Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin go to home page university of texas at austin college of engineering U T direct
Donald R. Paul, PhD
Ernest Cockrell, Sr. Chair in Engineering


photo of Donald R. Paul
Office: CPE 3.450, ETC 8.106 Mailing Address:
Phone: 512-471-5392, 512-475-8480 The University of Texas at Austin
Fax: 512-471-0542 Department of Chemical Engineering
Email: drp@che.utexas.edu 1 University Station C0400
UT Mail: C0400 Austin, TX 78712-0231

 

Paul's WebPage

Presentation made to prospective graduate students 2005

Educational Qualifications:
Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison (1965);
Ernest Cockrell, Sr. Chair in Engineering
Director, Texas Materials Institute
Editor, I&EC Research

Founders Award (AIChE)(2008), Herman F. Mark Polymer Chemistry Award (Amer. Chem. Soc.)(2005), Alan S. Michaels Award for Innovation in Membrane Science and Technology (NAMS)(2005), NAMS Founders Award (North American Membrane Society)(2005), Elected Fellow of Society of Plastics Engineers (2004), National Academy of Engineering (1988), Mexican Academy of Sciences (2001), American Chemical Society E.V. Murphree Award (1999), Council for Chemical Research Malcolm E. Pruitt Award (1999), AICHE William H. Walker Award (1998), Society of Plastics Engineers International Award (1993), Society of Plastics Engineers Education Award (1989), Materials Engineering and Sciences Division Award of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (1985), American Chemical Society Phillips Award for Applied Polymer Science (1984), Engineering News-Record Award (1976), and the American Chemical Society Arthur K. Doolittle Award (1973)

Focus:
Polymeric materials-properties, processing, blends, composites, membranes, barrier materials.


High resolution transmission electron photomicrograph of nanocomposite formed from nylon 6 and organically modified montmorillonite.

Research:
My research in polymers focuses on blends or alloys, composites and nanocomposites, barrier properties and the use of membranes for separations. The primary goal is to relate the properties or behavior to the molecular structure of the polymer or to develop the basis for "molecular engineering" of polymers to achieve a desired result.

  • The research on polymer blends involves determining the phase behavior of mixtures and characterizing the responsible thermodynamic interactions quantitatively. A variety of experimental techniques (differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis, light scattering, heats of mixing, PVT behavior) and theoretical tools (Flory-Huggins, Sanchez-Lacombe, binary interaction model, molecular mechanics) are used. For multiphase systems, the primary concerns are phase morphology and the nature of the interface between phases. Research in this area focuses on manipulating the polymer-polymer interface using block or graft copolymers formed separately or during blending by in-situ reaction to create super tough materials. Both transmission and scanning electron microscopy are extensively employed to determine morphology and fracture mechanisms. Mechanical properties under a variety of conditions (temperature, notch geometry and rate) are carefully monitored. Current projects include toughened glass filled plastics.
  • The research on nanocomposites involves developing polymer-layered silicate materials from the organically modified clay mineral montmorillonite using melt processing techniques. The objective is to achieve high levels of exfoliation of the organically modified clay; to characterize the morphology of the resulting materials by TEM, WAXD, and SAXS; to examine mechanical, thermal, permeation, and other properties; to understand the underlying mechanisms using various models and theories. This research is done in collaboration with Southern Clay Products, Inc.
  • The research on gas solubility and polymer diffusion explores polymeric materials for barrier applications in packaging and as membranes for separations processes. In the Separations Research Program, my colleagues and I are developing polymer structures for membranes that will be more productive, selective and durable than current commercial systems for gas separations. We are investigating how molecular organization, including side chain and main chain order, affects barrier properties of polymers. This includes development of new polymers and the chemical modification of existing ones.
  • Polymer processing is an important element in all of these programs.

Selected Publications

  • "Effect of UV Crosslinking and Physical Aging on the Gas Permeability of Thin Glassy Polyarylate Films," Polymer, 40, 7209 (1999) (with M.S. McCaig).
  • " Thermodynamic Characterization of Polymer-Polymer Interfaces", Macromol. Symp., 159, 105 (2000) (with G.D. Merfeld).
  • " Nylon 6 Nanocomposites: The Effect of Matrix Molecular Weight", Polymer, 42, 9929 (2001) (with T.D. Fornes, P.J. Yoon, H. Keskkula).
  • " Gas Sorption and Transport in Side-chain Crystalline and Molten Poly (octyldecyl acrylate)", Polymer, 42, 2531 (2001) (with Z. Mogri).
  • " Effect of Glass Fiber and Maleated Ethylene-Propylene Rubber Content on the Impact Fracture Parameters of Nylon 6," Polymer, 42, 6161 (2001) (with D.M. Laura, H. Keskkula, J.W. Barlow).

 

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