##  [Applied polymer science](/research/applied-polymer-science) 

# Applied polymer science



 







 

 

 

 

 

Focusing on a diverse range of applied research—with a unified theme of polymer science

Our multidisciplinary team has unique expertise in polymer materials characterization, synthesis, and formulation. We specialize in materials such as:

- Structural thermosets
- Polysiloxanes
- Polymer composites

Our core competencies include advanced additive manufacturing and thermo-structural characterization of composite systems.



 







 

 

 

 

## Research thrust areas



 



  ![3D printing of an advanced hybrid structured carbon fiber gas bottle](/sites/nanoscience/files/styles/orig/public/2023-12/polymer-carbon-fiber-gas-bottle.jpg?itok=JsARreSc)

 

 Our research focuses on:

- Additive manufacturing of structural composite materials
- Synthesis of nitro-aromatic and heterocyclic polymer systems
- Thermoset polymer synthesis and formulation
- Advanced thermal, spectroscopic, spectrometric, and optical characterization of polymer properties and morphology
- Dielectric spectroscopy studies of chain motion and hierarchical mesophase polymer structure
- Polymer aging, degradation, and lifetime assessment



   

 







 

 

 

 

## Researchers



 



 [![Lewicki, James](https://people.llnl.gov/sites/default/files/img/lewicki1_0.png)](https://people.llnl.gov/lewicki1) [James Lewicki](https://people.llnl.gov/lewicki1) 

Associate Deputy Division Leader, Operations

 

 

 

 [![Chandrasekaran, Swetha](https://people.llnl.gov/sites/default/files/img/chandrasekar2.png)](https://people.llnl.gov/chandrasekar2) [Swetha Chandrasekaran](https://people.llnl.gov/chandrasekar2) 

Deputy Group Leader, Applied and Emerging Materials Group

 

 

 

 ![Carrillo, Alda C.](https://people.llnl.gov/sites/default/files/img/carrillo8.png) Alda Carrillo 



 

 

 

 ![Davidson, Megan](https://nanoscience.llnl.gov/sites/nanoscience/files/styles/orig/public/2023-12/people-placeholder-msd.jpg?itok=UJJz3Ojb) Megan Davidson 



 

 

 

 ![Hamblen, Jesse](https://nanoscience.llnl.gov/sites/nanoscience/files/styles/orig/public/2023-12/people-placeholder-msd.jpg?itok=UJJz3Ojb) Jesse Hamblen 



 

 

 

 ![Hensley, Jon Brian](https://nanoscience.llnl.gov/sites/nanoscience/files/styles/orig/public/2023-12/people-placeholder-msd.jpg?itok=UJJz3Ojb) Jon Hensley 



 

 

 

 ![Kochavi, Jordan David](https://nanoscience.llnl.gov/sites/nanoscience/files/styles/orig/public/2023-12/people-placeholder-msd.jpg?itok=UJJz3Ojb) Jordan Kochavi 



 

 

 

 ![Loey, Nick](https://nanoscience.llnl.gov/sites/nanoscience/files/styles/orig/public/2023-12/people-placeholder-msd.jpg?itok=UJJz3Ojb) Nick Loey 



 

 

 

 ![Mabery, Shalini L.](https://people.llnl.gov/sites/default/files/img/mabery1.png) Shalini Mabery 



 

 

 

 [![Olson, Tammy Y.](https://people.llnl.gov/sites/default/files/img/olson43.png)](https://people.llnl.gov/olson43) [Tammy Olson](https://people.llnl.gov/olson43) 

Research Scientist

 

 

 

 ![Sabado, Amanda Jade](https://nanoscience.llnl.gov/sites/nanoscience/files/styles/orig/public/2023-12/people-placeholder-msd.jpg?itok=UJJz3Ojb) Amanda Sabado 



 

 

 

 [![Small, Ward](https://people.llnl.gov/sites/default/files/img/small3.png)](https://people.llnl.gov/small3) [Ward Small](https://people.llnl.gov/small3) 

Research Scientist

 

 

 

 ![Steelman, Michael Eugene](https://nanoscience.llnl.gov/sites/nanoscience/files/styles/orig/public/2023-12/people-placeholder-msd.jpg?itok=UJJz3Ojb) Michael Steelman 



 

 

 

 

 





 

 

 

 

 

## Publications

[A Quantum-Based Approach to Predict Primary Radiation Damage in Polymeric Networks](https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jctc.0c00967)  
*J. Chem. Theory Comput.,* 2021  
M.P. Kroonblawd, N. Goldman, A. Maiti, J.P. Lewicki

[Optimal design of fiber reinforced composite structures and their direct ink write fabrication](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cma.2019.05.010)  
*Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering,* 2019  
F. Fernandez, W.S. Compel, J.P. Lewicki, D.A. Tortorelli

[Chemical Degradation Pathways in Siloxane Polymers Following Phenyl Excitations](https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcb.8b09636)  
*J. Phys. Chem. B,* 2018  
M.P. Kroonblawd, N. Goldman, and J.P. Lewicki

[3D printing of high performance cyanate ester thermoset polymers](https://doi.org/10.1039/C7TA09466C)  
*Journal of Materials Chemistry A,* 2017  
S. Chandrasekaran, E.B. Duoss, M.A. Worsley, and J.P. Lewicki

[3D-Printing of Meso-structurally Ordered Carbon Fiber/Polymer Composites with Unprecedented Orthotropic Physical Properties](https://doi.org/10.1038/srep43401)  
*Scientific Reports,* 2017  
J. Lewicki, J.N. Rodriguez, C. Zhu, M.A. Worsley, A.S. Wu, Y. Kanarska, J.D. Horn, E.B. Duoss, J.M. Ortega, W. Elmer, R. Hensleigh, R.A. Fellini, and M.J. King

[3D printed cellular solid outperforms traditional stochastic foam in long-term mechanical response](https://doi.org/10.1038/srep24871)  
*Scientific Reports,* 2016  
A. Maiti, W. Small, J. P. Lewicki, T. H. Weisgraber, E. B. Duoss, S. C. Chinn, M. A. Pearson, C. M. Spadaccini, R. S. Maxwell, and T. S. Wilson

[A dielectric relaxometry study of segmental dynamics in PDMS/boron composite and hybrid elastomers](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2014.02.038)  
*Polymer,* 2014  
J.P. Lewicki, P.W. Beavis, M.W.C. Robinson, R.S. Maxwell