MSE Seminar: “Self-Healing Polymers: Toward the Advancement of Next-Generation Technologies”

Details

Abstract

Traditional polymeric materials have limitations that hinder the development of next-generation products. For instance, many natural materials can restore a portion of their properties after sustaining sub-critical damage—an ability that artificial materials have only recently begun to mimic. Imbuing polymers with the ability to self-heal would be of great advantage for advanced applications (e.g., military, aerospace, biomedical) where durability is of the utmost importance.

In this talk, Professor Lewis will provide an overview of his work on the development of self-healing polymers (SHPs), a type of stimuli-responsive material that can mend cracks and defects, thereby partially restoring mechanical properties. Self-healing approaches can generally be described as either intrinsic or extrinsic: intrinsic SHPs rely on the use of reversible binding groups (RBGs) that, when broken, are able to be re-established, whereas extrinsic systems rely on the flow of a healing agent into the damaged area to enable self-repair. This presentation will highlight examples of both intrinsic and extrinsic SHPs, demonstrating the role of composition and processing on material properties, including self-healing efficiency. In addition, Professor Lewis will briefly share his industry experience, where he was engaged in polymer materials research and development activities for the electronics and automotive industries.

Bio

Christopher Lewis, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
Rochester Institute of Technology

Dr. Christopher L. Lewis is an Associate Professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). He has a primary appointment in the Department of Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology (MMET) Department and is an affiliate faculty member of the RIT Materials Science program, the Chemical Engineering Department, and the RIT Golisano Institute for Sustainability. He holds a B.S. in Plastics Engineering Technology (Pennsylvania College of Technology), an M.S. in Polymer Engineering (University of Tennessee-Knoxville), and a PhD in Chemical Engineering (University of Rochester).

Prior to joining RIT, Chris worked for 10 years in the plastics industry, where he was engaged in manufacturing, materials, and product research and development activities for companies such as Delphi Corporation, General Motors, and TE Connectivity. In addition, he is a long-time member of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) and a board member of the SPE Bioplastics and Renewable Technologies Division. His current research interests include biodegradable plastics, additive manufacturing and stimuli responsive materials.