BrainMap

Mr. Cristian-Dragos Varganici

Ph.D.

Senior Scientist - INSTITUTUL DE CHIMIE MACROMOLECULARA "PETRU PONI"

Researcher

Dr. Cristian–Dragos Varganici is a senior scientist at the "Petru Poni" Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry in Iasi, Romania, working on physico–chemical characterization of epoxy resins and multicomponent polymeric materials, thermal and photochemical stability of polymeric materials, compatibility studies based on structure–properties relationships in polymeric materials, general behaviour of polymers exposed under the action of environmental factors, artificial accelerated UV and thermal aging studies of multicomponent polymeric materials, lifetime evaluation studies of materials from thermal data. He has 127 scientific articles, 4 book chapters and over 30 international conferences. Has over 3000 and h–index 34 and is member of the Romanian Chemical Society (SChR) and the and the The Italian Associatation of Science and Technology of Macolecules (AIM).

Web of Science ResearcherID: https://www.webofscience.com/wos/author/record/15860493?state=%7B%7D

Curriculum Vitae (09/06/2026)

Expertise & keywords

The behaviour of new multicomponent polymeric systems in simulated environmental conditions for flame retardant coating materials Call name: P 1 - SP 1.1 - Proiecte de cercetare pentru stimularea tinerelor echipe independente
PN-III-P1-1.1-TE-2019-0604 2020 - 2022

Role in this project: Project coordinator

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL DE CHIMIE MACROMOLECULARA "PETRU PONI"

Project partners: INSTITUTUL DE CHIMIE MACROMOLECULARA "PETRU PONI" (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL DE CHIMIE MACROMOLECULARA "PETRU PONI" (RO)

Project website: https://www.icmpp.ro/epoxyphosdeg/

Abstract:

Polymeric materials are continuously replacing traditional ones. These materials easily ignite and rapidly spread flames, releasing highly toxic and corrosive gases. Ten to twenty persons per million inhabitants die each year from fires occurring in industrialized countries. Along greenhouse effect gases, many other toxic gases and compounds are generated during uncontrolled fire spread, such as carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, dioxins, furans and corrosive gases: sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrochloric acid and aldehydes. Reducing fire risk leads to a significant decrease of toxic emissions. Volatile phosphorylated compounds are among the most effective combustion inhibitors, since phosphorus-based radicals are five times more effective than bromine, ten times more effective than chlorine radicals, and far less toxic than both. Since 2006, when the European Union restricted hazardous compounds, the need of developing halogen free fire-resistant materials emerged. The originality and innovation of the project objectives consist in the synthesis of new flame retardant semi-interpenetrating polymer networks based on a cross-linked epoxy network with three different curing agents and phosphorus containing aromatic polyester, as potential coating materials, correlation of their different thermal and UV accelerated aging decomposition mechanisms with the materials flame retardant capacity for outdoor exposure (on which no literature was found) and the forming of a group in new interdisciplinary approach for developing a future subdomain in characterizing flame retardants. The project relevance reflects on fundamental and applicative knowledge, educational area, by creating new international interdisciplinary research collaboration opportunities, technological research area, by generating guidelines for material design, and economic domain, by providing fundamental and experimental know-how for possible future sustainment of technological transfer to companies.

Wood and derivatives protection by novel bio-coating solutions Call name: P 3 - SP 3.2 - Proiecte ERA.NET
ERANET-ERA IB 2 -ProWood 2017 - 2019

Role in this project: Key expert

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL DE CHIMIE MACROMOLECULARA "PETRU PONI"

Project partners: INSTITUTUL DE CHIMIE MACROMOLECULARA "PETRU PONI" (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL DE CHIMIE MACROMOLECULARA "PETRU PONI" (RO)

Project website: http://intelcentru.ro/prowood/index.php

Abstract:

The European Union (EU27) woodworking industry consists today of more than 380,000 companies and employs more than 2.1 million

workers. The European industrial interest on wood decay processes is both to accelerate (biorefinery) and to prevent wood degradation

(decay). While, the hydrolytic degradation processes are extensively studied and improved for biofuels production, the prevention of wood

degradation has received less attention, even though, the preservation of wood structures against decomposition is an old challenge. The

effect on wood of environmental factors (sun, water, chemicals or fire) and, due to its natural origin, low resistance against biotic agents

(moulds, bacteria and insects) cause a progressive diminution of its mechanical properties and biodeterioration. Although, there are

products for wood protection available on the market they do not meet the expectations in terms of efficiency, price and long term activity,

whereas some of them release toxic substances.

The project ProWood (Protection of Wood) is an interdisciplinary 6-members Consortium of molecular biologists, (bio)chemical engineers

and industrial partners selected for their know-how in biotechnology, bio-coating development, wood handling and validation processes.

ProWood aims the development of novel solution(s) for wood decay protection under the light of the previous and successful developments

and knowledge of the Partners. Thus, the combination of bio-based coating solutions with biological decay antagonists guarantees an

industrial-relevant solution. The workplan of ProWood consists of four Research and Analysis workpackages (WP) and one of Management

ERA-IB 7th Call ProWood - ID: ERA-IB-16-040 5 of 33

and Dissemination. These WPs cover the process from the initial definition of coating precursors (chemistry) and the biological antagonists

(biotechnology) to the combined coating demonstration and validation (industry) and the industrial use (market). Thus, ProWood walks

along the entire value chain of wood protection.

Innovative system for products and technologies to stimulate the eco-efficiency of the leather industry Call name: Joint Applied Research Projects - PCCA 2013 - call
PN-II-PT-PCCA-2013-4-0436 2014 - 2017

Role in this project: Key expert

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU TEXTILE SI PIELARIE-I.N.C.D.T.P. BUCURESTI SUCURSALA BUCURESTI INSTITUTUL DE CERCETARE PIELARIE - INCALTAMINTE I.C.P.I.

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU TEXTILE SI PIELARIE-I.N.C.D.T.P. BUCURESTI SUCURSALA BUCURESTI INSTITUTUL DE CERCETARE PIELARIE - INCALTAMINTE I.C.P.I. (RO); Institutul National de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Chimie si Petrochimie - ICECHIM Bucuresti (RO); UNIVERSITATEA TEHNICĂ "GHEORGHE ASACHI" IAŞI (RO); INSTITUTUL DE CHIMIE MACROMOLECULARA "PETRU PONI" (RO); PIELOREX S.A. (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL DE CHIMIE MACROMOLECULARA "PETRU PONI" (RO)

Project website: http://icpi.ro/icpi/?param=1

Abstract:

The specific topic of this complex project is of great interest and the conclusive evidence is the great number of international research works on increasing eco-efficiency of the leather processing industry, which is currently classified as an industry with controlled environmental aggression tending to become an industry with limited aggression.

The objectives proposed for this project are consistent with the purpose and overall goal of the PN II_PT_PCCA program to increase competitiveness of research and development by developing solutions to problems of socio-economic interest, resulting in innovative products and technologies, developed in partnership between research organizations. The problems addressed by the proposed project place it into Research area 7 - Materials, processes and products, Research direction 7.1. Advanced Materials, Research theme 7.1.3. Environmentally friendly materials in processes related to their production and use.

The main goal of this project is to promote best practices specific to ecological leather processing industry (at least in terms of eco-tolerability) by developing and implementing new materials and innovative technological principles that lead to the harmonization of economic performance criteria with environmental protection and human security.

The originality of this project lies in the idea of transforming difficult to manage waste into an eco-efficiency growth factor for the industry generating it, namely recovery of solid waste with protein content (leather, wool, hair) resulting from leather processing (as well as from other industries) to obtain added-value products (biopolymers).

These innovative products are used in biomimetic hybrid tanning systems and as vehicle agents for a new leather dyeing system with non-specific materials, namely organic pigments formulated/functionalized in water-soluble liposomal micro/nanocapsules.

Developing these relatively low-cost materials will be possible through simple processes and their application will not essentially change existing industrial technologies, but will induce multiple economic effects (by reducing production and pollution treatment costs), environmental effects (through recovery and use of difficult to manage waste, removing substances with high toxic potential, such as chromium salts used in tanning and carcinogenic amines used in dyeing, from leathers and effluents), and, last but not least, social effects (by protecting the individual, from workers in tanneries to users of objects made of leather, creating new jobs as a result of lower production costs and re/opening waste processing units).

Advanced research related to the behavior of multi-component polymer systems under simulated environmental factors action Call name: Exploratory Research Projects - PCE-2011 call
PN-II-ID-PCE-2011-3-0187 2011 - 2016

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: Institutul de Chimie Macromoleculara Petru Poni Iasi

Project partners: Institutul de Chimie Macromoleculara Petru Poni Iasi (RO)

Affiliation: Institutul de Chimie Macromoleculara Petru Poni Iasi (RO)

Project website: http://www.icmpp.ro/mcps/ro/index.php

Abstract:

The aging of polymer systems involves different factors: natural (light, heat, humidity), structural and accidental (impurities, oxidation processes occurred during processing), all these being capable to significantly reduce the life-time of materials. The mechanisms of polymers degradation are highly complex. Thus, there can be initiated photo-crosslinking or photo-oxidative reactions of polymers accompanied by decrease in average degree polymerization, increase of polydispersity and formation of chemical structures capable to modify the properties of polymers. The present project envisages increasing knowledge in the investigation upon effect of external factors on stability of multi-component polymer systems. It is aimed to create a research team comprising 4 experienced researchers and 3 doctoral students focused to acquire experimental data and to elaborate original theories in order to explain the performance loss of polymer systems during exposure to controlled environmental factors, and to evaluate their life-time prediction. It is considered that valuable scientific results will be provided, being comparable with those already existing at global level, and will contribute to increasing international visibility of Romanian research activity. The envisaged results will contribute to the finalization of doctoral theses to be realized by the young doctoral students included in the research team.

Phosphorus-containing polymers for high performance materials used in advanced technologies and/or biomedical applications Call name: Projects for Young Research Teams - TE-2012 call
PN-II-RU-TE-2012-3-0123 2013 - 2016

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL DE CHIMIE MACROMOLECULARA "PETRU PONI"

Project partners: INSTITUTUL DE CHIMIE MACROMOLECULARA "PETRU PONI" (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL DE CHIMIE MACROMOLECULARA "PETRU PONI" (RO)

Project website: http://proiect0123.wix.com/serbezeanu

Abstract:

The present research will develop the field of phosphorus-containing macromolecular compounds, the main goals being the design, synthesis and characterization of novel polymers containing phosphorus in the main and/or the side chain and the investigation of potential applications of these materials in high ranked fields of the modern technology and/or in biomedicine. The targeted polymers will be designed in such manner to possess good solubility and processability, flame retardancy, high thermal stability, biocompatibility and biodegradability. The structure of monomers and polymers will be verified by means of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and NMR spectroscopy. The liquid crystalline behavior will be investigated by polarized light microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray diffraction. The effect of the phosphorus content on the thermal properties and the flame retardancy will be evaluated by means of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), TGA-FTIR, and scanning electron microscopy. The physical properties of the poly(organophosphazene)-doxorubicin nanoparticles and the release profile of doxorubicin from the micelles will be determined, and the in vivo antitumor activity of the poly(organophosphazene)-doxorubicin will be monitored to assess the efficacy of using the polymer-drug nanoparticles as a drug delivery system.

FILE DESCRIPTION	DOCUMENT
List of research grants as project coordinator or partner team leader
Significant R&D projects for enterprises, as project manager
R&D activities in enterprises
Peer-review activity for international programs/projects