List of Publications

Milad Kamkar, Elnaz Erfanian, Soheil Sadeghi, Giovanniantonio Natale, Uttandaraman Sundararaj et al. "Large Amplitude Oscillatory Shear Flow: Microstructural Assessment of Polymeric Systems"

LAOS is a most powerful rheological techniques to characterize nonlinear viscoelasticity, allowing researchers to tune the strength of flow and time scale independently. The significant progress in the LAOS characterization of polymeric materials is detailed, and we highlight the history and fundamentals of LAOS in: 1) polymer solutions and melts, 2) polymer nanocomposites, 3) polymer blends, and 4) hydrogels. 

S. Ramakrishnan, C. Lencar, &  U. Sundararaj, (2022). "Influence of processing conditions on the evolution of morphology in PVDF/PS and PP/PS polymer blends: Examining the processing‐phase inversion mechanism." Journal of Applied Polymer Science, e53548. https://doi.org/10.1002/app.53548

Understanding morphological changes in polymer blends in the initial melting region of an extruder is crucial for optimizing the polymer mixing process. In blends with a large difference in their softening temperatures, a processingphase inversion transition occurs when a larger volume-fraction of the higher melting component is present. Using a range of techniques, such as torque monitoring, optical microscopy, SEM etc., it was found that the nature of the minor phase (amorphous vs. semicrystalline), melt viscosity and processing parameters influence the point at which the phase inversion occurs.

Shaghayegh Shajari, Shashank Ramakrishnan, Kunal Karan, Les Jozef Sudak, Uttandaraman Sundararaj, “Ultrasensitive wearable sensor with novel hybrid structures of silver nanowires and carbon nanotubes in fluoroelastomer: Multi-directional sensing for human health monitoring and stretchable electronics”. Applied Materials Today. (2022) 26,101295. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmt.2021.101295.   

In this work, for the first time, new 3D hybrid nanonetwork structures of high aspect ratio silver nanowires (AgNW) and carbon nanotubes (CNT) in fluoroelastomer FKM are developed. An optimized solution mixing (SM) and layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly technique and LBL drop-coating process are employed to establish the hierarchical and shell-like nanostructures. These ultra-sensitive materials offer the capability for multidirectional sensing by unique configurations for each human body part movement and small movements for human heartbeat monitoring.

Shital Patangrao Pawar, Guilherme Melo and Uttandaraman Sundararaj “Dual Functionality of Hierarchal Hybrid Networks of Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes Anchored Magnetite Particles in Soft Polymer Nanocomposites: Simultaneous Enhancement in Charge Storage and Microwave Absorption” https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compscitech.2019.107802

We demonstrated, for the first time, the use of submicron size insulative junctions of magnetite (Fe₃O₄) in conductive networks of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) for simultaneously achieving enhanced charge storage and superior microwave absorption in X-band (8.2 to 12.4 GHz) frequency range. High-performance charge-storing nanocomposites were developed using unique approach where relatively large insulative Fe₃O₄ spacers were anchored to MWNT networks leading to disrupted conductive pathways.

Mapossa. A.B, Tewo, R.T, Ray, S. S. Mhike, W, Sundararaj, U. 2024. A review on thermally induced phase separation technology in the fabrication of microporous polymer membrane devices for sustained-repellent delivery: Crystallization and morphological studies. Journal of Polymer Science. 1.  https://doi.org/10.1002/pol.20240232

This article reports recent advances in thermally induced phase separation technology in fabricating microporous scaffold polymeric membranes as devices suitable for the controlled release of insect repellent. The key aspects, such as the crystallization behavior and morphological study of the polymeric membrane-based repellent, were reported and discussed. Studies demonstrated that trapping of such repellents into microporous polymeric materials can be achieved by spinodal decomposition of the polymer/liquid repellent system.

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