NADARAJAH VASANTHAN, PH.D.

Department of Chemistry

Long Island University

One University Plaza

Brooklyn, NY 11201

Phone: 718-246-6328; Fax: 718-488-1465

nadarajah.vasanthan@liu.edu

 

EDUCATION

 

Ph.D.               Physical Chemistry                                                                  1994

City University of New York.

 

M. A.               Physical Chemistry                                                                   1991

City College, City University of New York.

 

B. Sc.               Chemistry                                                                                1986

University of Jaffna, SriLanka.

 

 

PROFESSIONAL HISTORY

 

Visiting Professor                     Department of Chemical Engineering              2005-present

                                                Rutgers University, New Brunswick

 

Associate Professor                  Department of Chemistry                                 2004-present

Long Island University, NY

 

Senior Scientist                       TRI/Princeton, Princeton, NJ.                           2001-2004

 

Staff Scientist                          TRI/Princeton, Princeton, NJ.                           1997-2000

 

Research Chemist                    AlliedSignal                                                     1995-1997

Morristown, NJ.

 

Research Associate                   Fiber and Polymer Science                               1993-1995

                                                North Carolina State University

 

Research Assistant and             City College of the CUNY                                1988-1993

Teaching Assistant                   New York

 

Assistant Lecturer                     University of Jaffana, SriLanka                                    1986-1988

 

 

RESEARCH INTEREST

 

Research in our group is in the general area of polymer science, crystallization and spectroscopic characterization of polymers. Our primary objective is to study the effect of hydrogen bonding in extensibility of hydrogen bonded polymers. Our second objective is to investigate crystallization and degradation behavior of various biodegradable polymers and their nanocomposite systems.

It is generally believed that hydrogen bonding makes polyamides important engineering plastics, because of the high strength it imparts. However, the interchain hydrogen bonds between amide groups are seen as a barrier to ultradrawing of high molecular weight polyamides and, therefore, to the achievement of high strength and high modulus fibers. The purpose of our research is to develop a new method to spin and draw high strength fibers and films by suppressing the interchain amide group hydrogen bonding. There is evidence in the literature that hydrogen bond suppression can be achieved by Lewis Acid - Base complexation of polyamides, and this may provide a way to temporarily eliminate hydrogen bonding during drawing, allowing orientation to the desired degree, followed by reformation of the hydrogen bonds in the oriented state. We are investigating the influence of hydrogen bonding on fiber formation in low and high molecular weight polyamides, and examine morphological characteristics such as molecular orientation in the crystalline and noncrystalline regions, degree of crystallinity and crystallite size.

 

 

Our second objective is to investigate new approaches to significantly improve the performance of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) derived materials and offer a biodegradable alternative for high performance fiber applications. The broad application of current commercial PLA products for semicrystalline, thermoplastic fiber markets is limited by their relatively low Tg (ca. 50-60ĺˇC), poor melt strength, low modulus, and unfavorable rate of hydrolysis above the Tg. Thus PLA-based materials have been targeted for predominantly biomedical applications from surgical sutures to drug delivery systems. We plan to address these limitations and expand the use of PLA by preparing hybrid inorganic nanocomposites of PLA with, for example, clays, sol-gels, and metal oxides. We are investigating the effect of microstructure of PLA and PLA nanocomposites on hydrolytic and enzymatic degradation.

 

PUBLICATIONS

 

Refereed Journal Papers (* Denotes Corresponding Author)

 

1. Infrared Spectroscopic Investigation of Bulk Crystallized Trans-1,4-Polyisoprene.

N. Vasanthan, J. P. Corrigan and A. E. Woodward*. Polymer, 1992, 34, 2270.

 

2. FTIR Spectroscopic and SEM Morphological Investigation of Trans-1,4-Polyisoprene and Copolymer Derivatives. N. Vasanthan, J. P. Corrigan and A. E. Woodward*. Trends in Polymer Science, 1993, 2, 299.

 

3. Bulk Crystallization of Randomly Epoxidized Trans-1, 4-Polyisoprene.

N. Vasanthan, J. P. Corrigan and A. E. Woodward*. Makromol Cheme, 1994, 195, 2435.

 

4. Thermal Studies of Solution Epoxidized Trans-1,4-Polyisoprene. N. Vasanthan*. Polymer Journal, 1994, 26, 1291.

 

5. NMR Observation of Isolated and Stretched Polymer Chain in Their Crystalline Inclusion Compound Formed with Small molecule Host Clathrates. N. Vasanthan, D. Shin and A. E. Tonelli*. Magnetic Resonance in Chemistry, 1994, 32, S61.

 

6. Conformational and Motional Characterization of Isolated Poly(e-caprolactone) Chains in Their Inclusion Compounds. N. Vasanthan, D. Shin and A. E. Tonelli. Macromolecules, 1994, 27, 6515.

 

7. The Inclusion Compound Formed Between Poly(ε-caprolactone)-Polybutadiene Diblock Copolymer and urea. N. Vasanthan, D. Shin and A. E. Tonelli*. Macromolecules, 1994, 27, 7220.

 

8. Inclusion Compound Formed Between Poly(L-lactic acid) and Urea. N. Vasanthan, D. Shin and A. E. Tonelli*. Macromolecules,1994, 27, 7443.

 

9. Fourier Transform IR and NMR Observation of Crystalline Polymer Inclusion Compounds.

N. Vasanthan and A. E. Tonelli*. Multidimensional Spectroscopy of Polymers, M. W. Urban and T. Provder, Ed, ACS Symposium Series, 1995, Volume 598, 517-534.

 

10. Structure, Conformation and Motion of Poly(tetrahydrofuran)(PTHF) in the Hexagonal PTHF-Urea Inclusion Compound. N. Vasanthan, D. Shin and A. E. Tonelli*. J. Polym .Sci, Poly Phys, 1995, 33,1385.

 

11. FTIR Investigation of Inclusion Compound Formed Between Trans-1, 4-Polyisoprene and Urea. N. Vasanthan, D. Shin and A. E. Tonelli*. Polymer, 1995, 36, 4887.

 

12. The Effect of Cross Link Length and Flexibility on the Elastic Properties of Polybutadiene Network. N. Amudiene, P. Eaton, L. Huang, N. Vasanthan and A. E. Tonelli*. Computational Polym. Sci, 1995, 5, 165.

 

13. Structure, Conformation and Motion of Poly(ethylene oxide)(PEO) in the Trigonal PEO-Urea Inclusion Compound. N. Vasanthan, D. Shin and A. E. Tonelli*. Macromolecules, 1996, 29, 263.

 

14. The Inclusion Compound Formed Between Poly(propylene) and Urea. P. Eaton, N. Vasanthan, D. Shin and A. E. Tonelli*. Macromolecules, 1996, 29, 2531.

 

15. Oxygen barrier of nylon 6. Y. P. Khanna,* E. D. Day, M. L. Tsai, R. G. Bray, N. Vasanthan and G. Vaiydianathan. Proceedings of Future Pak 96, 1996.

 

16. Polymer-Polymer Composites Fabricated by the In Situ Release and Coalescence of

Polymer Chains from Their Inclusion Compounds with Urea into a Carrier Polymer Phase.

L. Huang , N. Vasanthan and A. E. Tonelli*. J. Appl Polym Sci, 1997, 64, 281.

 

17. Formation, Characterization and Segmental Motions of Block Copolymers in Their Urea Inclusion Compound Crystals. N. Vasanthan, D. Shin, L. Huang, S. Nojima and A. E. Tonelli*. Macromolecules, 1997, 30, 3014.

 

18. Investigation of Brill Transition of Nylon 6 and Nylon 66 by Infrared Spectroscopy

N.   Vasanthan*, S. Murthy and R. Bray, Macromolecules, 1998, 31, 8433.

 

19. Structural and Conformational Characterization of Poly(ethylene naphthalate) by Infrared Spectroscopy. N. Vasanthan* and D. R. Salem, Macromolecules, 1999, 32, 6319.

 

 

20. Infrared Spectroscopic Characterization of Oriented Polyamide 66: Band Assignment and Crystallinity Measurement. N.Vasanthan* and D. R. Salem. J. Polym. Sci, Polym Phy, 2000, 38, 502.

 

21. FTIR Spectroscopic Characterization of Structural Changes in Polyamide 6 Fibers During Annealing and Drawing. . N.Vasanthan* and D. R. Salem. J. Polym. Sci, Polym Phy, 2001, 39, 536.

 

22. Effects of Heat Setting and Drawing on Structure and Morphology of Polyamide 66 Fibers. N.Vasanthan* and D. R. Salem. Material Innovations, 2001, 4, 155.

 

23. Spectroscopic Methods: Infrared, Raman and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance." D. R. Salem and N. Vasanthan. Structure Formation in Polymeric Fibers, D.R. Salem Ed., Hanser Publishers: Munich (2001).

 

24. FTIR Investigation of the Ambient Dependent Photo damage in Hair. K. R. Ramaprasad, N. Vasanthan, and Y. Kamath*. Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001, 52, 334.

 

25. Structure Development of Polyamide 66 fibers by X-ray Diffraction and FTIR spectroscopy.

.N.Vasanthan* and D. R. Salem. J. Polym. Sci, Polym Phy, 2002, 40, 1940.

 

26. Orientation and Structure Development in Polyamide 6 Fibers Upon Drawing

.N.Vasanthan*. J. Polym. Sci, Polym Phy, 2003, 41, 2870.

 

27. Effect of Polymer Microstructure on Dye Diffusion in Polyamide 66 Fibers

N.Vasanthan* and X. X. Huang. J. Appl Polym. Sci, 2003, 89, 3803.

 

28. Orientation Induced Memory Effect in Polyamides and the Relationship to Hydrogen Bonding. N.Vasanthan*. J. Appl. Polym. Sci, 2003, 90, 772.

 

29. Effect of Heat Setting Temperatures on Tensile Mechanical Properties of Polyamide Fibers

N. Vasanthan*. Textile Research Journal, 2004, 74, 545.

 

30. Lewis Acid-Base Complexation of Polyamide 66 to Control Hydrogen Bonding, Extensibility and Crystallinity. N.Vasanthan*, R. Kotek, D. W. Jung, D. Shin, A. E. Tonelli and D. R. Salem. Polymer, 2004, 45, 4077.

 

31. Novel Methods for Obtaining High Modulus Aliphatic Polyamide Fibers.

R. Kotek*.; Jung, DongWook; N.Vasanthan, N.; A. E. Tonelli. Journal of Macromolecular Science, Part C, 2005, 45, 201.

 

32. Determination of Molecular Orientation of Uniaxially Stretched Polyamide Fibers by

Polarized Infrared Spectroscopy: Comparison of X-ray Diffraction and Birefringence Methods. N. Vasanthan*, Applied Spectroscopy, 2005, 29, 897.

 

33. Structure Development of Poly (L-lactic acid) Fibers Processed at various Spinning Conditions. S. Ghosh* and N.Vasanthan. J. Appl Polym. Sci, 2006, 101, 1210.

 

34. Effect of the Microstructure on the Dye Diffusion and Mechanical Properties of Polyamide 6 Fibers. N.Vasanthan*. J. Polym. Sci, Polym Phy, 2007, 45, 349.

 

35. Crystallization Studies of Poly (trimethylene terephthalate) Using Thermal Analysis and Far Infrared spectroscopy. N.Vasanthan* and M. Yamen. J. Polym. Sci, Polym Phy, 2007, 45, 349.

 

36. Properties of Films and Fibers Obtained from Lewis Acid-Base Complexed Nylon 6,6. M. Afshari, A. Gupta, D. Jung, R. Kotek*, A. E. Tonelli, and N. Vasanthan. Polymer, 2008, 49,1297.

 

37. Formation and Characterization of Thiourea Encapsulated Polyethylene Oxide. A.Campo, J. Fretti and N. Vasanthan*. Polymer, 2008, 49,374.

 

38. Structural and Conformational Changes During Thermally Induced Crystallization of Poly (trimethylene terephthalate) by Infrared Spectroscopy. M. Yamen, S. Ozkaya and N. Vasanthan*. J. Polym. Sci, Polym Phy, 2008, 46, 1497.

39. Effect of Microstructure on Hydrolytic Degradation of Poly (L-lactic acid) by FTIR Spectroscopy and Differential Scanning Calorimetry. N. Vasanthan* and Oanh Ly. Polymer Degradation and Stability. 2009, 94, 1364.

40. Multiple Thermosetting of Partially Crystalline Polymers I: Polyamide 66 and Poly(ethylene terephthalate) Fibers. D. R. Salem* and N. Vasanthan. Polymer, 2009, 50, 1790.

 

41. Structure Formation and Characterization of Polyamide Fibers, an Invited Chapter, in Press. M. Jaffe Ed, Woodhead Publishing: London (2009).

 

42. A study of Antimicrobial Propert of Textile Fabric Treated with Modified Dendrimers. S. Ghosh*, S. Yadeev, N. Vasanthan and G. Sekosan. J. Appl Polym. Sci, 2010, 115, 716.

 

43. Morphological Changes of Annealed Poly (ε-Caprolacton) Film with Lipase. G. Sekosan and N. Vasanthan*. J. Polym. Sci, Polym Phy, 2010, 48, 202.

 

44. Morphological and Conformational Changes of Poly (trimethylene terephthalate) during Isothermal Melt Crystallization. N. Vasanthan*, S. Ozkaya and M. Yaman. J. Phys. Chem B, 2010, xx, xxxx.

 

45. Effect of Nanoclay on Crystallization Kinetics and Polymorphism of Poly (L-lactic acid)

N. Vasanthan* and Oanh Ly, submitted to Macromolecules

 

Refereed Conference Proceedings (* Indicates Corresponding Author)

                          

1. FTIR and NMR Observations of Inclusion Compounds. N. Vasanthan, C. Howe and A. E. Tonelli. Polymer Science and Engineering, 1994, 71, 267.

 

2. Spectroscopic Investigation of the Structure and Motion of Poly(ε-caprolactone)-Polybutadiene Diblock Copolymer-Urea Inclusion Compounds. N. Vasanthan and A. E. Tonelli. Polymer Preprint, 1995, 72, 354.

 

3. The Effect of Cross Link Length and Flexibility on the Elastic Properties of Polybutadiene Network. N. Amudiene, P. Eaton, L. Huang, N. Vasanthan and A. E. Tonelli. Polymer Science and Engineering, 1996, 74, 222.

 

4. NMR Relaxation Observations of the Constrained Segmental Motions of Block Copolymers in the Narrow Channels of Their Inclusion Compound Crystals Formed with Urea. I. D. Shin, N. Vasanthan, S. Nojima, and A. E. Tonelli., Polymer Science and Engineering, 1997, 76, 449.

 

5.. Polymer-Polymer Composites Fabricated by the In Situ Release and Coalescence of Polymer Chains from Their Inclusion Compounds with Urea into a Carrier Polymer Phase. L. Huang , N. Vasanthan and A. E. Tonelli. Polymer Preprint, 1997, 76, 882.

 

6. Infrared Spectroscopic Characterization of Poly(ethylene naphthalate).

N. Vasanthan and D. R. Salem. Polymer Preprint, 1999, 81, 311.

 

7. Molecular Characterization of Polyamide Fibers. N. Vasanthan and D. R. Salem. Polymer Science and Engineering, 2000, 83, 487.

 

8. FTIR Investigation of the Ambient Dependent Photo damage in Hair. K. R. Ramaprasad, N. Vasanthan, and Y. Kamath. Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001, 52, 334.

 

9. Lewis acid-base complexation of polyamide 66 as a means to control hydrogen

bonding to form high strength fibers and films. Polymer Preprint, 2004, 45, 787.

 

10. High modulus Nylon 66 fibers through Lewis acid-base complexation to control hydrogen bonding and enhance drawing behavior. Jung, DongWook; Kotek, R.; Vasanthan, N.; Tonelli, A. E, Polymeric Materials: Science and Engineering, 2004, 91, 354.

 

11. Effect of Heat Setting Temperature on Mechanical Properties and Dye Difusion of Polyamide Fibers. Vasanthan, N. Polymeric Materials: Science and Engineering 2005, 92, 194.

 

12. Far Infrared Spectroscopic Investigation of Poly (methylene terepthalates). Vasanthan,N Yaman, M and Ozkaya, S. Polymeric Materials: Science and Engineering 2006, 51, 955.

 

13. Wet Spinning of High Molecular Weight Aliphatic Polyamides. Gupta, A.; Afshari, M.; Kotek, R.; Tonelli, A. E and Vasanthan, N. Fall 2006, Fiber Society Proceedings.

 

14. Lewis Acid-Base Complexation of Polyamide 66 to Control Hydrogen Bonding, Extensibility and Crystallinity. Vasanthan, N.; Kotek, R.; Jung, D. W.; Shin, D.; Tonelli, A. E and Salem, D. R. Fiber 2006 Proceedings.

 

15. Effect of Microstructure on Hydrolytic Degradation of Poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA). Vasanthan, N. Polymer Preprint. 2008, 92, 194.

 

16. Effect of Microstructure on Enzymatic Degradation of Poly(e-caprolactone). Vasanthan, N and Seksosan, G. Polymer Preprint. 2010,

 

 

Invited Chapters (Refereed)

 

1. Fourier Transform IR and NMR Observation of Crystalline Polymer Inclusion Compounds.

N. Vasanthan and A. E. Tonelli*. Multidimensional Spectroscopy of Polymers, M. W. Urban and T. Provder, Ed, ACS Symposium Series, 1995, Volume 598, 517-534.

 

2. Spectroscopic Methods: Infrared, Raman and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance." D. R. Salem and

N. Vasanthan. Structure Formation in Polymeric Fibers, D.R. Salem Ed., Hanser Publishers: Munich (2001)

 

3. Structure Formation and Characterization of Polyamide Fibers, an Invited Chapter, in Press. M. Jaffe Ed, Woodhead Publishing: London (2009).

 

 

 

 

 

Presentations

 

Presentations were given in the following topics during different time period.

 

a. Crystallization of trans-1,4-polyisoprene from the melt and its spectroscopic characterization (1990-1993); b. Formation and characterization of polymer inclusion compounds (1994-1998).

c) Stress-induced crystallization and polarized infrared spectroscopic characterization of fiber forming polymers (1997-2002); d)Effect of hydrogen bonding in structure development and stress induced crystallization (2002-present); e) strain-induced crystallization and degradation of biodegradable polymers (2007-present)

 

 

1. City University of New York, New York (1991, and 1993).

2. Stevens Institute of Technology, New Jersey (1993).

3. MAKRO AKRON, University of Akron, Akron, Ohio (1994).

4. ACS National Meeting, Washington D. C (Fall 1994).

5. ACS Local Meeting, Raleigh, North Carolina (Spring 1994).

6. ACS National Meeting, Anaheim, California (Spring 1995).

7. ACS Local Meeting, Raleigh, North Carolina (Spring 1995).

8. Fiber Society Meeting, Raleigh, North Carolina (Spring 1995).

9. Michigan Biotechnology Institute(MBI), Michigan State University (1995).

10. DSM, Baton Rouge, Loussiana (1995).

11. AlliedSignal, Research and Technology, Morristown, New Jersey (1995).

12. Textile Research Institute(TRI), Princeton, New Jersey (1995).

13. Polymer Physics Meeting, University of Leeds, London (1995).

14. ACS National Meeting, San Francisco, California (Spring 1997)

15. National Starch Chemical Company, New Jersey(1997)

16.  Long Island University, New York(Spring 1997)

17.  Fiber Society Meeting, Philadelphia (Spring 1999).

18.  Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina (Spring 1999).

19.  North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina (Spring 1999).

20.  ACS National Meeting, New Orleans (Fall 1999).

21.  ACS National Meeting, Washington DC (Fall 2000).

22.  ACS National Meeting, Chicago(Fall 2001).

23.  Kansas State University (2002).

24.  Milliken Research Corporation (2002)

25.  Department of Agriculture, Pennsylvania (2002).

26.  Fiber Society, Loughnborough, UK(Spring 2003).

27.  ACS National Meeting, Anaheim, California (Spring 2004).

28.  Long Island University, New York (Spring 2004).

29.  ACS Mid Atlantic Meeting, New Jersey (Spring 2004).

30.  Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina (Spring 2004).

31.  ACS National Meeting, San Diego, California (Spring 2005).

32.  ACS National Meeting, Anaheim, California (Spring 2006)

33.  ACS North East Local Meeting, MARM (Spring 2007).

34.  ACS National Meeting, Philadelphia (Fall 2008)

35.  ACS National Meeting, Washington DC (Fall 2009).

36.  ACS National Meeting, Boston (Fall 2010)

 

 

 

Graduate Students Supervised

 

MS students graduated under my supervision

 

1. Mr. Mustafa Yaman (12/06)

Thesis Title:    Crystallization Studies of Poly(trimethylene terephthalate)

(PTT) by Differential Scanning Calorimetry and FTIR Spectroscopy

 

2.     Ms. Astrid Campo ( 05/07)

Thesis Title: Formation and Characterization of Polyethylene Oxide Thiourea Inclusion Compound.

 

3.     Ms. Onah Ly (12/07)

Thesis Title: Crystallization and Hydrolytic Degradation Studies of Poly(L-Lactic acid)

 

4.     Mr. S. Ozkaya (12/07)

Thesis Title: Melt Crystallization Studies of Poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT)

 

5.     Ms. Hoang Ly (12/07)

Thesis Title: Crystallization Studies of Poly(L-lactic acid) Nanocomposites

 

6.     Ms G. Sekoshan (12/08)

Thesis Title: Effect of Microstructure on Enzymatic Degradation of Poly (e-Caprolactone).

 

7.     Ms Hunde Gezer: (5/10)

Thesis Title: Effect of Thermally Induced Crystallization on Enzymatic Degradation of

Poly (L-Lactic Acid) (PLLA).

 

8.     Ms. NagaJothi Manne (7/10)

Thesis Title: Strain-Induced Crystallization Studies of Poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT)

 

MS students currently working under my supervision

 

1.     Mr. Hsin-I Ho ( 07/05 to present)

2. Ms WaiHuang Lee (06/08 to present)

3. Rangari Deepika (10/09 to present)

4. Chittrapu Lakshmi (10/09 to present)

5. Kalyanapu Sushma (10/09 to present)

6. Shakira Charles (07/10 to present)

 

Exchanged Students from France worked under my supervision

 

1.     Ms. Julie Fretti ( summer 2006)

2.     Mr. David Thebaud (summer 2008)

3.     Mr Geoffrey Rouxel (summer 2009)

 

 

 

 

 

TEACHING

 

General Chemistry for Science and Pharmacy Majors (Chem 3 and Chem 4)

 

General Chemistry for Health Science Major (Chem 3X)

 

Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (Chem 503)

 

Instrumental Analysis (Chem 525)

 

Polymer Chemistry (Chem 626)

 

Physical Chemistry (PHS 701)

 

 

SERVICE AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES

 

University and Departmental Service

 

Participated LIU Open houses

 

Served Conolly College Curriculum Committee for two year term from 2008 to 2010.

 

Served as liaison for Conolly College Outcome Assessment Committee

.

Brooklyn Campus Curriculum Committee (2005 to 2009)

 

Participated in Transfer Mingler-Academic Advising

 

Joined as a member in Academic AdvisorŐs Council

 

Served as Coordinator for General Chemistry