AuI hosts virtual meeting February 6, 2025

Iota Sigma Pi: Aurum Iodide Chapter

Announcement for February 2025 Meeting – Virtual

Friday, February 7, 2025

Christina Tang

Department of Chemical and Life Science Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284-3028

" Smart Fabrics – Fabrication and Applications"

Meeting Agenda

• 7:00 PM (CST) - Speaker

• 8:00 PM Social hour (via breakout rooms)

Abstract: Hybrid polymer fibers that synergistically combine properties of multiple components provide new opportunities to develop functional fibers (e.g. “smart” thermochromic fabrics, chemical or pathogen detection, active food packaging, etc.). Working at the interface of polymer science, nanotechnology and biotechnology, we engineer versatile, functional polymer-based fibers.  Processing and characterization of hybrid polymer fiber will be discussed with a focus on improving efficiencies of multistep processes.  Two methods for engineering functional polymer fibers will be discussed. (1) Surface modification of fibers in which functional fibers that enable colorimetric detection of chemicals or pathogen that could provide rapid, portable analysis are achieved by functionalized with polyaniline (via graft polymerization). (2) Encapsulation of functional components through polymer blend to achieve responsive fibers or textile coatings. Temperature responsive fibers and strain sensitive fabrics will be discussed.

Bio: Christina Tang received her B.S. in General Engineering from Harvey Mudd College in 2007 and her Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from North Carolina State University in 2012. Subsequently, she was a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Princeton University.  Tang’s primary research interests are fabrication and characterization of multifunctional polymer materials for applications in catalysis, water purification and medicine.  Her work in this area has been published in journals such as NanoLetters, Macromolecules, and Langmuir. During her doctoral studies, Tang was the recipient of a GAANN Fellowship in Molecular Biotechnology.  In 2017, she was awarded a National Science Foundation Early-Career Development Program Grant (NSF-CAREER) to study chemical reactions performed in polymer micelles.  In addition to her research-related activities at Virginia Commonwealth University, she also serves as a volunteer at William F. Fox Elementary School and Science Museum of Virginia. 

Please RSVP by Thursday Feb. 6, 2025 to gshearerdgs@gmail.com.  The Zoom link will be sent to you by Thursday evening, February 6, 2025.