Dr.
Kenneth Van Ness
Professor,
Department of Physics and Engineering
Washington
and Lee University
Lexington, VA 24450
Office:
Howe Hall 215
Phone:
(540) 458-8887
FAX:
(540) 458-8884
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Research
Interests:
Current interests
include experimental studies of miscible and immiscible polymer blends.
Methods used to characterize these materials include scanning electron
microscopy, dynamic mechanical analysis, positron lifetime spectroscopy,
infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and x-ray diffraction.
The goal of this work is to correlate mechanical properties with morphological
features for these complex materials. On the theoretical side, models
of viscoelastic behavior are being created and used to predict long-term
creep properties for recycled polymers, which are to be used as construction
materials. Another research interest involves the statistical mechanical
modeling of polymer fluids, and, in particular, the calculation of surface
tension for polymer liquids. |
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Freeze-fractured polymer blend
magnified 3,000x |
More
about Dr. Van Ness's Polymer Research - as reported in the Chronicle of
Higher Education,
February 28, 2003
Teaching:
Statics:
Engineering 203
Thermodynamics:
Physics/Engineering 240
Materials
Science:
Engineering 260
Solid Mechanics
& Lab: Engineering 301/351
Polymer Science
:
Physics/Engineering 361
Engineering 362
Education:
PhD, Mechanics
and Materials Science
Department
of Mechanics and Materials Science
Rutgers University
Publications:
Chapters:
Van Ness, K.E. and Nosker, T.J. "Commingled Plastics," chapter nine
in Plastics Recycling, ed. R.J. Ehrig, Hanser Publications, Munich,
Germany, pp. 187-229 (1992).
Patents:
Morrow, D.R., Nosker, T.J., Van Ness, K.E., and Renfree, R.W., Polystyrene
and Polyolefin Plastics Composite Derivable From Recycled Plastics, Patent
Number: 5,298,214, March 29, 1994.
Articles:
( * W&L undergraduate ** W&L graduate
)
Reid, T.J., Van Ness, K.E., et al. "Physical and thermal
properties of blood storage bags: implications for shipping frozen components
on dry ice," Transfusion, 42, 836-846, July 2002.
J.K. Lynch**, K.E. Van Ness, T.J. Nosker, R.W. Renfree, and M.J. Miraglia*,
"Creep Behavior and Prediction of an Immiscible Polymer Blend." Proceedings
of the Eighth International Conference on Composites Engineering, ICCE/8,
08/2001.
Van Ness, K.E., Nosker, T.J., Renfree, R.W., Lynch, J.**, and Kalista,
S.J*., "Stress-Relaxation of Polyolefin-Based, Oriented, Glass-Fiber Materials,"
Proceedings of the Society of Plastics Engineers Annual Technical Conference,
57(3), 2833-2837, 1999.
Nosker, T.J., Renfree, R.W., and Van Ness, K.E., "The Development of
Polyolefin-Based, Oriented, Glass-Fiber Building Materials," Proceedings
of the Society of Plastics Engineers Annual Technical Conference, 57(3),
2838-2841, 1999.
Van Ness,
K.E., Nosker, T.J., Renfree, Killion, J.R.*, Long-term Creep of Commercially
Produced Plastic Lumber, Proceedings of the Society of Plastics Engineers
Annual Technical Conference, Atlanta, 1998.
Nosker, T.J.,
Renfree, R.W., Lutz, M., Gillespie, B., Lampo, R., Van Ness, K.E., and
Lynch, J.**, A Performance-based Approach to the Development of a Recycled
Plastic/Composite Crosstie, Proceedings of the Society of Plastics Engineers
Annual Technical Conference, Atlanta, 1998.
Van Ness,
K.E., Nosker, T.J., Renfree, R.W., Sachan, R.D.**, Lynch, J.K.**, and Garvey,
J.J.*, Creep Behavior of Commercially Produced Plastic Lumber, Proceedings
of the Society of Plastics Engineers Annual Technical Conference, 43, 1997.
Van Ness,
K.E. and Couchman, P.R., Cell Theory calculation of Surface Tension of
Simple Liquids Solely from Bulk Properties, Journal of Colloid and Interface
Science, 182, 110-116(1996).
Nosker, T.J.,
Renfree, R.W., Van Ness, K.E. and Sachan, R.D., "Predictive Techniques
for Commingled Plastic Properties," Proceedings of the Society of Plastics
Engineers Annual Recycling Conference, Akron, Ohio, pp. 59-87, Nov.
2, 1995.
Van Ness,
K.E., Hocking, S.K., Nosker, T.J., Renfree, R.W., and Sachan, R.D., "Morphological
Characteristics of Commercially Produced Recycled Plastic Lumber," Society
of Plastics Engineers Annual Technical Conference Proceedings,
53(3), 3704-3708, 1995.
Nosker, T.J.,
Renfree, R.W. and Van Ness, K.E., "Refined Commingled Processing of Post-Consumer
Plastic Blends from an All Rigid Container Collection System," Society
of Plastics Engineers Annual Technical Conference Proceedings,
52(3), 2881-2884, 1994.
Renfree,
R.W., Nosker, T.J., Morrow, D.R., and Van Ness, K.E., "Thermal Characteristics
of the Dual Phase Region in Mixtures for Recycled Polystyrene/Curbside
Tailings Materials," Society of Plastics Engineers Annual Technical
Conference Proceedings, 51(3), 925-929, 1993.
Van Ness,
K.E., "Surface Tension and Surface Entropy for Polymer Liquids," Polymer
Engineering and Science, 32(2), 122-129, 1992.
Applebaum,
M.D., Van Ness, K.E., Nosker, T.J., Renfree, R.W., and Morrow, D.R., "The
Properties of Fiber Reinforced Refined Post-Consumer Plastics Coompounded
on a Non-intermeshing Twin Screw Extruder," Proceedings Society of Plastics
Engineers Annual Technical Conference, 1991.
Van Ness, K.E.,
Morrow, D.R., Nosker, T.J., Donaghy, J.J., Renfree, R.W. "Composite
Structures Made from Recycled Polymer Blends," Nature, 350, p. 563,
1991.
Donaghy,
J.J. and Van Ness, K.E., "A Trapping Model Analysis of the Positron Lifetime
Spectra of Polymers," physica status solidi (a), 116(2), K213 (1989).
Van Ness,
K.E. and Couchman, P.R., "Surface Tension of Polymer Liquids," Polymer
Science and Engineering, 27, 324 (1987).