Return to the homepage
  • Library
  • UC Online
  • News
  • Events
  • Maps
  • Staff
  • Work at UC
  • 150 Years
  • Study
    • Study
      • Courses and qualifications
      • Subjects
      • Online learning
      • Arts
      • Business
      • Digital Screen
      • Education
      • Engineering
      • Health
      • Law
      • Science
      • All departments
      • Scholarships
      • Examinations
      • Graduation
      • Graduate School
      • Key dates
      • Publications
      • Study abroad and exchanges
      • Work-Integrated Learning
      • Academic support
      • Special consideration
      • Summer School
      • Transition Programmes
      • Quick Links
      • LEARN
      • Logins
      • Timetables
      • Library
      • Scholarships
      • Transcripts
      • Grading
  • Enrol
    • Enrol at UC
      • Enrolment process
      • Enrolment and Course Dates
      • Admission and University Entrance
      • Identity and citizenship verification
      • International student enrolment
      • PhD and doctoral degree applications
      • Manage your study
      • Fees and funding
      • Student Agreement
      • Change your enrolment
      • Update your contact details
      • Contact Student Services
      • Quick Links
      • Enrol now with myUC
      • Re-enrol now with myUC
      • Qualifications and courses
      • Scholarships
      • Academic Support
      • Transcripts
  • Research
    • Research
      • Become a research student
      • Find a supervisor
      • Support for Researchers
      • Māori Research Partnerships
      • Research Impact
      • Research Institutes and Centres
      • Research specialties
      • Facilities and equipment
      • IP Commercialisation
      • Innovation Jumpstart
      • Ethics Approval
      • UC Research Awards
      • Contact us
      • Quick Links
      • Find an expert
      • Find a supervisor
      • Jobs at UC
      • Ethics Approval
      • Postgraduate forms
      • Library (research)
  • Life
    • Life
      • The campus
      • Facilities
      • Getting around
      • Student life
      • Accommodation
      • Support services
      • Know The Code
      • Sustainability Office
      • UC Students' Association (UCSA)
      • CCR
      • Golden Key
      • Health, safety and wellbeing
      • Life in CHCH
      • Life in NZ
      • Get active
      • Canterbury Card
      • Quick Links
      • UCGo
      • Maps
      • Parking
      • Health Centre
      • UC RecCentre
      • Student events
      • Clubs and societies
  • Support services
    • Support services
      • Finding support
      • Need to talk?
      • Health Services
      • Academic support
      • Assistive technology
      • Accessibility
      • Financial assistance
      • Academic grievances
      • Equity and diversity
      • Parents and whānau
      • Job and careers advice
      • New student support
      • Current student support
      • Postgraduate student support
      • High school student support
      • Adult student support
      • International student support
      • LGBTQI student support
      • Māori student support
      • Pasifika student support
      • Onsite services
      • Quick Links
      • In an emergency
      • Security
      • Raise a concern
      • IT Services
      • Academic Skills Centre
      • Library (support)
      • Contacts
      • Wellbeing Hub
  • Engage
    • Engage
      • Alumni
      • Business and industry
      • Canterbury University Press
      • Communications and Engagement
      • Community partnerships
      • External exam invigilation
      • Find an expert or consultant
      • Giving to UC
      • International partnerships
      • Knowledge Commons
      • News
      • School resources
      • Work at UC
      • Work placements
      • Quick Links
      • Donate to UC
      • Contact UC
      • Current vacancies
      • Erskine Fellowship
      • News
      • Public events
      • Liaison Office
  • About
    • About
      • What is special about UC
      • UC7
      • Ako - Learning & Teaching
      • Governance
      • Leadership
      • Health and Safety
      • Sustainability Hub
      • People and Culture
      • Asset Planning and Delivery
      • History
      • Information and Records Management
      • Ngā Uara | Our Values
      • Contacts
  • Logins
    • Logins
      • LEARN
      • Zoom
      • Student email
      • Staff email
      • myUC
      • My Timetable
      • Canterbury Card Account
      • My Library Account
      • OneDrive
      • UC CareerHub
      • UC Services Portal
      • Password Reset
      • UCGO
      • ourUC
      • Staff logins
      • More logins
Skip to main content
uc-research-profile

Use the Tab and Up, Down arrow keys to select menu items.

  • UC Research Profile
  • Search
  • Browse
    • Subject areas and disciplines
    • Colleges and departments
  • Administration
    • Email UC Research Profile Administrator
    • Update your UC Research Profile page in Profiler (Staff Only)
  • Quick Links
    • Research at UC

Dr Heon Park

Contact

Department: Chemical and Process Engineering

Email: heon.park@canterbury.ac.nz

Phone Number: +64 3 369 3999 ext. null

Office: Link - Room 415

Languages: English, Korean

Scientific work starts with definitions and ends with models.
About
Research / Creative works
Supervision
Networks
Projects
Methods & Equipment

Fields of Research

  • Smart materials
  • Extraction with supercritical fluid
  • Synthesis and processing of biodegradable plastics
  • Polymeric foams (insulating, shock absorbing, sound proving)
  • Optical films for electronic displays
  • Polymer processing with supercritical fluids
  • Biomedical sealants and adhesives
  • Plastics to fuel conversion
  • Developing polymer characterization instruments
  • Properties of polymers at high pressure
  • Artificial organs

Researcher Summary

One of my research goals is to develop advanced materials based on understanding of the “Structure-State-Property” relationship. The specific objectives to achieve the goal are:
(1) Synthesizing novel polymeric resins to give specific properties
(2) developing processes to produce polymeric products
(3) developing scientific instruments to characterize polymeric resins and products.
Considering current environmental issues, I am researching and developing environmentally benign polymers. Biodegradable polymers in the market have low mechanical properties yet are expensive. Thus, the natural direction is enhancing properties and lowering the cost. Production processes should also be environment-friendly, so that I am developing processes utilising inert gases or supercritical fluids to replace toxic chemicals such as chemical blowing agents for foaming process.
Most polymer processes involve high-pressure such in extrusion, and thus I have been studying the effects of pressure and temperature on properties and synthesis of polymers. Changing those variable also induces phase changes of the materials, and these are also of my research topics.
I am studying the following materials
biodegradable fibres (fishing nets)
biodegradable films (agricultural mulch films)
biodegradable foams (insulator, floats, and cushion)
biomedical sealants (replacing suture)

Developing processes at high pressure is another objective of my research goals. I have been studying effects of processing variables (temperature, pressure, and concentration of additives) on extracting specific chemicals from various materials such as sea animals and plants and on sterilising foods.

Subject Area: Disciplines

  • Engineering and Technology: Bioengineering; Bioprocess Engineering; Chemical & Process; Food Process Engineering; Materials; Natural Fibre & Bicomposites

Research/Scholarly/Creative Works

Journal Articles
  • Egerton S., Sim C., Park HE., Staiger MP., Patil KM. and Cowan MG. (2022) Controlling coefficients of thermal expansion in thermoplastic materials: effects of zinc cyanide and ionic liquid. Materials Advances http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d2ma00338d.
  • Mazlan NA., Lin L. and Park HE. (2022) Microplastics in the New Zealand Environment. Processes 10(2) http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/pr10020265.
  • An HJ., Park HE. and Cho BU. (2021) Effect of Temperature of Tetraethylammonium Hydroxide/Urea/Cellulose Solution on Surface Tension and Cellulose Bead Size. Palpu Chongi Gisul/Journal of Korea Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry 53(6): 69-76. http://dx.doi.org/10.7584/JKTAPPI.2021.12.53.6.69.
  • Gasek N., Park HE., Uriarte JJ., Uhl FE., Pouliot R., Riveron A., Moss T., Phillips Z., Louie J. and Sharma I. (2021) Development of Alginate and Gelatin-Based Pleural and Tracheal Sealants. Acta Biomaterialia (accepted and in production) http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2021.06.048.
  • Lin L., Lee Y. and Park HE. (2021) Erratum: Recycling and rheology of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) to make foams using supercritical fluid (Phys. Fluids (2021) 33 (067119) DOI: 10.1063/5.0050649). Physics of Fluids 33(7) http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0062586.
  • Lin L., Lee Y. and Park HE. (2021) Recycling and rheology of poly(lactic acid) (PLA)to make foams using supercritical fluid. Physics of Fluids 33(6) 067119 http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0050649.
  • Park HE., Gasek N., Hwang J., Weiss DJ. and Lee PC. (2020) Effect of temperature on gelation and cross-linking of gelatin methacryloyl for biomedical applications. Physics of Fluids 32(3) http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.5144896.
  • Pouliot RA., Young BM., Link PA., Park HE., Kahn AR., Shankar K., Schneck MB., Weiss DJ. and Heise RL. (2020) Porcine Lung-Derived Extracellular Matrix Hydrogel Properties Are Dependent on Pepsin Digestion Time. Tissue Engineering - Part C: Methods 26(6): 332-346. http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/ten.tec.2020.0042.
  • Yao SX., Lee PC., Park HE. and Schadler LS. (2020) A novel method to characterize thermal properties of the polymer and gas/supercritical fluid mixture using dielectric measurements. Polymer Testing 92 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.polymertesting.2020.106861.
  • Kim ES., Park HE., Lopez-Barron CR. and Lee PC. (2019) Enhanced foamability with shrinking microfibers in linear polymer. Polymers 11(2) http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/polym11020211.
  • Kim ES., Park HE. and Lee PC. (2018) In situ shrinking fibers enhance strain hardening and foamability of linear polymers. Polymer 136: 1-5. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2017.12.040.
  • Wrenn SM., Griswold ED., Uhl FE., Uriarte JJ., Park HE., Coffey AL., Dearborn JS., Ahlers BA., Deng B. and Lam YW. (2018) Avian lungs: A novel scaffold for lung bioengineering. PLoS ONE 13(6) http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0198956.
  • Rudolph NM., Agudelo AC., Granada JC., Park HE. and Osswald TA. (2016) WLF model for the pressure dependence of zero shear viscosity of polycarbonate. Rheologica Acta 55(8): 673-681. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00397-016-0945-4.
  • Li SW., Park HE. and Dealy JM. (2011) Evaluation of molecular linear viscoelastic models for polydisperse H polybutadienes. Journal of Rheology 55(6): 1341-1373. http://dx.doi.org/10.1122/1.3635384.
  • Li SW., Park HE., Dealy JM., Maric M., Lee H., Im K., Choi H., Chang T., Rahman MS. and Mays J. (2011) Detecting structural polydispersity in branched polybutadienes. Macromolecules 44(2): 208-214. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ma101803h.
  • Park HE., Dealy JM., Marchand GR., Wang J., Li S. and Register RA. (2010) Rheology and structure of molten, olefin multiblock copolymers. Macromolecules 43(16): 6789-6799. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ma1012122.
  • Lee PC., Park HE., Morse DC. and MacOsko CW. (2009) Polymer-polymer interfacial slip in multilayered films. Journal of Rheology 53(4): 893-915. http://dx.doi.org/10.1122/1.3114370.
  • Park HE., Lim ST., Laun HM. and Dealy JM. (2008) Measurement of pressure coefficient of melt viscosity: Drag flow versus capillary flow. Rheologica Acta 47(9): 1023-1038. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00397-008-0296-x.
  • Park HE., Lim ST., Smillo F., Dealy JM. and Robertson CG. (2008) Wall slip and spurt flow of polybutadiene. Journal of Rheology 52(5): 1201-1239. http://dx.doi.org/10.1122/1.2964199.
  • Park HE. and Dealy JM. (2006) Effects of pressure and supercritical fluids on the viscosity of polyethylene. Macromolecules 39(16): 5438-5452. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ma060735+.
  • Park HE., Dealy J. and Münstedt H. (2006) Influence of long-chain branching on time-pressure and time-temperature shift factors for polystyrene and polyethylene. Rheologica Acta 46(1): 153-159. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00397-006-0116-0.
Conference Contributions - Published
  • Diez SR., Ducharme T., Park HE. and Lee PC. (2018) In-situ visualization of crystal nucleation and growth behaviors of polylactic-acid (PLA) under high pressure CO2. In Annual Technical Conference - ANTEC, Conference Proceedings 2018-May.
  • Ducharme TD., Diez SR., Bernier DY., Park HE. and Lee PC. (2018) A system for visualizing and measuring stress of plastic flows under shear conditions. In Annual Technical Conference - ANTEC, Conference Proceedings 2018-May.
  • Kim ES., Park HE. and Lee PC. (2018) Strain hardening of linear polymer enhanced by heat shrinking fibers. In Annual Technical Conference - ANTEC, Conference Proceedings 2018-May.
  • Lee PC., Park HE. and MacOsko CW. (2008) Direct and indirect polymer-polymer interfacial slip measurements in multilayered films. In AIP Conference Proceedings 1027: 1072-1074. http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.2964471.
  • Lee PC., Park HE., Macosko CW. and Dealy JM. (2008) Polymer-polymer interfacial slip measurements in multila yered film. In Technical Papers, Regional Technical Conference - Society of Plastics Engineers 4: 2335-2339.
  • Li SW., Park HE., Dealy JM., Maric M., Rahman MS., Mays J., Chen X. and Larson RG. (2008) Effect of molecular structure on rheological behavior of nearly monodisperse H-shaped polybutadienes. In AIP Conference Proceedings 1027: 430-432. http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.2964718.
  • Park HE. and Dealy JM. (2008) Effects of long-chain branching, concentration of supercritical CO 2 and pressure on the viscosity of linear and branched polypropylenes. In Technical Papers, Regional Technical Conference - Society of Plastics Engineers 4: 2517-2521.
  • Park HE. and Dealy JM. (2008) Effects of supercritical fluids, pressure, temperature, and molecular structure on the rheological properties of molten polymers. In AIP Conference Proceedings 1027: 366-368. http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.2964693.
  • Perrault CM., Juncker D. and Park HE. (2008) Preparation and shear modulus of polyacrylamide gels as nerve cell culture. In AIP Conference Proceedings 1027: 615-617. http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.2964784.
Conference Contributions - Other
  • Lin L., Lee Y. and Park HE. (2021) Recycling and rheology of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) to make foams using supercritical fluids: Part 1: Effect of foaming direction. 2nd Online International Conference on Recycling and Waste Management, 5-6 Jul 2021.
  • Lin L., Lee Y. and Park HE. (2021) Recycling and rheology of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) to make foams using supercritical fluids: Part 2: Effect of temperature and pressure. 2nd Online International Conference on Recycling and Waste Management, 5-6 Jul 2021.
  • Park HE. (2020) Artificial organ engineering: Bird lung to human lung. Korean Academy of Scientists and Engineers in Australasia, e-Conference on Science, Engineering, and Environment in the COVID-era, 26-27 Nov 2020.
  • Park HE. (2020) Artificial organ engineering: Bird lung to human lung. Korean Academy of Scientists and Engineers in Australasia, NZ Branch Workshop, 21 Nov 2020.
  • Lee Y. and Park H. (2019) Physical foaming biodegradable plastic using supercritical fluid: comparing PLA foams produced from 1-D vs 2-D foaming methods. Christchurch, New Zealand: Materials at UC, 25-26 Nov 2019.
  • Lee Y. and Park H. (2019) Physical foaming biodegradable plastic using supercritical fluid: effect of temperature and pressure. Christchurch, New Zealand: Materials at UC, 25-26 Nov 2019.
  • Yao SX., Lee PC., Schadler L., Park HE. and Diez SR. (2019) Using Dielectric Properties to Study Transport and Thermal Properties of Gas/Supercritical Fluid (SCF) Embedded Polymer Solution. San Diego, USA: 258th ACS Fall Meeting & Expo, 1 Aug 2019.
Intellectual Property
  • Lopez-Barron C., Yang Y., Lee PC., Park HE. and Diez S. (2020) Cyclic olefin copolymer compositions for foam applications.Patent No. US20200354537A1.

Student Supervision

Displaying all items.
    Current
  • PhD - Hosen MS: 3D printability of semicrystalline polymers
  • PhD - Lin L: Medical sealant with smart fibers
  • Masters - Scott HT: Phosphonium Based Ionic Liquids
  • Honours - Hollamby B: Completely biodegradable and readily recyclable paper cup
  • Honours - Kenta K: Flexible aerogel
  • Honours - Millerick S: Converting disposable cutlery to biodegradable foams
  • Completed
  • Honours - Aldridge Z: Developing evaluation method for biomedical sealant (2020)
  • Honours - Dray P: Biomaterial for medical sealant
  • Honours - Joe M: Biomaterial for medical sealant
  • Honours - Johnson U: Transparent wood plate
  • Honours - King L: Physical foaming biodegradable plastics using supercritical fluids (2020)
  • Honours - Lee Y: Physical foaming biodegradable plastics using supercritical fluid (2019)
  • Honours - Mazlan NA: Evaluating detection methods for microplastics in environment (2019)
  • Honours - Michael J: Biomaterial for medical sealant (2020)
  • Honours - Mirkin S: Converting spent grain to plastics (2020)
  • Honours - Putnam C: High-pressure meat sterilisation (2020)
  • Honours - Sutton J: Converting spent grain to plastics
  • Honours - van Hout K: Converting disposable cutlery to biodegradable foams
  • Honours - Wanders N: Wood brick as strong as cement brick
  • Summer Student - Joe M: Biomedical sealants using biomimicry (2022)
  • Summer Student - Lin L: Wet extraction method for mussel oil (2020)

Editorial Work

Displaying all items.
  • Processes Guest Editor ( 2020 - 2023)

Future Research

  • Biomedical sealants with smart fibers
  • Meat sterilization process at high pressure
  • Converting spent grain to plastics
  • Biodegradable plastics and rubbers
  • Plastics to fuel conversion
  • Food processing with supercritical fluids
  • Plastic foams friendly to environment
  • Biodegradable agricultural mulch films
  • Biodegradable fibers for fishing nets

Key Methodologies

  • Supercritical fluid
  • Rheology at high pressure
  • High-pressure sterilization
  • Foaming
  • Film casting
  • Fiber spinning
  • Radical polymerization
  • UV-Vis and IR Spectrophotometry, NMR
  • Liquid and Gas Chromatography
  • Itroducing functional group on polymers
  • Pyrolysis

Equipment

  • Gel permeation chromatography1
  • Gel permeation chromatography2
  • Rotational rheometer
  • Rotational rheometer, stress controlled
  • Universal Test Machine
UC Library
Research & Innovation
University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch 8140
New Zealand
Research & Innovation Admin
Phone +64 3 369 5858
admin@research.canterbury.ac.nz
Research Profile Administrator
pbrfprofileradmin@canterbury.ac.nz
Back to top
  • GENERAL ENQUIRIES
  • +64 3 369 3999
  • info@canterbury.ac.nz
  • ENROLMENT ENQUIRIES
  • 0800 VARSITY (0800 827 748)
  • enrol@canterbury.ac.nz
  • INTERNATIONAL ENQUIRIES
  • +64 3 364 3443
  • (Aus) 1-800-431595
  • Ask a question
  • CONTACTS & DIRECTORIES
  • University contacts
  • Student contacts
  • Students' Association
  • Find a researcher (Research Profile)
  • Accommodation
  • Maps
  • Donate online
  • UC on Facebook
  • UC on Twitter
  • UC on youTube
  • UC on Instagram
  • UC on Snapchat
  • UC on LinkedIn
  • UC on WeChat
  • DEPARTMENTS
  • All departments
  • Arts
  • Business
  • Education
  • Engineering
  • Health
  • Law
  • Science
  • Service areas
  • LATEST
  • News
  • Events
  • Publications
  • Work at UC
  • Info for media
  • Style Guide
  • TOOLS
  • LEARN
  • UC Policy Library
  • Library
  • myUC
  • IT account
  • Student email
  • OneDrive
  • Timetable
  • Staff email
  • Intranet (Staff)
  • Copyright Feedback Privacy Cookies Declaration Payment Data
  • Emergency Information
  • © University of Canterbury - A Fair Trade University