Professor

BS, materials science, 1984

MS, electronic materials, 1985 Massachusetts Institute of Technology

PhD materials science, 1990 Cornell University

Contact Info

Shull Group Homepage

 

Polymer surfaces and interfaces, micromechanics of soft materials

Our focus is on the properties of polymer surfaces and interfaces, with an emphasis on the adhesion of "soft materials." Examples range from traditional pressure-sensitive adhesives (sticky tape) to highly specialized polymeric gels commonly used in biomedical applications. There is little understanding of the relationship in these systems between polymer adhesion and the structure of the interface on molecular or submolecular scale. We seek to make this connection through studies of well-characterized model systems synthesized in our own lab and through carefully designed fracture mechanics experiments. Related problems of interest to us include polymer/inorganic composites and the origins of adhesion and mechanical response in biological systems.

Associations and Awards

Fellow, American Physical Society, 2002

NSF Young Investigator Award, 1994–99

Department Teacher of the Year, 1995

McCormick Adviser of the Year, 1998

Publications

"Contact Mechanics and the Adhesion of Soft Solids" K.R. Shull, Mat. Sci. and Eng. R. 2002, 36,1.

"Origins of mechanical strength and elasticity in thermally reversible, acrylic triblock copolymer gels" P.L. Drzal; K.R. Shull, Macromolecules 2003, 36, 2000.

"The Effects of Geometric Confinement on the Adhesive Debonding of Soft Elastic Solids" R.E. Webber; K.R. Shull; A. Roos; C. Creton, Phys. Rev. E. 2003, 68, 021805.