Achilias Dimitrios

Dr. Dimitris S. Achilias is Professor of Polymer Chemistry and Technology, Lab of Polymer and Dyes Chemistry and Technology, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. He completed his BSc and Ph.D. at the Chemical Engineering Department, AUTH. Ηis research interests cover the chemical recycling of polymers, synthesis of polymer nanocomposites and kinetics of polymerization, degradation and crystallization. He has published over 157 research papers, with more than 8000 citations and h-index 45 (Scopus). He has been the editor of 3 books on recycling (InTech) with over 120,000 downloads, member of the Editorial Board of the journal Polymers (MDPI) and guest editor of 2 special issues of Polymers. He has participated in several research projects, and holds 3 US Patents. He has participated with over 220 announcements in several conferences, he is co-author of 8 chapters in international scientific books and 4 textbooks in Greek. He has supervised 2 Post doc Researchers, 8 Doctoral Theses, 73 undergraduate and 55 postgraduate dissertations and was a member of approximately 108 dissertation examination committees. He has participation in the teaching of numerous undergraduate and postgraduate courses. He is elected member of the Board of the Hellenic Society of Thermal Analysis. Finally, he is a reviewer of over 660 papers in scientific journals, as well as an evaluator of research proposals funded by several international and national organizations.

Teaching

Undergraduate

• Macromolecular Chemistry
• Polymeric materials
• Polymerization reactions
• Biopolymers
• Techniques for the Synthesis and Characterization of Polymers
• Technology of Polymeric Materials
• Industrial Organic Chemistry
• Composite and nanocomposite materials

Research

Polymer Recycling

Development of methods for the chemical and thermo-chemical recycling of polymers. Recycling aiming in the recovery of monomers (PET, PMMA). Recycling aiming in the recovery of secondary-value-added products (PS, PC, ABS, HIPS). Recycling aiming in the recovery of a mixture of hydrocarbons to be used as bio-fuel (LDPE, HDPE, PP). Polymer recycling with pyrolysis.

Synthesis and characterization οf polymer-based nanocomposite materials

Effect of the addition of different nano-additives on the polymerization reaction and product properties. In situ polymerization of several polymers in the presence of nano-montmorillonites. In situ polymerization of several polymers in the presence of graphene oxide. Development of nanocomposite materials based on biodegradable polymers. Synthesis and characterization of polymers and composites based on naturally occurring materials.

Polymerization kinetics

Experimental study and theoretical modeling of polymerization kinetics. Use of Differential Scanning calorimetry in the study of polymerization kinetics and estimation of the kinetic parameters. Variation of conversion with time. Effect of process parameters on the final polymer properties. Development of kinetic models to simulate the polymerization reaction. Modeling the effect of diffusion-controlled phenomena. Experimental study and theoretical modeling of the thermal degradation kinetics of polymers. Estimation of the effective activation energy using detailed and isoconversional models.