From September 30 to October 2, 2026, the 24th International Baltic Polymer Symposium Baltic Polymer Symposium 2026 (BPS 2026) was held in Riga, Latvia. The Ukrainian State University of Science and Technologies was represented at this international scientific meeting by Oleh Kabat, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, and Head of the Department of Innovative Engineering at the SEI “Ukrainian State University of Chemical Technology”.

The Baltic Polymer Symposium brings together researchers in polymer chemistry, materials science, and engineering every year. This year, the symposium was held at Riga Technical University (RTU) and brought together more than 90 scientists and industry representatives from the Baltic countries, Ukraine, Germany, Austria, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Taiwan, and Indonesia.

Professor Oleh Kabat presented one oral presentation and two poster presentations at the symposium, focusing on polymer composite materials for mechanical engineering, agriculture and the food industry, and wind energy.

The oral presentation, “Polymer composites with high level of physical-mechanical and thermophysical properties for heavy-loaded units of modern machines and mechanisms”, focused on the development of polymer composites for heavily loaded components of modern machines and mechanisms. The authors of the paper are Oleh Kabat, Volodymyr Sytar, Roman Baluiev, and Nataliia Pavlushkina.

The researchers are working on engineering materials based on aromatic polyamides that combine strength, heat resistance, wear resistance, and relatively low density. This research area continues the long-standing work of the Department of Innovative Engineering of the USUCT SEI on developing polymer composite materials for various engineering applications.

The first poster presentation, “Polymer composites based on aromatic polyamide and silver for highly loaded friction elements of agro-food equipment”, was presented by Oleh Kabat, Mykhailo Sula, and Artem Hryshchenko. It examined polymer composites based on aromatic polyamide with the addition of silver for highly loaded friction components in agricultural and food-processing equipment. The results demonstrated the potential to reduce the coefficient of friction and the wear rate of these materials, creating prospects for their practical application in technological equipment.

Another poster presentation was the result of joint research by scientists from USUST and Riga Technical University. The study “Polymer composites based on fluoropolymers, polymethylsiloxane, graphite and copper for wind turbine structural and tribological components” was conducted by Oleh Kabat, Remo Merijs-Meri, Jānis Zicāns, Roman Baluiev, and Artem Hryshchenko. Ukrainian and Latvian researchers are studying hybrid polymer composites for structural elements and friction components of wind turbines. Combining fluoropolymers, polymethylsiloxane, graphite, and copper makes it possible to create materials with self-lubricating properties and enhanced wear resistance. This research area is directly related to improving the reliability and service life of renewable energy equipment.

Participation in Baltic Polymer Symposium 2026 also yielded an important result for further international cooperation. During the visit to Riga, the Ukrainian State University of Science and Technologies and Riga Technical University signed a cooperation agreement in the fields of education, science, and academic exchanges. The agreement provides for the development of academic mobility for students, postgraduate students, lecturers, and researchers, the exchange of scientific information, the preparation of joint research and educational projects, and the organization of scientific events.

For the Department of Innovative Engineering, this cooperation already has an established scientific foundation. In 2023, Oleh Kabat and Volodymyr Sytar, together with Latvian researchers Jānis Zicāns and Remo Merijs-Meri, presented joint research at the Baltic Polymer Symposium, and in 2024, the results of Ukrainian-Latvian research were published in the international journal Polymers.

The new joint research presented in Riga in 2026 continues this cooperation in the field of materials for wind energy. The signed inter-university agreement creates opportunities to expand research contacts, involve new researchers in joint work, and develop academic exchanges.

Professor Oleh Kabat’s participation in Baltic Polymer Symposium 2026 presented the international scientific community with current research conducted by the Department of Innovative Engineering of the USUCT SEI and marked another step in the development of the partnership between USUST and Riga Technical University.

More details about Baltic Polymer Symposium 2026, the research papers presented, and the terms of cooperation between USUST and Riga Technical University are available in the full article on the official USUST website.