::PROFESSOR SABUTHOMAS::


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	1. Development of high performance polymer nanocomposites

In the area of polymer nanocomposites, the nominee has synthesized several nanofillers and fabricated high performance nanocomposites based on PS, EVA, NR and epoxy resin. The morphology, mechanical properties, rheology and failure properties of these composites have been carefully analysed. ( J. Phys. Chem. C, 113 (1), 97,2009, Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing,40, 36,2009. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 48 (7), pp 3410,2009. J. Phys. Chem. B.; 2008; 112(13); 4009-4015

	2. Chemical modifications of polymers
	In the area of chemical modification of polymers, the nominee has done excellent work on the chemical modification of PP, HDPE, PEEK, natural rubber and cellulosic materials for chemical reactions at the interface during reactive processing with other polymers. The modified polymers were characterised by different techniques. (Carbohydrate Polymers, 71, 343,2008, Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 39, 352, 2008, Biomacromolecules 7, 892, 2006; Polymer 47, 3874, 2006; Polym. Eng. Sci., 45, 1645, 2005; J. Polym. Sci.: Polym. Phys. 42, 1417, 2004; Composites Part-A 35, 489, 2004; J. Polym. Sci.: Polym. Phys. 42, 2531, 2004; Polymer 36, 4405, 1995; J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 57, 449, 1995).


	3. Reactive processing of polymer blends and composites.
	The nominee has reactively compatibilised several polymer pairs such as PTT/PC, NBR/PP, PTT/EPDM, NBR/HDPE, nylon/PS, EPR/nylon etc. In the case of NBR/PP and NBR/HDPE phenolic modified and maleic modified PP and HDPE were used as compatibilisers (J. Phys. Chem. B, 113,1569,2009, Polymer 47, 3874, 2006; Rubber Chem. Technol. 78, 286, 2005; Eur. Polym. J. 41, 1410, 2005; J. Polym. Sci.: Polym. Phys 42, 1417, 2004; Polym. Plast. Technol. Eng. , 34, 581, 1995; Polymer 37, 5421, 1996; J. Polym.Sci.: Polym. Phys. 35, 2309, 1997). The compatibilisation reactions were performed in the melt stage at high temperature in Haake or twin screw extruder

4. Physical compatibilisation of polymer blends

In the area of physical compatibilisation of polymer blends the nominee has done extensive work on the compatiblisation of PB/PS, NBR/PS, HDPE/PP, NR/PS (Journal of Materials Science, 42, 2063,2007, Polymer 46, 9385, 2005, J. Polym. Sci.,Polym. Phys 40, 755, 2002, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2673, 1998), NR/PMMA (Polym. Eng. Sci., 36, 151, 1996) and PS/PMMA (Polymer 33, 4260, 1992) by the addition of graft, bock and random copolymers.

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5.Structure-morphology- processability relationship in polymer blends and composites

Structure-morphology- processability characteristics of a large number of polymer blends such as Sorona/EPM, epoxy based blends, PS/PB, EVA/natural rubber, NBR/PS, PP/Nylon (J. Phys. Chem. B , in press, Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 39, 64,2008, J. Polym. Sci. Polym. Phys. 44, 541, 2006; Polymer 46, 9385, 2005, Polym. Eng. Sci. 45, 1645, 2005, Polymer 45, 4925, 2004, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 49, 901, 1993; Kaut. Gummi. Kunst., 47, 108, 1994) have been analyzed.

6. Development of fiber reinforced green polymer composites

Cost effective and eco-friendly composite materials have been developed from cellulose fibers and thermoplastics (Composites Science and Technology 67, 453,2007, Compos. Interfaces 12, 124, 2005; J.Appl. Polym. Sci., 63, 247; 1997; J. Comp. Mater., 31, 509, 1997; J. Mater. Sci., 32, 4261, 1997), thermosets ( J. Polym. Eng. 16, 266, 1997; Eur. Polym. J. 32, 1243, 1996) and rubbers (J. Polym. Sci., 53, 583, 1995; Polym. Int. 38, 173, 1995). Fundamental investigations have been performed on fiber-matrix interface adhesion, mechanical properties and viscoelastic behaviour. A new method has been proposed for the estimation of fiber-matrix interface adhesion by analyzing the kinetics of transport of solvents through the composite samples (Polymer composites 26, 136, 2005, Rubber. Chem. Technol., 68, 37, 1995).

7. Design of polymeric membranes for transport and selective separation

In the area of diffusion and transport, Dr. Thomas has developed several cost effective and trouble free rubber membranes as well as polymer blend membranes for the transport of solvents, vapours, gases and for the selective separation of liquid mixtures (J. Phys. Chem. B.; 112(13); 4009,2008, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res.,47 (14),4898, 2008, Biomacromolecules 6, 2965, 2005)

8. Interpenetrating polymer systems

The nominee has done excellent work on the preparation and processing of interpenetrating polymer net works from natural rubber and PS. The crosslinked rubber was swollen in styrene first, followed by polymerization and crosslinking ( Macromolecules, submitted, J. Polym. Sci. Polym. Phys 41, 1680, 2003, J. Memb. Sci; 201, 213, 2002, Polymer 36, 4935, 1995).

9. Recycling and reuse of waste rubbers

In the area of recycling, the nominee has developed a cost –effective technique for the recycling of crosslinked waste rubbers (prophylactics) obtained from the latex industries (Polymer, submitted, J. Mater, Sci, 38, 2469, 2003, Polymer 42, 2137, 2001, Progress Rubb. Plast. Recyl. Tech. 19, 205, 2003,J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 61, 2035, 1996).


	10. Synthesis of new accelerators and their use in rubber vulcanization
	A series of accelerators based on 1-phenyl-2, 4-dithiobiuret has been synthesized and their effect on vulcanization has been studies. These accelerators act as excellent binary system for the vulcanization of rubbers (Eur. Polym. J. 39, 1451, 2003, Studies on novel binary accelerator system in sulfur vulcanization of natural rubber Journal of Applied Polymer Science 90, 3173,2003.).


	11. Double networking of elastomers
	The new concept of double networking of elastomers has been applied to a series of elastomers. The role of double networking on the mechanical and ageing properties have been studied (Rubber Chemistry and Technology,80,15,2007, J.Appl.Polym. Sci. 91, 1068, 2004).


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