A. Kobykhno. The laboratory consists of Doctor of Technical Sciences O.V. Tolochko, Ph.D. Bobrynina E.V., Ph.D. O.V. Nikiforova, Ph.D. V.K. Yadykin, engineers D.V. Goncharenko and A.A. Kiryanov. The purpose of its creation was to form a leading competence center for thermoplastic polymer composite materials in Russia.

For a short period of time, the laboratory team has already demonstrated the ability to solve technically complex problems. In particular, the result of the laboratory's work is a number of patents for inventions, among which one can distinguish:

· fiber-metal laminate based on unidirectional prepreg made of glass fiber and polypropylene, biaxially oriented polypropylene film and aluminum alloy sheets with a treated surface (the invention provides greater structural strength). ^[30]

· vibration-absorbing layered composite metal is a polymer material using a thermoplastic elastomer based on copolyurethanimide P-R ^[31] and GAN-R ^[32] (both inventions are designed for vibration and noise absorption in the manufacture of structures, in particular for the machine, aircraft and automotive industries).

· A method for distributing carbon-based nanoparticles in the production of nanocompositional unidirectional thermoplastic tapes (the invention can be used in the manufacture of products and structures for mechanical engineering, aviation, astronautics, shipbuilding, as well as the oil and gas industry). ^[33]

The latest achievements of the laboratory's scientists are also covered in the media. In April 2024, the news was published on the city information portal of the Government of St. Petersburg about the development by laboratory staff of the first experimental industrial technology in Russia for the manufacture of filaments (a material used in 3D printing). Polytechnic scientists were able to create a material from continuous carbon fiber based on thermoplastics. Soon, the technology will be introduced into industrial production, namely in the rocket, space and aviation industries. ^[34]

Less than a month later, the online publication Vedomosti: North-West published an article about the creation of a new composite material at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University that surpasses many aluminum alloys in strength. Fiber-metal laminates were used as the basis for the development. The peculiarity of the development lies in the fact that when a crack grows or hits, a large amount of energy is dissipated at the boundary between the polymer and the metal. This leads to an increase in the properties of the composite, but it works only if the joints (adhesion) between its layers are high. The development can be used in the aircraft industry and the rocket and space industry. ^[35]

Of course, the future prospects of the University's R&D department largely depend on whether it will be possible to ensure the influx of qualified scientific personnel who will be able to strengthen the ongoing work in the field of developing innovative polymer and composite materials. In this regard, much attention is paid at the university to the training of future specialists. Thus, in 2022, a master's degree program "Modeling of physical and mechanical properties and technology of production of polymers and composites" was opened at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University with the support of Gazpromneft - Industrial Innovations. The essence of the program is that undergraduate students will have the opportunity to study "modern methods of calculation and design of polymer and composite production processes" and learn how to apply them "in the manufacture of products with a given set of physical and mechanical properties." ^[36]

Thus, we can say that one of the centers for the study and development of polymer compounds and composites has already been formed on the basis of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University. This center has good prospects for development, as it has competent scientific and technical personnel and modern equipment. At the same time, unlike the R&D departments of private firms, whose activities are mainly aimed at ensuring the interests of an individual player, the results of his work can be used by all market participants.

Conclusion.

Research in the field of polymer chemistry in our country began in the second half of the XIX century. By the beginning of the 20th century, it became obvious that artificial polymers are necessary for the further development of industry and the transition to their mass production is a matter of the near future. Considering that the production of artificial polymer substances and compounds was a technically difficult task, the solution of which required the involvement of competent scientific personnel, pioneer companies in this field (such as Bogatyr) began to create laboratories on their base. This is how the first stable form of science-industry interaction in the field of polymer research and development emerged.

With the advent of Soviet power, academic research in the field of polymers continued in the country. At the same time, the active development of the civil and military industries required the mass production of polymer products in the shortest possible time. To solve this problem, research institutes began to be created, which soon became an effective form of science-industry interaction in the conditions of Soviet realities.

However, in the 1990s, the situation in the country changed dramatically. The volume of industrial production in the country was steadily declining, which affected the production of polymer products. And research institutes that did not find new sources of financing in a market economy often lost their human resources and technical base. By the 2000s, when the recovery of the domestic economy began, it turned out that the country was no longer able to produce a significant part of polymer products on its own. There has been a certain dependence on imports in this area.

All this required finding new effective forms of interaction between science and industry in the field of polymer research and development that meet the conditions of the time. At the beginning of the XXI century, individual private companies began to form their own centers for the study of polymer materials (R&D units), whose activities were focused on providing the company's own production with the necessary know-how. At the same time, the innovative developments obtained as a result of the work of such centers remain at the disposal of individual market participants. They are practically unavailable on the open market.

The creation of R&D departments for the study and development of polymer compounds and composites on the basis of individual universities is more responsible for the formation of a pool of know-how on the domestic market that would be available to all participants. Such centers, unlike the R&D departments of commercial firms, are interested in finding additional financing and try to attract as many customers as possible.

In some cases, the R&D departments of universities demonstrate high productivity of their work. Thus, the laboratory "Polymer Composite Materials" of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, operating within the Competence Center of the National Technological Initiative in the direction of "New Production Technologies", has already patented a number of know-how in demand by the domestic industry for a short period of its work. At the moment, the University's R&D has good prospects for further work, which is of great importance in the context of ongoing sanctions pressure from Western countries.