Ernst D. von Meerwall

Ernst D. von Meerwall

Title: Distinguished Professor
Dept/Program: Physics
Office: Ayer 223
Phone: 330-972-5904
Fax: 330-972-6918
Email: evonmee@uakron.edu
Website: http://nebula.physics.uakron.edu/dept/faculty/evm.htm


Biography

  • BS and MS Physics - Northern Illinois University, 1963, 1965
    Solid state physics: crystal symmetry 
    Mossbauer effect
  • Ph.D. Physics - Northwestern University, 1969
    Solid state physics: metals, hydrides, alloys 
    NMR and magnetic susceptibility
  • Research Associate, Metallurgy - University of Illinois at Urbana
    NMR in transition metal oxides and nitrides
  • The University of Akron - faculty and administrative positions, 1971 to present
  • Fellow, American Physical Society, 1994


Research

  • Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR): spectroscopy and relaxation.
  • Diffusion via NMR: molecular motions in polymeric systems; fluid flow; NMR imaging.
  • Structure-property relations in polymer systems.
  • Numerical methods for data analysis and simulation.

Our research is mainly concerned with the study of molecular motions of large (polymer) molecules in the viscous liquid phase, in solutions, and in rubbery materials including composites, i.e., materials containing small rigid particles. We measure local molecular (segmental) mobility using NMR relaxation, and study Brownian motions (diffusion) of unattached macromolecules and solvent molecules in such systems using the pulsed-gradient spin-echo NMR method. We also perform polymer fluid flow characterization with simple NMR imaging techniques. The goal is to relate microscopic mobility in amorphous materials to their macroscopic mechanical properties, in an effort to predict and improve these properties. In support of this effort we perform computer data analysis, model calculations, and simulations. Undergraduate and graduate students participate in this work, and we collaborate with other researchers in several UA Departments and nationally. 

NMR Group Page

Publications

2000
"Isothermal Thickening and Thinning Processes in Low Molecular Weight Poly(ethylene oxide) Fractions Crystallized from the Melt. 7. Effects of Molecular Configurational Defects on Crystallization, Melting, and Annealing", E.-Q. Chen, S.-W. Lee, A. Zhang, B.-S. Moon, I. Mann, F. W. Harris, S. Z. D. Cheng, B. S. Hsiao, F. Yeh, and E. von Meerwall, invited contribution in "Scattering From Polymers", ACS Symposium Series # 739, 118-139 (2000).

"Translational Diffusion in Monte-Carlo Simulations of Polymer Melts: Center-of-Mass Displacement vs. Integrated Velocity Autocorrelation Function", R. Ozisik, P. Doruker, W. L. Mattice, and E. von Meerwall, Comput. Theor. Polym. Sci. 10/5, 411-418 (2000) (by invitation, special issue devoted to diffusion).

"Diffusivity and Viscosity of Concentrated Hydrogenated Polybutadiene Solutions", H. Tao, T. P. Lodge, and E. von Meerwall, Macromolecules 33, 1747-1758 (2000).

"Effect of Vinyl Content on the Self-Diffusion of Polybutadiene Melts", J. H. Jang, T. Haliloglu, E. D. von Meerwall, and W. L. Mattice, Macromolecules 33, 4271-4277 (2000).

2002
"Comparison of the Diffusion Coefficients of Unentangled Linear and Cyclic Alkanes", R. Ozisik, E. von Meerwall, and W. L. Mattice, orig. Comput. & Theor. Polym. Sci. (special issue dedicated to W. Mattice); Polymer 43, 629-635 (2002).

"NMR Relaxation and Pulsed Gradient NMR Diffusion Measurements of Ultrasonically Devulcanized Polydimethylsiloxane", S. E. Shim, J. C. Parr, E. von Meerwall, and A. I. Isayev, J. Phys. Chem. B 106/46, 12072-12078 (2002).

2003
"Diffusion of Sucrose and - Trehalose in Aqueous Solutions", N. Ekdawi-Sever, J. J. de Pablo, E. Feick, and E. von Meerwall, J. Phys. Chem. A 107, 936-943 (2003).

"Microporosity of Bicontinuous Polymer Composites, Characterized with Restricted Diffusion", V. Challa, K. Kuta, S. Lopina, M. Cheung, and E. von Meerwall, Langmuir 19, 4154-4161 (2003).

"Self-Diffusion of Linear and Cyclic Alkanes, Measured with Pulsed-Gradient Spin-Echo Nuclear Magnetic Resonance", E. von Meerwall, R. Ozisik, W. L. Mattice, and P. M. Pfister, J. Chem. Phys. 118/8, 3867-3873 (2003).

"Molecular Mobility of Ultrasonically Devulcanized Silica-Filled Poly(dimethyl siloxane)", S. E. Shim, A. I. Isayev, and E. von Meerwall, J. Polym. Sci. B: Polym. Physics 41, 454-465 (2003).

"Understanding Diffusion in Entangled Polymer Blends", E. von Meerwall, S.-F. Wang, and S.-Q. Wang, Polymer Prepr. 44/1, 287-288 (2003).

"Composition and Temperature Dependence of Terminal and Segmental Dynamics in Polyisoprene/Poly(vinyl ethylene) Blends", J. C. Haley, T. P. Lodge, Y. He, M. D. Ediger, E. von Meerwall, and J. Mijovic, Macromolecules 36, 6142-6151 (2003).

2004
"Molecular Mobility in Ultrasonically Devulcanized Unfilled Butadiene Rubber", J.-S. Oh, A. I. Isayev, and E. von Meerwall, Rubber Chem. & Technol. 77/4, 745-758 (2004).

"Molecular Mobility and Structure of Ultrasonically Treated Unfilled Butadiene Rubber", J.-S. Oh, A. I. Isayev, T. Wagler, P. L. Rinaldi, and E. von Meerwall, J. Polym. Sci. B: Polym. Physics 42/10, 1875-1887 (2004).

"Diffusion and Rheology of Binary Polymer Mixtures", S.-F. Wang, E. von Meerwall, S.-Q. Wang, A. Halasa, W.-L. Hsu, J. P. Zhou, and R. P. Quirk, Macromolecules 37, 1641-1651 (2004).

"Self-Diffusion and Viscosity of Low Molecular Weight Polystyrene over a Wide Temperature Range", O. Urakawa, S. F. Swallen, M. D. Ediger, and E. von Meerwall, Macromolecules 37, 1558-1564 (2004).

"Effect of Ultrasound on Thermoset Polyurethane: NMR Relaxation and Diffusion Measurements", S. Ghose, A. I. Isayev, and E. von Meerwall, Polymer 45/11, 3709-3720 (2004).

"Molecular Mobility in Ultrasonically Treated Butyl Gum and Devulcanized Butyl Rubber", W-L. Feng, A. I. Isayev, and E. von Meerwall, Polymer 45/25, 8459-8467 (2004).

2005
"Some Mechanisms for Subtle Influences of Stereochemical Composition and Stereochemical Sequence on the Physical Properties of Macromolecules", W. L. Mattice, C. A. Helfer, S. S. Rane, E. D. von Meerwall, and B. L. Farmer, invited Highlight Article, J. Polym. Sci. B: Polym. Physics 43, 1271-1282 (2005).

"Miscible Polyisoprene/Polystyrene Blends: Distinct Segmental Dynamics but Homogeneous Terminal Dynamics", Yiyong He, T. R. Lutz, M. D. Ediger, M. Pitsikalis, N. Hadjichristidis, and E. D. von Meerwall, Macromolecules 38/14, 6216-6226 (2005).

"NMR Relaxation and Pulsed-Gradient Diffusion Study of Polyethylene Nanocomposites", R. Ozisik, J. Zheng, P. Dionne, C. Picu, and E. von Meerwall, J. Chem. Phys. 123, 134901 (2005).

"Investigating Linear and Non-linear Viscoelastic Behavior Using Model Silica-Particle-Filled Polybutadiene", Zhiyong Zhu, Th. Thompson, S.-Q. Wang, E. D. von Meerwall, and A. Halasa, Macromolecules 38/21, 8816-8824 (2005).

2006
"Dynamics of Polyethylene Melts, Studied by Monte-Carlo Simulations on the 2nnd Lattice", H. Lin, W. L. Mattice, and E. D. von Meerwall, J. Polym. Sci. B, Polym. Phys. 44, 2556-2571 (2006), (invited contribution to a special issue on novel methodologies).

2007
"Chain Dynamics of Bidisperse Polyethylene Melts: A Monte-Carlo Study on a High Coordination Lattice", H. Lin, W. L. Mattice, and E. D. von Meerwall, Macromolecules 40, 959-966 (2007).

"Trace Diffusion of Alkanes in Polyethylene: Spin-Echo Experiment and Monte-Carlo Simulation", E. D. von Meerwall, H. Lin, and W. L. Mattice, Macromolecules 40, 2002-2007 (2007).

"Enhanced Diffusion at Intermediate Stereochemical Composition in Polypropylene by Dynamical Monte Carlo", N. Waheed, W. L. Mattice, and E. von Meerwall, Macromolecules 40, 1504-1511 (2007).

"Ultrasound Devulcanization of Unfilled Natural Rubber Networks, Studied via Component Molecular Mobility", J. L. Massey, J. C. Parr, T. Wagler, E. von Meerwall, C-K. Hong, and A. I. Isayev, Polymer International 56, 860-869 (2007).

"Diffusion in Polyethylene Blends: Constraint Release and Entanglement Dilution", E. D. von Meerwall, N. Dirama, and W. L. Mattice, Macromolecules 40, 3970-3976 (2007).

"Molecular Mobility of Unfilled and Carbon-black-filled Isoprene Rubber: Proton NMR Transverse Relaxation and Diffusion", E. von Meerwall, X.-M. Sun, T. R. Joshi, and A. I. Isayev, Rubber Chem. & Technol. (in press: issue of Nov/Dec. 2007).


Education

Ph.D.