It's a responsibility he takes seriously. He relies on polymer chemistry, or the study of plastics. The UF polymer program began in 1946 thanks to the efforts of George Butler for whom the program is named. It is the oldest continuous polymer effort in a chemistry department in the nation and is internationally recognized for its research. Because polymers are large molecules, Wagener thinks this area of chemistry is an ideal way to teach students about the fundamental lessons of chemistry.
Most molecules are small, like methane.
If, for example, a methane molecule were three inches long, then a polymer molecule would be seven miles long, comparatively speaking. The chemistry department is primarily interested in how to make polymers, and, thanks to Wagener and his research group, the department is known internationally for developing a process that produces polymers in an energy-efficient way. UF patented the basic process which is used by companies and institutions all over the world. It's very clean in that it produces a polymer and gas. We found that we can make a wide variety of polymer materials with this reaction.