Group Research Interests:

Dr. Otaigbe's group research interests are in all aspects of the relationships between structure and mechanical properties of polymers and composites. The researches cover a number of research programs in collaboration with academics and industrial companies in the USA. It also has a collaborative research with scientists from Russia and Switzerland (ETH-Zurich). Current efforts are on nanostructured polymer blends with enhanced benefits from in-situ polymerization an in-situ compatibilization, new organic/inorganic polymeric hybrid materials, biodegradable plastics from agricultural biopolymers, polymer-bonded magnets, polyphosphate glasses, polymer atomization/polymer microparticles, glass-polymer melt blends, and on composites with an emphasis on processing and rheology, structure, properties, and engineering performance properties. In collaboration with computational chemists, the group is using computer modeling and molecular dynamics simulation to gain insights into polymer chain dynamics at nanometer length scales that cannot be experimentally studied. We are also actively involved in university-industry partnerships to solve industrially relevant problems. These problems are often at the boundaries between established disciplines or in areas combining disciplines that may ultimately lead to discovery. Through careful monitoring, coaching, active involvement, and thoughtful combination of academic, industrial, and government resources, Dr. otaigbe is empowering his students and research associates to develop the discipline to continue learning, and encouraging them to take creativity excursions outside the imagined constraints of their specialized areas that may ultimately lead to most exciting opportunities of the future.