• 3332
    Citations - based on content available in repository [source: Scopus]
1995 …2025

Content available in repository

Personal profile

Quote

I find it particularly inspiring that the materials we study have the potential to meet the future needs of our society in terms of properties, scalable processing, and carbon footprint.”

Research profile

Having started his career as a synthetic organic chemist, Rolf van Benthem has develop into a materials scientist specializing in polymers, resins, coatings, active surfaces and especially industrial materials and their contributions to sustainability. He is active in the development of new polymers and new levels of control in polymers and polymer materials (such as synthesis, processing, self-assembly, crystallization and cross-linking), as well as aspects of circularity and scalable industrial manufacturing with low carbon-dioxide impact.  Van Benthem is also involved, both at Shell and at TU/e, in finding new functions (including self-healing and surface-replenishing materials), and roles for polymer materials, thin films and carbon-based materials in the generation, conversion, transport and storage of energy. 

Academic background

Rolf van Benthem studied Chemistry at Leiden University, specializing in Organic Chemistry and Biocatalysis and graduating cum laude in 1990 (Prof.Van der Gen, Dr Hans Brussee). Subsequently he obtained his PhD at the University of Amsterdam in 1995 under supervision of professors Nico Speckamp and Henk Hiemstra, with his thesis on homogeneous oxidative catalysis for the synthesis of vicinal aminoalcohols and diamines. He then started his research into highly branched polymers  and other coating related subjects with DSM Research in Geleen (the Netherlands), where he was Corporate Science Fellow for Macromolecular Sciences until 2021. He is currently employed by Shell as Chief Scientist (Materials Science & Engineering), where he started in 2022. Since 2002 he is part-time professor at our Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, at the Physical Chemistry group (SPC), first of Coatings Technology (2012-2021) and of Sustainable Industrial Polymer Materials since 2022.  

Affiliated with

  • DPI (Supervisory Board)
  • CBBC (Supervisory Board)
  • NWO (Member of the Materials Committee)

Partners in industry

  • Shell (shell.com)
  • Ytlar (ytlar.com)

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy
  • SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
  • SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
  • SDG 13 - Climate Action

External positions

Chief Scientist Materials Science & Engineering, Shell Global Solutions International BV

2022 → …

DSM Materials Science Centre, DSM

1 May 19952021

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