The Calorimetric Glass Transition under Nanoconfinement - Sindee Simon, Texas Tech
Description:
The Calorimetric Glass Transition under Nanoconfinement
Sindee L. Simon
Department of Chemistry
Texas Tech University
Abstract
The behavior of materials confined at the nanoscale has been of considerable interest over the past two decades. Recent work in our laboratory has focused on the influence of nanoconfinement on the glass transition and associated kinetics, on melting and crystallization, and on polymerization kinetics and resulting properties. In this talk I will present recent results investigating the depression of the glass transition temperature for nanoconfined materials, including single polystyrene ultrathin films studied with ultrafast scanning chip calorimetry, glass-formers confined to nanopores, and glass-formers confined by crystalline domains. The single thin films are of particular interest because they show a Tg depression which can be reversed by film dewetting and thickening during high-temperature annealing. The results of materials confined in different geometries will be used to test the leading explanation for the Tg depression in nanoconfined glasses, i.e., that the enhanced mobility arises from free surface and interface affects.
Speaker Background
Prof. Sindee L. Simon obtained a B.S. in Chemical Engineering at Yale University in 1983, and then worked at Beech Aircraft Corporation as a Materials Engineer on the all-composite Starship for three years. She obtained her Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at Princeton University in 1992, and from there, she went directly to the University of Pittsburgh where she was an Assistant Professor in Chemical Engineering. In 1999, she joined the faculty of Chemical Engineering at Texas Tech as an Associate Professor. In 2004, she became a Full Professor, and in 2010, she received the University’s highest academic honor, Paul Whitfield Horn Professor. She took over her current duties as the Whitacre Chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering in September, 2012. Her research interests include the physics of the glass transition, cure and properties of thermosetting materials, and properties and reactivity at the nanoscale. She has published 90 refereed journal publications, has over 1800 citations, an h-index of 23, and has garnered over $ 6 M in research funding over her career. She has received numerous honors, including Fellow of the American Physical Society, Fellow of the Society of Plastics Engineers, Fellow of the North American Thermal Analysis Society, and the Texas Tech Barnie E. Rushing, Jr. Award for Distinguished Research.
Sponsor
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Date:
Thursday, November 7
Location:
Michael's Restaurant at Shoreline Park Mountain View, CA 94043
Timing:
6 PM social hour
7 PM dinner
8 PM lecture
Cost:
Employed/postdoc Student/unemployed/retired Early Registration - Up to 7 days in advance of deadline $30 $15 Registration - Up to deadline $35 $20 After deadline/walk-in (Availability NOT guaranteed) $40 $25
Lecture-only is free.
Payment:
We accept cash or checks, but are unable to accept payment by credit card at this time. Payment is taken at the door. No-shows are responsible for full payment of registration fee.
Registration:
Please register on the web page https://ggpf.mystagingwebsite.com/ or contact:
Bruce Prime
email: rbruceprime@gmail.com
phone:408-267-1473
Deadline for registration:
5PM, Wednesday, October 30 for early registration discount
5PM, Wednesday, November 6 for registration (or until venue has reached capacity.)
Dinner Selection:
Broiled Salmon
Chicken with Herbed Butter
Vegetable Napoleon
You should receive confirmation of your registration; if not, please contact us again.
