Associate Professor,
Department of Plastics Engineering
B.S. in Materials Science & Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University
B.S. in Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University
Ph.D. in Materials Science & Engineering, Cornell University
My interests are in
nanostructured polymers and hybrids, their analysis and
application, as well as the chemical reactions that allow for the (trans)formation
of such materials, with a strong preference for benign / sustainable
solutions.
The structure and
properties of nanocomposites are intimately related to the chemistry of the
polymer and the nanofiller compatibilizer. Combinations of nanoclays,
non-toxic heat stabilizers and vegetable oil derived plasticizers have been
investigated for potential as environmentally benign
alternatives to additives in existing PVC wire and cable applications, with
some work relevant to medical PVC as well. Fundamental studies of the mechanical and barrier properties
of high nanofiller content films ("nanolaminates") have yielded materials with unique
combinations of stiffness and damping that further serve as excellent model
systems for validating various theories of nanocomposite permeability. In
collaboration with Prof. E. Reynaud,
we are also attempting to deconvolute the effects of nanoparticle
reinforcement and microstructural reorganization in semi-crystalline polymer
nanocomposites. Finally, the use of nanoclays as non-toxic additives able to
reduce permeability and flammability is also of interest.
Hydrogel-based delivery
systems represent a specific area of interest here, with ongoing collaborations
with Prof. P. Gaines and Prof. E. Reynaud aimed at
demonstrating their ability to support cell proliferation and modeling their
swelling characteristics. Again working with
Prof. E. Reynaud we have
pursued an understanding of the composition-curing-properties relations in
vegetable oil based epoxy thermosets, with potential utility as high
performance, non-toxic
binders in engineered wood products and wind turbine blades. The synthesis
of new resins is also of interest, as exemplified by work on a
BPA-free high performance epoxy with substantial promise in the
areas of adhesives, composites and can coatings.
Finally, in
prior work we successfully produced cytocompatible tissue
engineering scaffolds,
and have used replica molding of natural porous bodies (bone, sponge, etc.) to set
the structure and independently altering the properties through choice of
pre-polymer. Shape-memory characteristics were also realized in these scaffolds, further
enhancing their capabilities.
Here, in collaboration
with Prof. J. Therrien, we
are working to understand how to combine the formability of polymers with
the properties of ceramics. We are able to show that pre-ceramic polymers
may be formed into nanostructures very difficult to attain with direct
ceramic processing, and that the patterning of this process is possible as
well. Potential applications include high-speed scanning probe microscopy (SPM)
and micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS).
A wide range of
characterization techniques are employed, most notably thermal
analysis (TGA, DSC, DMA), mechanical testing (tensile, flexural,
impact), x-ray diffraction (XRD), barrier
properties measurements (OTR), infrared and near-infrared
spectroscopy (FTIR, ATR-FTIR & NIR), laser scanning confocal
fluorescence microscopy (LSCFM), nuclear magnetic resonance
spectroscopy (NMR), fire testing (UL-94, cone calorimetry), Hg intrusion porosimetry and gas sorption / BET
analysis. In addition, in collaboration with
Prof. E. Reynaud a novel
means of thermomechanical characterization (termed thermal tensile
testing) has been developed and successfully used to quantify
changes in plastic deformation mechanism in ductile materials.
Finally, an overarching
area of interest has to do with the safety and sustainability of polymeric
materials and the additives they contain. As an example, recent work with
thiol-ene derived polymers both for non-toxic adhesives and (in
collaboration with Prof. E. Reynaud)
alternative coating formulations highlights the goal of toxics use
reduction, as does our aforementioned work on bioepoxies (refer to
Thermoset and Organic Sol-Gel Chemistry, above). In addition, collaborations with
Prof. D. Bello and
Prof. E. Rogers focus on rapidly assessing nanoparticle toxicity and
correlating these results with physicochemical properties. Likewise, ongoing
discussions with colleagues in the
Department of
Plastics Engineering,
Department of Work
Environment, the Lowell
Center for Sustainable Production and the
Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Institute ensure continuous exchange
across disciplines with a common goal of developing practical strategies for sustainability.
Please e-mail me
your CV and a brief cover letter that explicitly includes what subject
area(s) and degree program you're most interested in. Please understand,
however, that I will not offer a funded position to someone I have never
met or spoken with in person. If you wish to meet in person, the following
should be understood:
Meetings must be scheduled by e-mail, at least 24 hours in advance.
Your background and interests should match my research.
The
discussion will not focus on whether I will hire you.
I will
indicate my funding situation before our meeting, and make any hiring
decisions only after I have met with all interested parties, based on the
availability of funds and the degree to which the applicants match the needs
of the relevant project(s).
Co-Organizer,
NSF
Summer Institute Short Course, "From Nanoparticles to Nanocomposites:
Processing, Performance and Toxicity", June 15-18, 2009, University of
Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA, USA
D. Schmidt, "Processing
of polymer nanocomposites,"
in Industry Guide to Polymer Nanocomposites, Beyer, G., Ed.,
Plastics Information Direct: Bristol, UK, Ch. 4, 2009.
C. Barry, J. Chen, J.
Mead, D. Schmidt, "Multiscale Processing of Polymers and Nanocomposites,"
in Materials Processing Handbook, Groza, J. R., Shackelford, J.
F., Lavernia, E. J., Powers, M. T., Eds., CRC Press: Boca Raton, FL,
30-1, 2007.
D. Schmidt, J. Mead, C. Barry, J. Chen, "Nanomanufacturing
with Polymers", in Handbook of Plastics Technologies, 2nd ed.,
Harper, C. A., Ed., McGraw-Hill: New York, NY, 6.1, 2006.
R. Romano, S. Patil, D. Schmidt, "Towards
a High-Performance Epoxy Resin Free of Bisphenol A (BPA)," SPE ANTEC,
71, accepted (2013).
S. Sivasubramanian, K. Jafferji, D. F.
Schmidt, E. Reynaud, "Minimally toxic bio-derived structural adhesives,"
Polymer Preprints, POLY-559, accepted (2013).
G. Dorairaju, P. Kantasa, S. Toshniwal, K.
Tulsyan, D. F. Schmidt, E. Reynaud, "Polyamide-clay nanocomposites:
Effect of matrix microstructure," PMSE Preprints, PMSE-288,
accepted (2013).
H. Jafferji, D. White, D. F. Schmidt, E.
Reynaud, "Cycloaliphatic terephthalate co-polyester clay nanocomposites,"
PMSE Preprints, PMSE-10, accepted (2013).
J. Therrien, Y. Li, D. Schmidt, A.
Collard, D. Finkenstadt, T. Yust, "Raman spectroscopy of single layer
graphitic carbon nitride," Bulletin of the American Physical
Society, 58, T5.3 (2013).
A. K. Pal, D. Bello, S-F. Hsieh, D.
Schmidt, M. Khatri, P. Gaines, E. Rogers, "Screening for oxidative
damage by engineered nanomaterials: A comparative evaluation of FRAS and
DCFH," Preprints - ACS Division of Environmental Chemistry,
ENVR-355 (2012).
H. S. Jafferji, D. F. Schmidt, E. Reynaud,
"Mechanical Properties of Cycloaliphatic Terephthalate Co-polyester Clay
Nanocomposites," SPE ANTEC, 70, 865-870 (2012).
C. Wu, S. Wang, D. Schmidt, J. Therrien, "Micromolding
fabrication of "T" cross section SiC SPM probes," Bulletin of the
American Physical Society, 57, X1.11 (2012).
J. Therrien, Y. Li, D. Schmidt, "Melon: A
carbon-nitride analog to graphene," Bulletin of the American Physical
Society, 57, J12.3 (2012).
A. Kumar, S. Modi, D. Schmidt, C. M. F.
Barry, J. L. Mead. "Highly impermeable nanocomposites of brominated
butyl rubber with modified montmorillonite clay," Proceedings of the
180th ACS Rubber Division Meeting, 2, 1369-1392 (2011).
S. Fillery, H. Koerner, L. Drummy, M.
Tchoul, C. Beier, R. Brutchey, E. Dunkerley, D. Schmidt, R. Vaia,
"Single component polymer nanocomposites assembles of polymer-nanoparticle
hybrids for capacitive storage," Polymer Preprints, 52,
102 (2011).
K. Jafferji, D. F. Schmidt, E. Reynaud, "Thermoset
Nanocomposites from Epoxidized Linseed Oil for Structural Applications,"
SPE ANTEC, 69, 797-801 (2011).
S. Patil, L. J. Clarizia, M. McDonald, E.
Reynaud, D. F. Schmidt, "Responsive Hydrogels Produced via Organic
Sol-Gel Chemistry for Biomedical Applications," SPE ANTEC,
69, 2012-2016 (2011).
S. Shady, D. Schmidt, S. McCarthy,
"Improved Dialysis Technique for Core-shell Pullulan-Polycaprolactone
(PCL) Nanospheres Loaded with Hydrophobic Ciprofloxacin," SPE ANTEC,
69, 1982-1988 (2011).
E. Dunkerley, D. F. Schmidt, "Moisture
Susceptibility of Hydrophobic Nanoclay Composites," PMSE Preprints,
103, PMSE-336 (2010).
H. Lippincott, D. F. Schmidt, "Porous
Tissue Engineering Scaffolds by Solvent Selection for Sol-Gel
Polymerization," Polymer Preprints, 51, 606-607 (2010).
M. Jafferji, D. F. Schmidt and E. Reynaud,
"Infrared Thermography Applied to the Tensile Testing of Plastics,"
SPE ANTEC, 68, 1719-1723 (2010).
S. Sivasubramanian, D. F. Schmidt, E.
Reynaud, "Novel Bio-based Thermost Resins from Epoxidized Vegetable Oils
for Structural Applications," SPE ANTEC, 68, 950-954
(2010).
E. Dunkerley, D. F. Schmidt, "The
Optimization of High Inorganic Content Hybrid Barrier Materials,"
SPE
ANTEC, 68, 702-706 (2010).
M. L. Bernasconi, S. Toshniwal, K. Tulysan,
E. Reynaud, D. F. Schmidt, "Barrier Properties of Amorphous and
Semi-Crystalline Polyamide Nanocomposite Films," SPE ANTEC,
68,
698-701 (2010).
C. Wu, L. Dai, C. Hernandez, D. Schmidt,
J. Therrien, "Micromolding fabrication of SiC SPM probes," Bulletin
of the American Physical Society, 55, B15.11 (2010).
P. Shah, V. Mahajan, G. Dorairaju, D. F.
Schmidt, "A Comparison of Layered Nanofillers in Flexible PVC,"
SPE
ANTEC, 67, 448-452 (2009).
E. Dunkerley, D. F. Schmidt, "Stiff,
Highly Damping Thermoplastic Polyurethane Nanocomposites via Simple,
Scalable Processing," SPE ANTEC, 67, 92-96 (2009).
A. Shrivastava, N. Francis, D. F. Schmidt,
"Effect of multiple heat histories on medical-grade flexible PVC/layered
silicate nanocomposite," SPE ANTEC, 66, 1465-1469 (2008).
G. Dorairaju, S. Toshniwal, K. Tulsyan, D.
F. Schmidt, E. Reynaud, "Relating mechanical behavior to morphology in
clay/amorphous polyamide nanocomposites," SPE ANTEC, 66,
1223-1227 (2008).
G. Dorairaju, G. Morose, D. F. Schmidt,
"The interaction of nanoclay, plasticizer and stabilizer in PVC wire and
cable formulations with enhanced acceptability," SPE ANTEC,
66,
1079-1083 (2008).
H. Lippincott, D. F. Schmidt, "Sol-gel
derived polycaprolactone/castor oil based copolyurethanes for medical
applications," SPE ANTEC, 66, 528-532 (2008).
J. Therrien, D. Schmidt, S. Barot, B.
Patel, "A versatile technique for fabrication of SiC SPM probes,"
Bulletin of the American Physical Society, 53, V36.12 (2008).
P. Borgaonkar, S.
Sharma, M. Chen, S. Bhowmick, D. F. Schmidt, "Organic sol-gel chemistry
as a flexible synthetic route to tissue engineering scaffolds", Polymer Preprints,
48, 904-906 (2007).
E. Reynaud, D. F.
Schmidt, V. Appaji, H. Patel, "Relating mechanical behavior to
polyamide/clay nanocomposites morphology", PMSE Preprints,
97,
670 (2007).
N. Francis, D. F.
Schmidt, "PVC/layered silicate nanocomposites: preparation,
characterization, and properties", SPE ANTEC, 65,
1238-1242 (2007).
P. Borgaonkar, S. Sharma, D. F.
Schmidt, M. Chen, S. Bhowmick, "Preparation and characterization of
polyester thermoset xerogels for tissue engineering scaffolds", SPE
ANTEC, 65, 806-811 (2007).
V. I. Raman, C. Egger, D. Schmidt, C. du Fresne, M. Fricke, V. Schädler,
"Polymeric Nanofoams for Industrial Applications,"
D. Schmidt, G. Qian, and E. P.
Giannelis, "Nanocomposites from Novel Synthetic Organo-Layer
Silicates" PMSE Preprints, 82, 215-216 (2000).
