Research Category

Current Projects

Advanced Ceramic Materials
Projects involving advanced ceramics and their synthesis, processing and mechanical properties

Associated Faculty:
Melissa J. Baumann,  Eldon D. Case

• Microcracking in Bioceramics
• Ceramic Membrane Water Filtration Combined with Ozonation

Advanced Metallic Systems
Alloy development and process design for improved properties

Associated Faculty:
Thomas R. Bieler,  Carl Boehlert,  Martin A. Crimp,  David S. Grummon,  Andre Y. Lee,  K.N. Subramanian

• Microstructural Evolution from Ageing, Creep and Thermomechanical Fatigue in Lead Free Solders
• Effects of Heat Treatment on Primary Creep of TiAl
• Deformation Transfer and/or Fracture Initiation in Micro-lamellar TiAl
• High Temperature Shape Memory Alloy Development for Use above 500 C.
• Imaging of Dislocations in Bulk SEM Samples
• Elevated-Temp Grain Boundary Deformation Processes of Structural Alloys: Grain Boundary Engineering
• Lead-Free Electronic Solders for Severe Service Conditions
• Reducing defects in manufactured titanium fasteners
• Thin Film Shape Memory Alloys on Polymeric Substrates for Microactuators
• Development of Nanostructured Lead-free Solder
• Radiation Effects on the Structure and Electronic Properties of Carbon Nanotubes
• Growth and Characterization of Rare-Earth Silicide Nanowires and Nanostructures
• Nitinol Brazing
• Functional Superelastic Interlayers for Control of Friction and Wear in Hard-Coated Components
• Development of In-Situ Electron-Microscopy Techniques
• The Effect of Boron the Creep and Fatigue Behavior of Ti-6Al-4V(wt.%)
  

Biobased Industrial Products
Projects leading to products made from renewable resources.

Associated Faculty:
Kris Arvid Berglund,  Bruce E. Dale,  David Hodge,  Carl T. Lira,  Dennis J Miller,  Robert Y. Ofoli

• Life Cycle Models of Biobased Product Systems
• Utilization of Renewable Resources
• Property Measurement and Prediction for Bio-derived Chemicals
• Hydrogenolysis of Carbohydrate Feedstocks
• Aqueous Phase Hydrogenation of Organic Acids
• Advanced Biofuel Blends as Petroleum Diesel Replacements
• Reactive Separations
• Distilled Beverage Technology for Value Added Agricultural Products
• Converting Pulp Mills into Forest Biorefineries
• Catalytic transformation of biorenewables to petrochemicals

Biomaterials
Development of materials to function in living systems

Associated Faculty:
Melissa J. Baumann,  Carl Boehlert,  Scott Calabrese Barton,  Eldon D. Case,  Lawrence T. Drzal,  Ilsoon Lee,  Robert Y. Ofoli

• Interactions of nisin with selected proteins at the liquid-liquid interface'Green’ Biobased Sustainable Polymer and Composite Materials
• Microcracking in Bioceramics
• Bioactive Hydroxyapatite Whisker Composite Ceramic Bone Substitutes
• Colloidal Interfaces between Biomaterials and Biological Tissue
• Engineering Surfaces and Interfaces
• Adsorption of liposomes on charged polyelectrolyte substrates (Collaborative with Worden and Lee)
• Opto-electrochemical characterization of bilayer-embedded biomacromolecules in TIR geometry
• Quantitation of biomolecular coverages at the liquid-liquid interface
• Biomedical Compatibility of Ti-Al-Nb Alloys for Implant Applications
• Self-assembled, Nanostructured Biomimetic Interfaces
• Bio-Carbon Nanomaterials
• Transport and Stability in Biocatalytic Fuel Cells

Biotechnology

Projects combining biology and microbiology with engineering.

Associated Faculty:
Melissa J. Baumann,  Carl Boehlert,  Christina Chan,  Bruce E. Dale,  Martin C Hawley,  Ilsoon Lee,  Ramani Narayan,  Robert Y. Ofoli,  R Mark Worden

• Life Cycle Models of Biobased Product Systems
• Utilization of Renewable Resources
• Conversion of Biomass into Fuel and Chemicals
• Biodegradation and Composting Studies
• Biobased and Recyclable Composite Materials
• Metabolic Engineering
• Multiphase Biocatalysis
• Metabolic Profiling
• Systems Biology
• Engineering Surfaces and Interfaces
• Protein Expression
• Adsorption of liposomes on charged polyelectrolyte substrates (Collaborative with Worden and Lee)
• Catalytic transformation of biorenewables to petrochemicals
• Opto-electrochemical characterization of bilayer-embedded biomacromolecules in TIR geometry
• Biomedical Compatibility of Ti-Al-Nb Alloys for Implant Applications
• Ceramic Membrane Water Filtration Combined with Ozonation
• Self-assembled, Nanostructured Biomimetic Interfaces
• Bio-Carbon Nanomaterials
• Wrinkle-free Nanomechanical Films

Colloid and Interface Science
Projects studying large charged molecules and/or molecules at interfaces between phases.

Associated Faculty:
Melissa J. Baumann,  Ilsoon Lee,  Robert Y. Ofoli

• Novel Fabrication of Nanostructured Particles with an Arbitrary Shape
• Colloidal Interfaces between Biomaterials and Biological Tissue
• Interactions of nisin with selected proteins at the liquid-liquid interface
• Engineering Surfaces and InterfacesAdsorption of liposomes on charged polyelectrolyte substrates (Collaborative with Worden and Lee)
• Catalytic transformation of biorenewables to petrochemicalsOpto-electrochemical characterization of bilayer-embedded biomacromolecules in TIR geometry
• Quantitation of biomolecular coverages at the liquid-liquid interface
• Self-assembled, Nanostructured Biomimetic Interfaces
• Bio-Carbon NanomaterialsNanomixing or Nanodispersion of Nanomaterials
• Wrinkle-free Nanomechanical Films

Electronic Materials
Materials and processing for enabling microelectronic, optical, and electromechanical systems

Associated Faculty:
Thomas R. Bieler,  Martin A. Crimp,  Lawrence T. Drzal,  Andre Y. Lee,  Ilsoon Lee,  Donald Morelli,  K.N. Subramanian

• Exfoliated Graphite Nano-Platelets as Multifunctional Modifiers for Polymers
• Optimal Microstructural Design Engineering of Diamond Films
• Lead-Free Electronic Solders for Severe Service Conditions
• Microstructural Evolution from Ageing, Creep and Thermomechanical Fatigue in Lead Free Solders
• Engineering Surfaces and Interfaces
• Development of Nanostructured Lead-free Solder
• Radiation Effects on the Structure and Electronic Properties of Carbon Nanotubes
• Growth and Characterization of Rare-Earth Silicide Nanowires and Nanostructures
• New Materials for Thermoelectric Energy Conversion

Energy Production
Projects concerning production and utilization of energy.

Associated Faculty:
Scott Calabrese Barton,  Eldon D. Case,  Bruce E. Dale,  David Hodge,  Krishnamurthy Jayaraman,  Carl T. Lira

• Utilization of Renewable Resources
• Property Measurement and Prediction for Bio-derived Chemicals
• Life Cycle Models of Biobased Product Systems
• Processing and Characterization of Thermoelectric Materials
• Converting Pulp Mills into Forest Biorefineries
• Mixed-feed Direct Methanol Fuel Cells
• Fabrication of Large Diffractive Optical Element Solar Concentrator Panels by Extrusion

Environmental Research
Projects studying the environmental impact of processes, and/or remediation.

Associated Faculty:
Bruce E. Dale

•  Life Cycle Models of Biobased Product Systems

Metabolic Engineering
The study of intracellular pathways in areas of biomedical and biotechnology.

Associated Faculty:
Christina Chan

• Metabolic Profiling
• Systems Biology

Nanomaterials
Improving material properties by manipulating atomic structure at the nanometer scale

Associated Faculty:
Melissa J. Baumann,  Scott Calabrese Barton,  Lawrence T. Drzal,  Martin C. Hawley,  Andre Y. Lee,  Ilsoon Lee,  Michael E. Mackay,  Robert Y. Ofoli

• Ceramic Membrane Water Filtration Combined with Ozonation
• Exfoliated Graphite Nano-Platelets as Multifunctional Modifiers for Polymers
• Carbon Nanotube Synthesis with Microwave Plasma Chemical Vapor Deposition
• Catalytic transformation of biorenewables to petrochemicals
• Can Nanoscale Inclusions Effectively Reduce the Viscosity and Modulus of Polymer Melts?
• Development of Nanostructured Lead-free Solder
• Engineering Surfaces and Interfaces
• Adsorption of liposomes on charged polyelectrolyte substrates (Collaborative with Worden and Lee)
• Opto-electrochemical characterization of bilayer-embedded biomacromolecules in TIR geometry
• Self-assembled, Nanostructured Biomimetic Interfaces
• Bio-Carbon Nanomaterials
• Transport and Stability in Biocatalytic Fuel Cells
• Mixed-feed Direct Methanol Fuel Cells
• Novel Fabrication of Nanostructured Particles with an Arbitrary Shape
• Nanomixing or Nanodispersion of Nanomaterials
• Wrinkle-free Nanomechanical Films

Polymer Composites
Projects studying polymers strengthened by fibers or other materials

Associated Faculty:
Lawrence T. Drzal,  Martin C Hawley,  Krishnamurthy Jayaraman,  Andre Y. Lee,  Ilsoon Lee,  K.N. Subramanian

• 'Green’ Biobased Sustainable Polymer and Composite Materials
• Electromagnetic Processing of Polymers and Composites
• Polymer nanocomposites and foams with nanoparticles
• Polymer Composites with Low CTE Particulate Fillers
• Engineering Surfaces and Interfaces
• Durability Characterization of POSS-based Polyimides and Carbon-Fiber Composites
• Self-assembled, Nanostructured Biomimetic Interfaces
• Bio-Carbon Nanomaterials
• Processing of Particulate Polymer Composites Below the Melting Point
• Wrinkle-free Nanomechanical Films

Polymer Science and Engineering Projects involving properties and/or processing of polymeric materials.

Associated Faculty:
Krishnamurthy Jayaraman,  Andre Y. Lee,  Ilsoon Lee,  Michael E. Mackay,  Ramani Narayan

• Inorganic-Organic Hybrid Polymers
  
• Extensional Viscosity of Elastomers and Thermoplastic Elastomers
  
• Engineering and Design of Natural-Synthetic Polymer Composite Systems
  
• Reactive Extrusion Processing
  
• Extrusion and extensional flow of thermoplastic elastomers
  
• Molecular Dynamics in Polymeric Glass Transition
  
• Polymer nanocomposites and foams with nanoparticles
  
• Structure-Property Relationships of Polymer Nanocomposites
  
• Dendrimer-linear Hybrid Copolymers
  
• Hyperbranched Polymer Nano-phase Separated Structures
  
• Engineering Surfaces and Interfaces
  
• Self-assembled, Nanostructured Biomimetic Interfaces
  
• Bio-Carbon Nanomaterials
  
• Novel Fabrication of Nanostructured Particles with an Arbitrary Shape
  
• Nanomixing or Nanodispersion of Nanomaterials
  
• Fabrication of Large Diffractive Optical Element Solar Concentrator Panels by Extrusion
  
• Processing of Particulate Polymer Composites Below the Melting Point
  
• Wrinkle-free Nanomechanical Films

Rheology and Multiphase Flow
Projects for understanding the behavior of fluid flow fields.

Associated Faculty:
Scott Calabrese Barton,  Krishnamurthy Jayaraman, Ilsoon Lee,  Michael E. Mackay,  Charles A Petty

• Novel Fabrication of Nanostructured Particles with an Arbitrary Shape
  
• Extensional Viscosity of Elastomers and Thermoplastic Elastomers
  
• Relaxation Models for Turbulent Mass Transfer Near Free and Rigid Interfaces
  
• Drag Reduction by High Molecular Weight Polymers
  
• Can Nanoscale Inclusions Effectively Reduce the Viscosity and Modulus of Polymer Melts?
  
• Extrusion and extensional flow of thermoplastic elastomers
  
• Polymer nanocomposites and foams with nanoparticles
  
• Mixed-feed Direct Methanol Fuel Cells
  
• Nanomixing or Nanodispersion of Nanomaterials
  
• Fabrication of Large Diffractive Optical Element Solar Concentrator Panels by Extrusion

Separation Science
Projects focusing on separation/purification technologies.

Associated Faculty:
Kris Arvid Berglund  David Hodge  Carl T. Lira  Dennis J Miller  Charles A Petty

• Crystallization of foods and pharmaceuticals
  
• Effects of Polymer Additives on Hydrocyclone Performance
  
• Converting Pulp Mills into Forest Biorefineries
  
• Reactive Separations

Structural Materials
Metals, ceramics, and polymers for optimized mechanical performance

Associated Faculty:
Thomas R. Bieler,  Carl Boehlert,  Martin A. Crimp,  Krishnamurthy Jayaraman,  Ilsoon Lee

• Elevated-Temp Grain Boundary Deformation Processes of Structural Alloys: Grain Boundary Engineering
  
• Imaging of Dislocations in Bulk SEM Samples
  
• Effects of Heat Treatment on Primary Creep of TiAl
  
• Microstructural Evolution from Ageing, Creep and Thermomechanical Fatigue in Lead Free Solders
  
• Deformation Transfer and/or Fracture Initiation in Micro-lamellar TiAl
  
• Reducing defects in manufactured titanium fasteners
  
• Engineering Surfaces and Interfaces
  
• Understanding Processing-Microstructure-Property Relationships of Structural Magnesium Alloys
  
• Self-assembled, Nanostructured Biomimetic Interfaces
  
• Bio-Carbon Nanomaterials
  
• Novel Fabrication of Nanostructured Particles with an Arbitrary Shape
  
• Development of In-Situ Electron-Microscopy Techniques
  
• The Effect of Boron the Creep and Fatigue Behavior of Ti-6Al-4V(wt.%)
  
• Fabrication of Large Diffractive Optical Element Solar Concentrator Panels by Extrusion
  
• Processing of Particulate Polymer Composites Below the Melting Point
  
• Wrinkle-free Nanomechanical Films

Sustainable Economy
Projects aimed at life-cycle analysis and products/processes using renewable resources.

Associated Faculty:
Scott Calabrese Barton,  Bruce E. Dale,  David Hodge,  Carl T. Lira,  Dennis J Miller,  Robert Y. Ofoli

• Life Cycle Models of Biobased Product Systems
• Utilization of Renewable Resources
• Property Measurement and Prediction for Bio-derived Chemicals
• Hydrogenolysis of Carbohydrate Feedstocks
• Aqueous Phase Hydrogenation of Organic Acids
• Reactive Separations
• Converting Pulp Mills into Forest Biorefineries
• Catalytic transformation of biorenewables to petrochemicals
• Transport and Stability in Biocatalytic Fuel Cells
• Mixed-feed Direct Methanol Fuel Cells