Competencies

The Complex Fluids and Polymer Engineering group combines experimental tools such as rheology, rheo-optics, microscopy and scattering, with theory and modeling to approach problems in the broad area of polymers and other soft materials. Specific competencies in the group include:

• Structure-property-performance relations in polymers and complex fluids (liquid crystals, colloids, surfactants)
• Experimental rheology
• Theory (Dynamics and thermodynamics of polymers and complex fluids, mode coupling theory, phase transitions in hydrogels); Modeling (CFD, ALE, Monte Carlo)
• Scattering techniques (visible/X-rays), electron microscopy, in-house development of equipment
• Exploiting materials science for product design and development
• Technology strategy and opportunity definition/assessments
• PIV, PTV, 3D fluorescence confocal imaging of slow, dense, sheared particulate suspensions.