Department of Polymer Science

 

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Mark D. Foster

Associate Dean of Programs, Policies, and Engagement and Director of the Akron Global Polymer Academy; Professor of Polymer Science

  • Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 1987

  • B.S., Chemical Engineering, Washington University, 1981

 

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Research Interests

  • Microstructure and dynamics of polymer systems, especially in thin films and near interfaces, e.g. surface segregation and adhesion;  novel x-ray and neutron scattering techniques, especially small angle scattering and reflectometry for studying these phenomena

General research interests include:

  • Structure and dynamics of polymer systems, especially in thin films and near interfaces

  • Novel X-ray and neutron reflection and grazing incidence scattering

  • Scanning probe microscopies for surface characterization

Contact Information

  • Dr. Mark Foster
    The University of Akron
    Department of Polymer Science
    Akron, Ohio 44325-3909
  • Email: mdf1@uakron.edu
  • Voice: (330) 972-5323
  • Fax: (330) 972-5290

Recent Publications

  Book Chapters:

       D. Mehtani, N. Lee, R. D. Hartschuh, A. Kisliuk, M.D. Foster, A. P. Sokolov, “Scanning Nano-Raman Spectroscopy of Silicon and Other Semiconducting Materials”, In: Tip Enhancements, Eds. S. Kawata and V.M. Shalaev (Elsevier, in press)

  Refereed - Published, in Press, or accepted:

80.   J.S. Lee, M.D. Foster, D.T. Wu, “The Effects of Branch Points and Chain Ends on the Thermodynamics Interaction Parameter in Binary Blends of Regularly-Branched and Linear Polymers, Macromolecules 39(15), 5113-5121, 2006.

79.   D Mehtani, N Lee, R D Hartschuh, A Kisliuk, M D Foster, A P Sokolov, F Cajko and I. Tsukerman, “Optical properties and enhancement factors of the tips for apertureless near-field optics”, J. Optics A: Pure and Appl. Optics (2006, in press).

78.   B. Akgun, W.J. Brittain, X. Li, J. Wang, M.D. Foster, “Interface Roughness Correlation in Diblock Copolymer Brushes Synthesized by ATRP,” Macromolecules 2005, 38, 8614-8616, as a Communication, http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ma051277s.

77.   D. Mehtani, N. Lee, R. D. Hartschuh, A. Kisliuk, M.D. Foster, A. P. Sokolov, J. F. Maguire, “Nano-Raman Spectroscopy with Side-Illumination Optics,” Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, 36, 1068-1075, 2005.

76.   J. Lee, R.P. Quirk, M.D. Foster, "Synthesis and Characterization of Well-Defined, Regularly Branched Polystyrenes Utilizing Multifunctional Initiators," Macromolecules 38(13), 5381-5392, 2005.

75.   A.M. Granville, S.G. Boyes, B. Akgun, M.D. Foster, A. Constable, W.J. Brittain, “Stimuli-Responsive Semifluorinated Polymer Brushes," Responsive Polymer Materials: Designs and Applications; Minko, S., ed.; Blackwell Publishing:Oxford UK, 2005, in press.

74.   A.M. Granville; S.G. Boyes, B. Akgun, M.D. Foster, W.J. Brittain, "Thermo-Responsive Behavior of Semi-Fluorinated Polymer Brushes on Flat Substrates," Macromolecules, 38, 3263 – 3270, 2005, doi: 10.1021/ma048620y

73.   H. Kim, M.D. Foster, H. Zhang, O. Prucker, J. Rühe, S. Narayanan, J. Wang, "Surface Fluctuations of Polymer Brushes Probed by Diffuse X-ray Scattering," POLYMER, 46/7, 2331-2337, 2005.

72.   J. S. Lee, R. P. Quirk, and M. D. Foster, “The Effect of Butadiene End-Capping of Arms in a Star Polystyrene on Solution Properties, Bulk Dynamics and Bulk Thermodynamic Interactions in Binary Blends,” Macromolecules 37 (26), 10199-10204 DEC 28 2004.
doi: 10.1021/ma048758g

71.   S. Moon, M.D. Foster, "X-modulation: Instrumentation and Optimization," SCANNING 27 (1), 44-48, 2005.

70. J. Lee, R.P. Quirk, M.D. Foster, K. M. Wollyung, C. Wesdemiotis, " A New Methodology for the Synthesis of Star Polymers Utilizing the Reaction of Living Polymers with Alkoxysilyl-Functionalized Polymers, " Macromolecules 37 (17), 6385 - 6394, 2004. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ma049733k

69.  S. Moon, S. Swearingen, M.D. Foster, " Study of Dynamic Adhesion Behavior using Atomic Force Microscopy," Polymer, 45, 5951-5959, 2004.
doi: 10.1016/j.polymer.2004.06.023

68. H. Kim, M.D. Foster, S. Tullis, H. Jiang, T. Bunning, C. F. Majkrzak, "Interface Structure of Photonic Multilayers Prepared by Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition," Polymer 45 (10) 3175-3184, 2004.  doi: 10.1016/j.polymer.2004.03.028.

67.  Granville, A.M.; S.G. Boyes, B. Akgun, M.D. Foster, W.J. Brittain, "Synthesis and Characterization of Stimuli-Responsive Semi-Fluorinated Polymer Brushes by Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization," Macromolecules 37(8), 2790 - 2796, 2004. doi:10.1021/ma035915n

66.  J. Hwang, M.D. Foster, R. P. Quirk, "Synthesis of 4, 8, 12-arm star-branched polybutadienes with three different chain-end functionalities using a functionalized initiator ," POLYMER, 45, 873-880, 2004, doi: 10.1016/j.polymer.2003.11.047.

65.  S. Boyes, B. Akgun, W.J. Brittain, M.D. Foster, "Synthesis, Characterization and Properties of Polyelectrolyte Block Copolymer Brushes Prepared by Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization and Their Use in the Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles," Macromolecules 36(25), 9539-9548, 2003. doi: 10.1021/ma035029c.6

64.  E.Q. Chen, Y. Xia, M.J. Graham, M.D. Foster, Y.L. Mi, W.L. Wu, S.Z.D. Cheng, "Glass transition behavior of polystyrene blocks in the cores of collapsed dry micelles tethered by poly(dimethylsiloxane) coronae in a PS-b-PDMS diblock copolymer," Chem. Materials 15 (11): 2129-2135 JUN 3 2003

63.  E. J. Choi, M.D. Foster, S. Daly, R. Tilton, T. Przybycien, C.F. Majkrzak, P. Witte, H. Menzel, "Effect of Flow on Human Serum Albumin Adsorption to Self-Assembled Monolayers of Varying Packing Density, " Langmuir, 19 (13): 5464-5474 JUN 24 2003.
DOI URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/la026811t.

62.  E. Choi, M.D. Foster, "Surfactant Displacement of Human Serum Albumin Adsorbed on Loosely-Packed Self-Assembled Monolayers: Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide Versus Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate," J. Colloid and Interface Sci., 261/2, 273-282, 2003.

61.  R.P. Quirk, R.T. Mathers, T. Cregger, M.D. Foster, "Anionic Synthesis of Block Copolymer Brushes Grafted from a 1,1-Diphenylethylene Monolayer," Macromolecules  35 (27), 9964-9974, 2002.

60.  T.D. Martter, M.D. Foster, T. Yoo, S. Xu, G. Lizarraga, R.P. Quirk, "Thermodynamic Interaction Parameter of Star/Star Polybutadiene Blends," J. Polym. Sci. B: Polym. Phys. 41, 247-257, 2003.

59.  T.D. Martter, M.D. Foster, T. Yoo, S. Xu, G. Lizarraga, R.P. Quirk, P.D. Butler, "Nonuniversal Behavior of the Thermodynamic Interaction Parameter in Blends of Star and Linear Polybutadiene," Macromolecules 35 (26) 9763-9772 DEC 17 2002 http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ma0120916.

58.   S. Moon, M.D. Foster, "Influence Of Humidity On Surface Behavior Of Pressure Sensitive Adhesives Studied Using Scanning Probe Microscopy," Langmuir 18 (21), 8108-8115, 2002.

57.  A. Kisliuk, J. Hwang, J.S. Lee, B.K. Annis, M.D. Foster, A. P. Sokolov, "Influence of Molecular Architecture on Fast Dynamics and the Glass Transition in Polybutadiene,"  J. Polym. Sci. B: Polym. Phys. 40 (21), 2431-2439, 2002.

56.  T.D. Martter, M.D. Foster, K. Ohno, D. M. Haddleton, " Architecture-Driven Thermodynamic Interactions in Blends of Star-branched and Linear Poly(methylmethacrylate)," J. Polym. Sci. Polym. Phys. 40 (15), 1704-1708, 2002.

55.  S. Moon, M.D. Foster, " Near Surface Nanomechanical Behavior of Pressure Sensitive Adhesives Using Lateral Modulation Scanning Probe Microscopy," Langmuir 18 (5), 1865-1871, 2002.

54.  E.J. Choi, M.D. Foster, "The Role of Specific Binding in Human Serum Albumin Adsorption to Self-Assembled Monolayers," Langmuir18 (2), 557-561, 2002 http:/dx.doi.org/10.102/la010964j.

53.  S. Petrash, T. Cregger, B. Zhao, J. Tremsina, M. D. Foster, W. J. Brittain, V. Sevastianov, C. F. Majkrzak, "Changes in Protein Adsorption on Self-Assembled Monolayers with Monolayer Order: Comparison of Human Serum Albumin and Human Gamma Globulin," Langmuir, 17 (24), 7645-7651, 2001.

52. Lackmann, H.; Foster, M.D.; Menzel, H., “Photoprocesses in LB Films containing non-isomerizing diphenyldiacetylene chromophores,” Coll. and Surf. A; Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 198-200, 709, 2002.

51.  C. C. Greenberg, M. D. Foster, C. M. Turner, S. Corona-Galvan, E. Cloutet, R. P. Quirk, P.D. Butler, C. Hawker,  "Effective Interaction Parameter Between Branched and Linear Polystyrene", J. Polym. Sci. Part B: Polym. Phys. 39 (21), 2549-2561, 2001.

50.  Z. Chen, M.D. Foster, H. Fong, D.H. Reneker, R. Resendes, I. Manners, "Structure of Poly(ferrocenyldimethylsilane) in Electrospun Organometallic Nanofibers," Macromolecules 34(18), 6164-6166, 2001.  Published as a Communication.

49.  S. Jia, M.D. Foster, "Resolving Lateral Variations in the Frequency Dependence of Adhesive Properties at the Surface of a Model Pressure Sensitive Adhesive," J. Applied Polym. Sci. 84, 400-404, 2002.

48.  A. Paiva, N. Sheller, M.D. Foster, A. J. Crosby, K.R. Shull, "Microindentation  and Nanoindentation Studies of Aging in Pressure Sensitive Adhesives," Macromolecules , 34(7), 2269-2276, 2001.

47.  K. Temple, J.A. Massey, Z. Chen, N. Vaidya, A. Berenbaum, M.D. Foster, I. Manners, "Living Anionic Ring-Opening Polymerization of Unsymmetrically Substituted Silicon-Bridged [1]Ferrocenophanes: A Route to Organometallic Block Copolymers with Amorphous Poly(ferrocenylsilane) Blocks," Journal of Inorganic and Organometallic Polymers, 9,189-198, 1999.  (Actually submitted and appeared in 2000.  Publication date is misleading.)

46.  A. Paiva, M.D. Foster, "Aging of Model Pressure Sensitive Adhesives with Scanning Probe Microscopy,"  J. Adhesion , 75, 145-160, 2001.

45.  Yim, H.; Foster, M.D.; Engelking, J.; Menzel, H.; Ritcey, A.M. “Temperature dependent behavior of Langmuir monolayers of octadecyl substituted preformed polyimides,”  Langmuir 16(25, 9792-9796, 2000.

44.  M.D. Foster, C.C. Greenberg, D.M. Teale, C.M. Turner, S. Corona-Galvan, E. Cloutet, P.D. Butler, B. Hammouda, R.P. Quirk, "Effective c and Surface Segregation in Blends of Star and Linear Polystyrene," Makromolekulare Chemie - Macromolecular Symposia, 149, 263-268, 2000.

43.  A. Paiva, N. Sheller, M.D. Foster, A. J. Crosby, K.R. Shull, "Study of the Surface Adhesion of Pressure Sensitive Adhesives by Atomic Force Microscopy and Spherical Indenter Tests," Macromolecules 33, 1878-1881, 2000.

42.  I. Luzinov, D. Julthongpiput, A. Liebmann-Vinson, T. Cregger, M.D. Foster, V.V. Tsukruk," Epoxy-Terminated Self-Assembled Monolayers: Molecular Glues for Polymer Layers," Langmuir16(2), 504-516, 2000.
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