His research areas are emulsion polymerization, water-based coatings, controlled release systems, anti-fouling surfaces and polymer reaction engineering. Implementing concepts such as the controlled polymer composition reactor in industry is one of his activities.

In Van Herk’s research the use of free and controlled radical polymerization in homogenous and heterogeneous systems is central. Understanding the polymerization processes on a molecular level and translating them to macroscopic phenomena and practical aspects of the process is currently one of the main topics.

Van Herk has led an industrial consortium, the Foundation Emulsion Polymerization (SEP), for 18 years and is currently running a consortium on Controlled Release and Encapsulation (CoreNet) in Singapore with 14 industrial partners. He is program manager of a 5 MS$ program on Advanced Surfaces and a 5MS$ program on Environmentally Friendly Water-Based Products. He is collaborating with several of the major latex producing companies. Furthermore he is conducting trainings for industry worldwide in the area of emulsion polymerization and coatings technology.