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School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering Polymers and Composites

Polymer and Composite research is an important focus for MME. The Composites Science and Engineering Center (CSEC) on the WSU campus provides ample equipment and space for teams to conduct polymer and composite research, including research on biopolymers, nanocomposites, fiber composites and processing, multiscale modeling, property characterizations, failure mechanisms, and application issues. Other research areas include additive manufacturing/printing processing and extrusion, compression molding, foaming, and solution-based methods. Researchers are also studying the modeling of thermos-mechanical constitutive models, applications to morph micro air vehicle flapping wings, and surface-reshaping robots that use shape-memory polymers. These researchers are experts in multi-scale modeling for deformation and failure mechanisms in polymer composites, and, for example, they study how multi-axial, time-dependent characterizations on composites and adhesives describe material damage and failure processes. Other research includes the effects of environmental exposure on the mechanical response of composites and adhesives and experimental characterization of the dynamic response of polymer composites and structures. An important invention researchers have recently discovered is how to effectively recycle fiber composites. Specific research applications include multifunctional nanocomposites (e.g., CNT, Graphene, nanofibers, etc.), as well as bio-based materials (e.g., protein, lignin, nanocrystalline cellulose, etc.) for use in energy conversion, storage, saving, sensing, actuation, and in environmental and aero-structures.

Topics in Polymers and Composites

  • Synthesis, processing and application development of biobased polymer materials
  • Structure and properties of polymer blends and composites
  • Polymer foaming and fiber spinning technologies
  • Polymer stabilization and flame retardancy
  • Polymer hydrogel and controlled release
  • Nanocomposites and multifunctional materials
  • Biobased and environmental polymeric materials
  • Composite Materials: multi-axial characterization, damage and failure modeling and environmental degradation

Faculty in Polymers and Composites

Display NameContact InformationPhoto
Boddeti, Narasimha
Berry Assistant Professor
narasimha.boddeti@wsu.edu
509-335-4446
Sloan 213
Pullman
Ding, Jow-Lian
Professor, Associate Director for Administration
jowlian_ding@wsu.edu
509-335-3226
EME B25
Pullman
Hu, Yueqi
Assistant Professor (Career Track), WSU Everett
yueqi_hu@wsu.edu
425-405-1732
WSU NPS 423
Everett
Mo, Changki
Professor, WSU Tri-Cities
changki.mo@wsu.edu
509-372-7296
Floyd 134A
Tri-Cities
Qiu, Kaiyan
Berry Assistant Professor
kaiyan.qiu@wsu.edu
509-335-3223
Sloan 225B
Pullman
Smith, Lloyd V
Professor, Deputy Director, School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering
lvsmith@wsu.edu
509-335-3221
EME 155
Pullman
Zhang, Jinwen
Professor
jwzhang@wsu.edu
509-335-8723
PACCAR (PETB) 246
Pullman
Zhong, Weihong (Katie)
Professor
katie_zhong@wsu.edu
509-335-7658
PACCAR (PETB) 252
Pullman