Onur Sinan Yordem - Polymer Science and Engineering - University ...

950 North Pleasant St. Apt 17Amherst, MA, 01002Onur Sinan YordemPhone: (413) 658-7326syordem@polysci.umass.eduEducationPh.D. in Polymer Science and EngineeringAnticipated January 2011University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MAAdvisor: Alan J LesserThesis Title: “Experimental Studies in Self-Reinforced Polymers to Generate Isotropic or AnisotropicReinforcing Domains.”My thesis is to investigate a new strategy to formulate self-reinforced polymers through crystal growthof organic molecules in a polymer matrix or through in-situ self-assembly and/or co-assembly oforgano-metallic complexes. Both approaches are patented by the university.M.Sc. in Materials Science and Engineering2004 – 2006Sabanci University, Istanbul, Turkey.Thesis: Piezoelectric Ultra-fine Polymer and Ceramic Fibers by Electrospinning: Process Developmentand CharacterizationB.S. Civil Engineering, Ranked 5 th with Honor DegreeBogazici University, Istanbul, Turkey1999 – 2004Professional ExperienceResearch Assistant, UMass, PSE Department2006 - PresentAdvisor: Professor Alan J LesserI have developed expertise in reinforcing and toughening of semi-crystalline polymers, especiallyin polypropylene and poly(ether ether ketone). Additional expertise was advanced in polymeradditiveinteraction, crystallization behavior of polymers and low molar mass organic compounds.I have intensely studied phase separation mechanisms in polymer-organic compound blends,concentrating on reaction induced phase separation in thermosets and thermally induced phaseseparation in thermoplastics. In my thesis, I formulated a material system where nanocrystals tohighly anisotropic micro-fibers are uniformly distributed in the epoxy matrix by utilizing theprecisely set processing conditions. In addition, organo-metallic compounds were co-assembledwith polypropylene matrix into reinforcing domains which reduced the viscosity at elevatedtemperatures, and once assembled into particles, increased toughness by several folds with anenhancement in stiffness and thermal expansion coefficient. The ensuant benefit of my projects ismainly two folds. Foremost, a new in-situ reinforcing technology was utilized that can be used notonly in reinforcing and toughening of polymers but also in advanced composite materialprocessing. Secondly, this method enables the use of environmentally benign molecules asmodifiers, which will be a significant area of interest in near future.Visiting Scientist, Brno University of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic December 2008I conducted research on micro-mechanical deformation analysis of polyolefin composites inProfessor Josef Jancar’s Laboratories. I used a confocal microscope with a tensile stretchingapparatus to demonstrate the deformation behavior of spherulitic structures in the composite.Research Assistant, Sabanci University, MSE Department 2004 – 2006I developed a piezoelectric polymer-ceramic composite for a micro air vehicle wing material. Idemonstrated the benefits of electrospinning process to increase the polar crystalline phase ofpoly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) fiber mats to enhance piezoelectric response. I have expertise inresponse surface methodology that I utilized to develop an empirical model for PVDF fibers toattain the optimum fiber morphology in constructing composite mats.

Onur Sinan Yordem syordem@polysci.umass.edu Page 2 of 3Teaching Assistant, Sabanci University, MSE Department 1999 – 2004I served as a teaching assistant for the following selected courses (3 of 5):Composite Materials (MAT 307) – Junior level courseIntroduction to Probability and Statistics (MATH 203) – Sophomore level courseStatistical Modeling (MATH 306) – Junior level courseFellowships, Awards and Honors• SPE Thermoset Division “James MacKenzie Graduate Scholarship” 2009 – 2010• Research Fellowship, Polymer Science and Engineering, UMass 2006 – Present• “Successful Teaching Assistant Certificate” recipient at Sabanci University 2005• Merit Scholarship, Sabanci University 2004 – 2006• Honor Degree Graduate, Civil Engineering, Bogazici University 2004• 1 st Place in the “Design of Strongest Concrete Competition”, Istanbul, Turkey. 2003• 1 of 20 invited participants for the “Leadership Seminar Series”, Turkey. 2000• Competed in Physics and Mathematics Olympics held by Turkish ScienceFoundation, TUBITAK, Istanbul1997 - 1999Patents and Refereed Publications• Lesser, A.J; McCarthy, T.J.; Yoon, J.;Yordem, O.S. “Reinforced Polymeric Materials, Methods ofManufacture Thereof and Articles Comprising the Same.” WO 2008121798, September 10, 2008.• Yordem, O.S.; Lesser, A.J. “Reinforcing Thermosets with Crystallizable Solvents.” J. Polym. Sci.Pol. Phys. 2010, 48, 840-849.• Yordem, O.S.; Shimanke, A.; Lesser, A.J. “Reinforcing and Toughening Polypropylene with LowMolecular Weight Compounds.” Poly. Eng. Sci. In Review.• Yordem, O.S.; Menceloglu, Y.Z.; Papila, M. “Effects of electrospinning parameters onpolyacrylonitrile nanofiber diameter: An investigation by response surface methodology.” Mater.Des. 2008, 29, 34-44. (Cited 8 times)Selected Conference Proceedings and Presentations• Yordem, O.S.; Lesser, A.J. “Fracture Behavior of Isotactic-Polypropylene Reinforced With LowMolecular Weight Compounds.” PMSE Preprints. 2010.• Yordem, O.S.; Lesser, A.J. “Reinforcing Polypropylene Using Low Molecular WeightCompounds.” ANTEC Proceedings. 2010.• Yordem, O.S.; Lesser, A.J. “In-situ Reinforced Thermoset Composites Using CrystallizableSolvents.” ANTEC Proceedings. 2009.• Yordem, O.S.; Lesser, A.J. “Reinforced thermoset composites using crystallizable solvents.”PMSE Preprints. 2009, 100, 610-611• Ogut, E.; Yordem, O.S.; Menceloglu, Y.Z.; Papila, M. “Poly(vinylidene fluoride)/zinc oxide smartcomposite material.” Proc SPIE. 2007, 6526, Q5260-Q5260.• Simsek, E.; Yordem, O.S.; Menceloglu, Y.Z.; Papila, M. “Optimization of superhydrophobicsurfaces generated by electrospinning.” PMSE Preprints. 2006, 94, 77-78.• Yordem, O. S.; Gulleroglu, M.; Ogut, E.; Menceloglu, Y. Z.; Papila, M. “Piezoelectric polymerand ceramic ultrafine fibers for piezocomposite films.” Proceedings of the American Society forComposites. 2006, 21 st , 188/1-188/16.• Yordem, O.S.; Menceloglu, Y.Z.; Papila, M. “Crystal Structure and Piezoelectric Properties ofElectrospun PVDF Ultrafine Fiber Mats.” MRS Fall 2006.

Onur Sinan Yordem syordem@polysci.umass.edu Page 3 of 3Additional Skills• Computer: Design of Experiments (Response SurfaceMethodology), Origin Pro, JMP IN statisticalsoftware, LabView• Languages: English (Fluent), German (Intermediate),Spanish (Beginner), Turkish (Native)Affiliations• Society of Plastics Engineers• American Chemical SocietyReferencesAvailable upon request.