Experience:

Dr. Liu has fourteen years of research experience in the formulation, modification and processing of polymers, thermoset and thermoplastic composites and nanocomposites.  He also has six years of experience in polymer synthesis and a well-developed background in polymer characterization, polymer blends, coatings, extrudings and spinnings, as well as rubber technology and product design.

Since Dr. Liu joined UDRI in 2001 he has performed research in the areas of:

• Characterization of thermoset and thermoplastic - inorganic hybrid materials such as epoxy resin and polyurethane for structural, thermal, electrical and electronic applications associated with carbon nanofibers, nanolayered silicates, and nanotechnology
• Synthesis, modification and properties of rigid-rod polymers
• Functionalization and metallization of carbon nanofibers
• Development and characterization of electrically conductive and mechanically robust, lightweight polymer-based wires
• High performance nano-scale catalysts for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC)

Dr. Liu's prior positions included working for the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory under a contract with Systran Federal Corporation (2000-2001), and as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Polymer Science and Engineering department at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and the Chemistry department at SUNY-Stony Brook (1997-2000).  Prior to that Dr. Liu was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in China in the area of polymer synthesis and blends as well as modeling simulation of polymer blends at Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences (1994-1997).

Professional Interests:

• Characterization of polymers, composites and nanocomposites
• Application of nanofillers in thermoset and thermoplastic materials
• Surface modification and functionalization of nano-scale fillers
• In-situ synthesis of polymer nanocomposites
• Polymer and polymer nanocomposite processing, manufacture, and characterization

Education:

Ph.D., Polymer Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, China, 1994

Professional Affiliations:

American Chemistry Society
American Physics Society

Selected Publications:

“Fabrication and Characterization of Rigid Rod Polymer Fibers Containing Carbon Nanofibers” (W.D. Liu, D. Klosterman, et al.), SAMPE Journal, vol. 50, (2006).

“Deformation-morphology correlations in electrically conductive carbon nanotube-thermoplastic polyurethane Nanocomposites” (with H. Koerner and R. A. Vaia etc.), Polymer, vol. 46, pp. 4405-4420 (2005).

“Analysis of Small-Angle Scattering of Suspension of Organically Modified Montmorillonite: Implications to Phase Behavior of Polymer Nanocomposites” (with R. Vaia), Journal of Polymer Science Part B: Polymer Physics, vol. 41, pp. 3214-3236 (2003).

 “X-ray Powder Diffraction of Polymer/Layered Silicate Nanocomposites: Model and Practice” (with R. Vaia), Journal of Polymer Science: Part B: Polymer Physics, vol. 40, pp. 1590-1600 (2002).

"Generation of Electrospun Fibers of Nylon 6 and Nylon 6-Montmorillonite Nanocomposite" (with H. Fong, C. S. Wang, R. A. Vaia), Polymer, vol.43, pp. 775-780 (2002).

"Self-Passivation of Polymer-Layered Silicate Nanocomposites" (with H. Fong, R. A. Vaia, et. al.), Chemistry of Materials, vol. 13, issue 11, November 19, pp. 4123-4129 (2001).

“Structure/Property Relationships in Polystyrene-Polyisobutylene-Polystyrene Block Copolymers” (with D. M. Crawford, et. al.), Thermochimica Acta, vol. 367-368, pp. 125-134 (2001).

“Structural Development during Thermal Fractionation of Polyethylenes” (W. D. Liu, B. S. Hsiao, and R. S. Stein, et. al.), J. Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, vol. 59, pp. 245-255 (2000).

“Real Time Crystallization and Melting Study of Ethylene Based Copolymers by SAXS, WAXD and DSC Techniques,” Chapter 12 in Scattering from Polymers: Characterization by X-rays, Neutrons, and Light, P. Cebe, B. Hsiao, D. J. Lohse, eds., American Chemical Society, 2000.