Whyt Duffie

Research Interests

Interfacial condensation, phosgene coupling, dehydrochlorination, dehydrated coupling, and melt polycondensation are popular methods of synthesizing hydrolytically labile polymers. Current methods for synthesis are inexpensive and easily scalable; however, applications of the resulting polymers have been limited. My work includes variations of mechanistic and experimental parameters for the synthesis of novel polymers that readily degrade in the presence of water. Fabrication of a frugal microfluidic flow apparatus has been developed to access kinetics of polymer degradation. Additionally, a standard set of protocols for material characterization was established to assess chemical, geometric, and mechanical functionality of these polymers. Comprehensive characterization allows for deliberate chemical engineering to achieve targeted selection criteria of intended polymer applications. Anticipated applications include degradable shell polymers with functionalized core packages, medically packaged devices (e.g., plastic tampon applicators), medical stents, military devices (e.g., plastic applicators, sensors, and detectors), dental fillings, and supplies for 3D printing (e.g., support filament, ink fillers, and photo-curable polymer-based resins).

Other Activities

• Professional Development Institute, 2020-2021

Select Awards and Honors

• 2020 William Griffith Fellow
• 2019 NRT Fellow, SPACT