Texas Tech University Research
Stephen Hutcheson
Chemical Engineering
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I began my undergraduate career at Texas Tech University in the Fall of 1996. Throughout my undergraduate experiences as a coop/intern at Corning Cable Systems in Keller, TX I found an interest in polymeric and plastic materials. When I graduated with my BSChE in 2001 I decided to continuing my studying polymeric materials in the graduate program at the Department of Chemical Engineering at Texas Tech University studying under Professor Gregory B. McKenna. I am currently involved in two major areas of study: | |
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Rheological Property Determination at Surfaces and at the Nanoscale by Nano and Microsphere Embedding
We are performing nanorheological studies using embedment of micro and nanospheres to study the mechanical properties of polymeric surfaces. We are performing experiments with nanospheres of different surface energies and radii to determine if there is a size effect (study of nanoheterogeneity of polymeric surfaces). An atomic force microscope (AFM) is used to measure the embedment depth as nanoparticles are pulled into the surface by the thermodynamic work of adhesion. |
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This work is funded by the National Science Foundation and has resulted in the following publications: Hutcheson, S. A. and McKenna, G. B., Nanosphere Embedding into Polymer Surfaces: A Viscoelastic Contact Mechanics Analysis, Phys. Rev. Lett., 94, 076103 (2005); Erratum: Nanosphere Embedding into Polymer Surfaces: A Viscoelastic Contact Mechanics Analysis, Phys. Rev. Lett., 94, 189902 (2005); Hutcheson, S. A. and McKenna, G. B., Comment on "The properties of free polymer surfaces and their influence on the glass transition temperature of thin polystyrene films" by J.S. Sharp, J.H. Teichroeb and J.A. Forrest, Eur. Phys. J. E 22, 281-286 (2007). | |
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Instrumentation
I am involved in the evaluation and comparison of a Sensotec strain gage based and 2KFRT transducers in the ARES Rheometer. In addition, we have looked at instrument compliance issues and effects on measurement of glassy and rubber mechanical properties measured in shear. This work is funded by the John R.Bradford endowment at Texas Tech University and has resulted in the following publications: A. Mandanici, R. Richert, M. Cutroni, X. Shi, S. A. Hutcheson, and G. B. McKenna, "Relaxational features of supercooled and glassy m-toluidine", Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 352, 4729-4734 (2006); A. Mandanici, X. Shi, S. A. Hutcheson, G.B. McKenna, M. Cutroni, and S. Giamb, "Mechanical response of a simple molecular glass former in the glass transition region", Materials Science and Engineering, A, 432, 299-302 (2006); |
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K. Schröter, S. A. Hutcheson, X. Shi, A. Mandanici, and G. B. McKenna, "Dynamic shear modulus of glycerol: Corrections due to instrument compliance", J. Chem. Phys. 125, 214507 (2006); S. A. Hutcheson, K. Schröter, X. Shi, A. Mandanici, and G. B. McKenna, "Comment on 'Shear stress relaxation and physical aging study on simple glass-forming materials': Effects of Rheometer Compliance", J. Chem. Phys. to be submitted. I anticipate defending my dissertation in the Fall of 2007. It is my hope to pursue a career in academia, were I have a strong desire to teach and continue research in the polymer science/polymer physics field. I have received the following rewards throughout my time as a student at Texas Tech University:
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