Education:
- The University of Akron (Ph.D. Polymer Engineering 2021-Present)
- Institute of Chemical Technology (M.Tech. Polymer Engineering 2017-2019)
- University of Mumbai (B.E. Chemical Engineering 2012-2016)
CV
Research Statement:
Project 1: Vitrimers are polymerics with dynamic covalent crosslinking bonds which allow for rapid rearrangement of the topology at elevated temperatures. This fascinating property of vitrimers can be exercised for easy reprocessing of thermosets. One major drawback of vitrimers from practical applications is that they exhibit significant creep under conditions where thermosets show little to no creep. The objective of this research is to use molecular simulations to study the kinetics of bond exchange, rheological properties, and creep compliance. The addition of nanofillers to the vitrimer matrix has shown improvement in their mechanical properties yet the effects of these nanofillers on the bond exchange dynamics have not been explored. The presence of nanofillers can accelerate the process of bond exchange by either participating in them (functionalized fillers) or providing enhanced surface area for bond exchange reactions to take place. The thermodynamics of vitrimer nanocomposites and their mechanical properties will be studied using simulation tools.
Project 2 Liquid Crystal Elastomers (LCE) are unique materials that combine the rubbery properties of elastomers with liquid crystalline anisotropy, showing tremendous potential in applications like soft actuators, robotics, and health care. The properties of LCE are largely influenced by the arrangement of these liquid crystal moieties. The objective of this research is to use simulation tools to connect the microstructure and dynamics of LCEs with their macroscopic rheology.
Publications
1. Pandya, H., Üstünel, S., Prévôt, M.E., Pegorin, G., Shiralipour, F., Paul, R., Clements, R.J., Khabaz, F., Hegmann, E., A Molecular Rheology Dynamics Study on 3D Printed Liquid Crystal Elastomers., Macromolecular Rapid Communications, 2024, 10.1002/marc.202300717
2. Pandya, H., Perego, A., Khabaz, F., Stress‐induced dynamics of glassy vitrimers with fast bond exchange rate, Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 2023, 10.1002/app.55039
3. Perego, A., Pandya, H., Khabaz, F., Modeling and Simulation of Vitrimers. In: Hameed, N., Capricho, J.C., Salim, N., Thomas, S. (eds) Multifunctional Epoxy Resins. Engineering Materials. Springer, 2023, 10.1007/978-981-19-6038-3_8
4. Pandya, H. and Mahanwar, P.A., Synthesizing Self-Crosslinking Waterborne Polyurethane-Silanol Dispersion for Waterproofing Application, Open Journal of Organic Polymer Materials, 2022, 10.4236/ojopm.2022.121001.
5. Pandya, H., Mahanwar, P.A., Fundamental Insight into Anionic Aqueous Polyurethane Dispersion, Advanced Industrial, and Engineering Polymer Research, 2020, 10.1016/j.aiepr.2020.07.003
