Student written Research Laboratory Guidebook 2023Nagaoka University of Technology

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Green chemical resources laboratory

Professor / KAWAHARA Seiichi

ProfessorKAWAHARA Seiichi

profiles and activiities profiles and activiities at nagaoka university of technology
J-GLOBAL
  • Green Technology as a material to natural rubber
  • International exchange is abouded many in laboratory
  • Manufacturing and social contributions

Supervisor

Professor / KAWAHARA Seiichi
Prof. Kawahara leads study on natural rubber science and technology at the forefront.
Despite his busy schedule, he directly supervises us in the laboratory. He always has a smile on his face and is always ready to give us research tips when we are in trouble, which is very reassuring.

Research Content

We are conducting daily research to create a new chemistry to produce various substances and materials from natural rubber: that is, natural rubber chemistry. We believe that we can establish a sustainable society that does not depend on petrochemicals by using natural rubber, which is a green resource and has excellent physical and mechanical properties, as a raw material. We have developed novel soft materials with a nano-matrix structure by graft copolymerization of monomers onto natural rubber. In particular, we expertise analyses of natural rubber through chemical structural analysis with a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer and higher order structural analyses with a transmission electron microscope (TEM) and focused-ion microbeam-scanning electron microscope (FIB-SEM).

3DTEM image of natural rubber which has nanomatrix structure

A Day in the Lab

The use of time in the laboratory is flexible but we are mainly active between 9:00 and 19:00. As for the flow of the day, students start studying and working in the laboratory around 9:00 a.m., and then go home as soon as they finish research. Seminars include journal meetings, English textbook study seminars, and Japanese textbook study seminars. Recreational activities are held throughout the year, although they are often cancelled due to the COVID-19. We have flower viewing (Hanami) party in the spring, fireworks viewing (Hanabi) party in the summer, Christmas party and ski trip in the winter, and other activities to deepen friendship with all members.

graduation ceremony

Thesis Subjects

  • (M)Structural analysis of vulcanized natural rubber using rubber state NMR spectroscopy
  • (M)Preparation and properties of natural rubber-nanodiamond composites
  • (M)Structural analysis of vulcanized chloroprene rubber by rubber state NMR spectroscopy

The number of
PhD Graduates

20

Major employers of Graduates

  • THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER. , LTD.
  • NOK CORP.
  • KOKOKU INTECH CO. , LTD.
  • Fuji Latex Co. , LTD.
  • SUMITOMO RIKO CO. , LTD.
  • YAMASHITA RUBBER CO. , LTD.
  • NAMICS CORP.
  • OKAMOTO INDUSTRIES, INC.
  • NICHIAS CORP.
  • Chemical Evaluation and Research Institute
Writer : WATANABE Ryota, Materials Science and Technology
(National Institute of Technology, Kobe College)