On seeing a puzzled face in front of her, Maria who prefers being called Montse laughs, 'I will explain it more simply! There are different ways of vulcanising rubber, which is treating it at a high temperature to improve elasticity and strength or to harden it. The most widely used vulcanisation method is sulphur cure but peroxide cure is also very important.
'The primary difference between the two vulcanisation systems is the nature of the network formed, which results in different physical/dynamical properties of the rubber. Sulphur cure has some advantages over peroxide cure and vice-versa. For instance, usually tensile and tear strength properties are superior in sulphur-cured rubber. Also, sulphur cure leads to better dynamic properties. On the other hand, peroxide-cured rubber does not suffer reversion and thus has an excellent ageing resistance (which is one of the problems of sulphur-cured rubber).
'Unlike sulphur cure, in peroxide cure there is no formation of nitroso by-products which is suspected of being damaging to the environment. My aim is to obtain peroxide-cured rubber with the superior characteristics of both curing methods.
'In a nutshell, I am pursuing a synergistic combination of the above-mentioned properties. One of the main applications of rubber is in the automotive industry: not only in tyres but also in many other parts. I am working towards obtaining a material that can hopefully be used in the engine mount.'
While studying Chemistry at Institut Quymic de Sarrió, Barcelona, Montse also worked at Henkel Ibúrica S.A. She then went on to do a Master's degree that combined studying in Barcelona with a stay at the UT.
'Well, I stayed here for nine months. Little did I know that my stay would get extended to pursue a PhD. It was nice in the beginning to be on my own, enjoy my independence and be my own boss but after a while I started to miss my family. I miss my dog immensely and I think, the feeling is mutual!
'I did not enjoy living on Calslaan on campus, sharing a flat with eleven people and without much communication between us. The kitchen and bathrooms were dirty and things went missing from the fridge. I am glad I moved into another flat in the city. I have decorated it myself and it feels like my home.'
'Thankfully, I am not homesick now. I am really enjoying work - my colleague Richard and I won the second and first prize respectively, at the International Rubber Conference 2003 and for me that has been a tremendous boost.' The prize was awarded by DKG, the German Rubber Society, a prestigious institution in the rubber world. 'I could not believe that I had won. I thought my colleagues were pulling a fast one on me!'
When Montse is not curing rubber with peroxide, she learns Dutch on the internet. 'It is appreciated that I speak in Dutch when I shop. And to be honest, I would expect a foreigner living in Spain for a longer period of time to speak some Spanish too.'
Deepa Talasila
Maria Montserrat Alvarez Grima
