Polymer Engineering Faculty Research

 

The Department of Polymer Engineering is part of the world-renowned College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering at UA, which has about 40 full-time faculty and 350 graduate students and postdoctoral research associates studying the chemistry, physics and engineering of polymeric materials and systems.

The Center for Polymer Engineering was created in 1983 and the Department of Polymer Engineering in 1984. In 1988 the Center was renamed the Institute of Polymer Engineering. The Department is currently comprised of 15 full-time faculty and approximately 140 graduate students. DPE is housed in three buildings -- the 32,000 sq. ft. Polymer Engineering Academic Center (PEAC); the 70,000 sq. ft. Sidney L. Olson Research Center (OLRC); and the 43,000 sq. ft. National Polymer Innovation Center (NPIC).

The Department of Polymer Engineering is strictly a graduate department, offering both the M.S. and Ph.D. degree in Polymer Engineering. The Department awards about 50 Ph.D. and M.S degrees each year. We are pleased that our graduates have gone on to successful careers in industry, government service, and academia throughout the world. Additionally, there are undergraduate students in the College of Engineering and the Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences who often work on either independent projects with DPE faculty or who take some of our courses that are suitable as electives for majors in engineering and the physical sciences.

Our faculty members are recognized worldwide for their contributions to polymer research and education, as well as service to the polymer field. The faculty have been recognized with numerous awards and distinctions, ranging from the International Award of the Society of Plastics Engineers and the Melvin Mooney Distinguished Technology Award of the Rubber Division of the American Chemical Society, to Fellowships in major polymer-related societies, such as the American Physical Society, American Association for the Advancement of Science , American Chemical Society, and the Society of Plastics Engineers. In addition, our younger faculty have been recognized with Faculty Early Career Awards from the National Science Foundation. DPE faculty are actively engaged in various scientific organizations, edit several scientific journals, and have written a number of textbooks and monographs.

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Submissions from 2011

Encyclopedia of Polymer Blends, Volume 2: Processing, Avraam Isayev

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Infusion Processing of Phenylethynyl Terminated Imides by High Temperature RTM and VARTM, Avraam Isayev

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In situ compatibilization of PEN/LCP blends by ultrasonic extrusion, Avraam Isayev

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Online Ultrasonic Film Casting of LLDPE and LLDPE/Clay Nanocomposites, Avraam Isayev

Rheology of Rubber--Clay Nanocomposites, Avraam Isayev

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Thermal stresses and birefringence in quenched tubes and rods: simulation and experiment, Avraam Isayev

ULTRASONIC AIDED EXTRUSION OF CARBON BLACK-FILLEDSBR COMPOUNDS, Avraam Isayev

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Ultrasonic devulcanization of unfilled polyurethane rubber using coaxial and grooved barrel reactors: A comparative study, Avraam Isayev

Ultrasonic Extrusion for Dispersion of Carbon Nanotubes and Carbon Nanofibers in Polymer Composites, Avraam Isayev

Ultrasonic Treatment of CB-, CNF- and CNT-Filled SBR Compounds and Vulcanizates, Avraam Isayev

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Analysis of energy transfer and ternary non-covalent filler/matrix/UV stabilizer interactions in carbon nanofiber and oxidized carbon nanofiber filled poly(methyl methacrylate) composites, Sadhan Jana

Biomedical applications of shape memory polymers and their nanocomposites, Sadhan Jana

Challenges and opportunities in design of nanocomposites of polyolefins, Sadhan Jana

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Chemical and Engineering Aspects of Morphology Development and Processing of Multiphase Polymer Blend Nanocomposites, Sadhan Jana

Nanoparticles and Polymer Nanocomposites, Sadhan Jana

POSS-sorbitol interactions: Towards development of new class of polyolefin composite materials, Sadhan Jana

Shape Memory Polymers and Their Nanocomposites, Sadhan Jana

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Sorbitol POSS Interactions on Development of Isotactic Polypropylene Composites, Sadhan Jana

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Tailoring Mechanical Properties of Aerogels for Aerospace Applications, Sadhan Jana

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Effects of Trans-Cis Photoisomerization on Phase Equilibria and Phase Transition of Liquid Crystalline Azobenzene Chromophore and Its Blends with Mesogenic Diacrylate, N. Kim, Q. Li, and Thein Kyu

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Using Block Copolymer Self-Assembly to Imprint the Crystallization of Polymer Dendrites, Sangcheol Kim, Jack F. Douglas, Christopher L. Soles, Alamgir Karim, and R. M. Briber

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Polymer Composition and Dialysis Membrane Formed From the Polymer Composition, Thein Kyu and Neelakandan Chandrasekaran

Sliding Friction of Cross-Linked Elastomers, Arkadii Leonov

Vulcanization kinetics, chemorheology and postcure mechanics of filled rubbers, Arkadii Leonov

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Linear viscoelastic and uniaxial extensional rheology of alkali metal neutralized sulfonated oligostyrene ionomer melts, Gerald H. Ling, Yangyang Wang, and Robert Weiss

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Polyelectrolyte--Surfactant Complexes as Thermoreversible Organogelators, Yuqing Liu, Ashley Lloyd, Gustavo Guzman, and Kevin Cavicchi

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Conductive behaviour in relation to Domain Morphology and Phase Diagram of Nafion/Poly(vinylidene co triflouoroethylene) Blends, Nadzrinahamin A. Nazir, Namil Kim, Wilder G. Iglesias, Antal Jakli, and Thein Kyu

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Incorporation of Hyperbranched Supramolecules into Nafion Ionomer Domains through Impregnation and in-situ Photopolymerization, Nadzrinahamin A. Nazir, Thein Kyu, Anna M. Reinsel, Matthew Espe, Mami Nosaka, Hiruto Kudo, and Tadatomi Nishikubo

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In vitro evaluation of anti-oxidant and anti inflammatory properties of Genistein Modified Hemodialysis Membranes, Chandrasekaran Neelakandan, Teng Chang, Thomas Alexander, Linda Define, Michelle Evancho-Chapman, and Thein Kyu

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Membrane Morphology and Phase Diagrams of Mangiferin Modified Poly(amide)/Poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) Blends, Chandrasekaran Neelakandan and Thein Kyu

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Classification of Adhesive and Sealant Materials, Erol Sancaktar

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Nanocomposite adhesives: Mechanical behavior with nanoclay, Erol Sancaktar and Jason Kuznicki

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Imaging magnetic flux lines with iron oxide nanoparticles using a fossilized liquid assembly, Ryan Schmidt, Jason Benkoski, Kevin Cavicchi, and Alamgir Karim

2000 Edits and Counting: My Wikipedia Adventure, David Simmons

Fast Dynamics in Glass Forming Liquids: Interrelated Measures and Time-scales, David Simmons

Fast Dynamics of Glass-Forming Liquids for Protein Preservation: What Exactly Are We Measuring?, David Simmons

Insights into Fast Dynamics Determining Protein Preservation in Sugar Glasses, David Simmons

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Nature and interrelations of fast dynamic properties in a coarse-grained glass-forming polymer melt, David Simmons

Relationship Between Transient Localization and Long-Time Viscous Relaxation in Glasses?, David Simmons

Short-Time Dynamics of Glass-Forming Liquids in Protein Preservation, David Simmons

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Synthesis of Tetrachloro-azapentacene as an Ambipolar Organic Semiconductor with High and Balanced Carrier Mobilities, Cheng-Li Song, Chong-Bo Ma, Feng Yang, Wei-Jing Zheng, Hao-Li Zhang, and Xiong Gong

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Acrylate-Based Fluorinated Copolymers for High-Solids Coatings, Mark Soucek

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Synthesis and Characterization of Water Soluble Carboxymethyl Chitosan Grafted with Glycidyl Methacrylate, Mark Soucek

Control of Threshold Voltage and Saturation Mobility using Dual Active Layer Device based upon Amorphous Mixed Metal Oxide Semiconductor on Flexible Plastic Substrates, Bryan Vogt

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Distribution of hydrogen in low temperature passivated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) films from neutron reflectivity, Bryan Vogt

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Evolution of mechanical, optical and electrical properties of self-assembled mesostructured phenolic resins during carbonization, Bryan Vogt

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Gradient Solvent Vapor Annealing of Block Copolymer Thin Films Using a Microfluidic Mixing Device, Bryan Vogt

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High performance bulk-heterojunction organic solar cells fabricated with non-halogenated solvent processing, Bryan Vogt

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Impact of Adhesive Rheology on Stress-Distortion of Bonded Plastic Substrates for Flexible Electronics Applications, Bryan Vogt

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Impact of Film Thickness on the Morphology of Mesoporous Carbon Films Using OrganicâOrganic Self-Assembly, Bryan Vogt

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Influence of chain stiffness on thermal and mechanical properties of polymer thin films, Bryan Vogt

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Ordered Mesoporous Carbon Composite Films Containing Cobalt Oxide and Vanadia for Electrochemical Applications, Bryan Vogt

Ordered nanoporous carbons and carbon composite films from cooperative self-assembly: Importance of mechanics to ordered morphologies, Bryan Vogt

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Slip-stick wetting and large contact angle hysteresis on wrinkled surfaces, Bryan Vogt

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Solubility of non-ionic poly(fluorooxetane)-block-(ethylene oxide)-block-(fluorooxetane) surfactants in carbon dioxide, Bryan Vogt

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Thickness dependent modulus of vacuum deposited organic molecular glasses for organic electronics applications, Bryan Vogt

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A Porphyrin--Fullerene Dyad with a Supramolecular Double-Cable Structure as a Novel Electron Acceptor for Bulk Heterojunction Polymer Solar Cells, Chien-Lung Wang, Wen-Bin Zhang, Ryan M. Van Horn, Yingfeng Tu, Xiong Gong, Stephen Z. D. Cheng, Yanming Sun, Minghong Tong, Junghwa Seo, Ben B. Y. Hsu, and Alan J. Heeger

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Donor--acceptor conjugated polymer based on naphtho [1, 2-c: 5, 6-c] bis [1, 2, 5] thiadiazole for high-performance polymer solar cells, Ming Wang, Xiaowen Hu, Peng Liu, Wei Li, Xiong Gong, Fei Huang, and Yong Cao

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Morphology of sulfonated polyarylenethioethersulfone random copolymer series as proton exchange fuel cells membranes by small angle neutron scattering, Mitra Yoonessi, Hendrik Heinz, Thuy D. Dang, and Zongwu Bai

Submissions from 2010

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Process for making Strain Hardened Polymer Products, Mukerrem Cakmak and Jake H. Mulligan

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Pressure Control System for Electrospinning Process, Charles J. Druesedow, Celal Batur, Mukerrem Cakmak, and Baris Yalcin

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Synthesis and Characterization of a Poly (styrene-block-methylacrylate-random-octadecylacrylate-block-styrene) Shape Memory ABA Triblock Copolymer, Pengzhan Fei and Kevin Cavicchi

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Modification of Inorganic Fillers and Interfacial Properties in Polyolefin Nanocomposites: Theory versus Experiment, Jie Fengand and Hendrik Heinz

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Cleavage energy of alkylammonium-modified montmorillonite and relation to exfoliation in nanocomposites: influence of cation density, head group structure, and chain length, Yao-Tsung Fu and Hendrik Heinz

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Structure and cleavage energy of surfactant-modified clay minerals: Influence of CEC, head group and chain length, Yao-Tsung Fu and Hendrik Heinz

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Free Radical Initiated Low Temperature Crosslinking of Phenylethynyl (PE) End-capped Sulfonated Oligomides, Chenliang Gong, Qiang Luo, Yanfeng Li, Marcus Giotto, Ned E. Cipollini, Zhiwei Yang, Robert Weiss, and Daniel A. Scola

An Accurate Force Field and Atomistic Models for Tricalcium Silicate, Alite, and Adsorption of Molecular Grinding Aids, Hendrik Heinz

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Methods and Systems for Accurate Simulation of Surfaces and Interfaces of FCC Metals, Hendrik Heinz

Molecular Mechanism of Peptide Binding to Silica Surfaces Experiment and Simulation, Hendrik Heinz

Molecular Mechanisms of Selective Peptide-Metal Interactions and Effects on Particle Growth, Hendrik Heinz

Molecular Models and Methods to Understand Self-Assembly of Inorganic-Bioorganic Multiphase Materials, Hendrik Heinz

Tuning Exfoliation Thermodynamics by Surface Modification of Organoclays, Hendrik Heinz

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Polarization at metal--biomolecular interfaces in solution, Hendrik Heinz, Kshitij C. Jha, Jutta Luettmer-Strathmann, Barry L. Farmer, and Rajesh R. Naik

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Eutectic mesophase transitions and induced crystalline phase in mixtures of hexagonal columnar liquid crystal and mesogenic diacrylate, Tsang-Min Huang, Raisa V. Talroze, and Thein Kyu

Effects of ultrasonically-aided extrusion on the structure and properties of PET, PEN and copolymerization of their blends, Avraam Isayev

Encyclopedia of Polymer Blends: Volume 1: Fundamentals, Avraam Isayev

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Fast in situ copolymerization of PET/PEN blends by ultrasonically-aided extrusion, Avraam Isayev

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Frozen-in birefringence and anisotropic shrinkage in optical moldings: II. Comparison of simulations with experiments on light-guide plates, Avraam Isayev

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Frozen-in birefringence and anisotropic shrinkage in optical moldings: I. Theory and simulation scheme, Avraam Isayev

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In Memory of Professor James Lindsay White, 1938-2009, Avraam Isayev

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In-situ Ultrasonic Compatibilization of PEN/LCP Blends, Avraam Isayev

Nanocomposites of Liquid Crystalline Polymers Dispersed in Polyester Matrices, Avraam Isayev

PETI-330/MWNT Nanocomposites Compounded by Ultrasonically Assisted Extrusion, Avraam Isayev

Processing and Characterization of PEEK/MWNT Nanocomposites by High Power Ultrasonic Waves, Avraam Isayev

Thermal Stresses and Birefringence in Multi-layered Polymer Slabs: Theory and Experiment, Avraam Isayev

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Thermotropic LCP/CNF nanocomposites prepared with aid of ultrasonic waves, Avraam Isayev

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Ultrasonically Aided Extrusion of Blends of Two Thermotropic LCPs, Avraam Isayev

Ultrasonic Extrusion and Film Blowing of LLDPE/Clay Nanocomposites, Avraam Isayev

Ultrasonic Extrusion and Film Blowing of PA6/Clay Nanocomposites, Avraam Isayev

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Analysis of non-covalent interactions between the nanoparticulate fillers and the matrix polymer as applied to shape memory performance, Sadhan Jana

Effect of phenyl TPOSS and epoxy-POSS on mechanical and surface properties of TEOS and TEOS/APTES-based aerogels, Sadhan Jana

Evolution of non-linear rheology and network formation during thermoplastic polyurethane polymerization and its relationship to reaction kinetics, phase separation, and mixing, Sadhan Jana

Non-covalent interactions: Effects on shape memory properties and properties of spun fibers, Sadhan Jana

Nucleating agent assisted dispersion of POSS in PP: Properties of nanocomposite fibers and films, Sadhan Jana

Permeability and Water Uptake Actuation of Shape Memory Polyurethane Nanocomposites: Materials, Processing, Modeling, and Applications, Sadhan Jana

Recent developments in shape memory polymers and their nanocomposites, Sadhan Jana

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Rheological investigation of interactions between sorbitol and polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane in development of nanocomposites of isotactic polypropylene, Sadhan Jana

Shape memory polymers: A review of recent progress., Sadhan Jana

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Photochromism and photopolymerization induced mesophase transitions in mixtures of spiropyran and mesogenic diacrylate, Namil Kim, Harris Lam, and Thein Kyu

Hurricanes: Observations, Modeling and Suppression, Plenary Lecture, Arkadii Leonov