DR. KEVIN CAVICCHI
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Associate Professor of Polymer Engineering
Molecular Engineering of Nanostructured Soft Materials
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Department of
Polymer Engineering
The University of Akron, OH
330-972-8368
[email protected]
www.uakron.edu/cpspe/facultyresearch/profile.dot?id=9090d106b54e-42c3-ab7667e6470e8fac&info=ai1
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Biography: Kevin Cavicchi joined
the University of Akron in January
2006. He received his B.S. in
Materials Science and Engineering
from Cornell University in 1998 and
his PhD in Materials Science and
Engineering from the University of
Minnesota in 2003. From 2003 to
2005 he was a post-doctoral fellow at
the University of MassachusettsAmherst in the Department of
Polymer Science and Engineering.
Awards/Accomplishments:
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NASA-Glenn Summer Faculty
Fellow (2008, 2010)
American Chemical Society –
Petroleum Research Fund
Young Investigator Award
(2008)
Polymer Networks Group
Young Investigator Award
(2014)
Research Interests:
Cavicchi’s research interests are in the structure-property
relationships of nanostructured soft materials. Specific
research areas are in the thermodynamics of small molecule
organogelators; the synthesis and characterization shape
memory polymers; and the synthesis of supramolecular
polymers through ionic interactions including block
copolymers, ionically crosslinked elastomers, and
polyelectrolyte-surfactant complexes. A range of synthetic
techniques employed include controlled free radical
polymerization, anionic polymerization, and postpolymerization modification are used to prepare well-defined
polymer materials. Characterization includes morphology
(optical and atomic force microscropy, X-ray scattering) and
mechanical testing and rheology.
Application Focus:
Organogels – Oil recovery, clarifying agents for semicrystalline polymers
Shape Memory Polymers – Heat shrinkable films, thermally
responsive membrane and barrier materials
Supramolecular Polymers – Self-healing and
mechanoplastic elastomers and thermosets
Unique Capabilities:
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Custom polymer synthesis and modification
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Maximum bubble pressure rheology of gels
Recent Publications/Patents:
1.
Feng, L., Cavicchi, K.A., Investigation of the
Relationships Between The Thermodynamic Phase
Behavior and Gelation Behavior of a Series of
Trisamide Low Molecular-Mass Organic Gelators, Soft
Matter, 8, 2483-2492 (2012).
2.
Zhang, L.; Tang, Q.; Weiss, R. A.; Cavicchi, K. A.
Synthesis and characterization of Quaternary
phosphonium-containing, trithiocarbonate RAFT
agents Polymer Chemistry 5, 5492-5500 (2014). DOI:
10.1039/c4py00615a.
3.
Brostowitz, N. R.; Weiss, R. A.; Cavicchi, K. A. Facile
Fabrication of a Shape Memory Polymer by Swelling
Cross-Linked Natural Rubber with Stearic Acid. ACS
Macro Letters , 3, 374-377 (2014). DOI:
10.1021/mz500131r.