Professor and Chair of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and (by courtesy) Professor of Materials Science and Engineering

BS, chemical engineering, 1985, University of Illinois
MS, chemical engineering, 1986, University of Illinois
PhD, chemical engineering, 1991, Stanford University

Contact Info

Burghardt Research Group

Polymers; Complex Fluids; Rheology; X-Ray Scattering

     We seek to understand the dynamics of complex fluids during flow. Many fluids encountered in materials processing exhibit non-Newtonian behavior due to the presence of complex molecular or nanoscale structure that is perturbed by flow. Our research emphasizes in-situ investigation of such flow-induced structural changes to elucidate the origins and mechanisms of complex rheology in polymers.

     Our research is broadly divided between two thrusts. We have a long-standing interest in how flow affects the organization of structured fluids such as surfactants, ordered block copolymers, and liquid crystalline polymers. We use powerful X-ray scattering techniques for realtime measurements of polymer structure in both idealized shear flows and during processing, taking advantage of Northwestern's synchrotron research facility at the Advanced Photon Source. Our other theme is the application of unique flow birefringence techniques to interrogate stresses generated in polymer melts and solutions and to test theoretical models for the rheological behavior of flexible polymers.

Associations and Awards

• Fellow, American Physical Society, 2004
• Young Investigator Award, National Science Foundation
• McCormick Teaching Award
• Mortar Board Honor Roll of Outstanding Teachers
• Allan P. Colburn Lecturer, University of Delaware
• John H. Dillon Medal, American Physical Society

Publications

Transient molecular orientation and rheology in flow-aligning thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers [with V. M. Ugaz, W. Zhou, and J. A. Kornfield]. J. Rheol. 45: 1029-63 (2001).

F. E. Caputo, W. R. Burghardt, K. Krishnan, F. S. Bates and T. P. Lodge, "Time-Resolved Small-Angle X-ray Scattering Measurements of a Polymer Bicontinuous Microemulsion Structure Factor under Shear," Phys. Rev. E 66, 041401 (2002).

J. Bang, T. P. Lodge, X. Wang, K. L. Brinker and W. R. Burghardt, "Thermoreversible, Epitaxial fcc<-> bcc Transitions in Block Copolymer Solutions," Phys. Rev. Lett. 89, 215505 (2002)