CBE Research Report Fall 2013 | Page 9

Department of Chemical & Biomedical Engineering Rufina Alamo named Fellow of the American Physical Society By Engineering News Congratulations to Rufina Alamo, professor in chemical and biomedical engineering at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, on being elected a Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS). Alan Chodos, associate executive officer of the American Physics Society, made the official announcement to Alamo: “I have the honor of informing you that the Council of the American Physical Society at its November 2012 meeting acted favorably on your nomination for Fellowship in the Society upon the recommendation of the Division of Polymer Physics. As you may know, election to Fellowship in the American Physical Society is limited to no more than one half of one percent of the membership. Election to APS Fellowship is recognition by your peers of your outstanding contributions to physics.” Alamo’s Fellowship Certificate citation reads as follows: “For her use of well-characterized materials and performance of carefully designed experiments to address structure-property relationships in polyolefins.” Alamo works with polyolefins that are simple large plastic molecules able to adopt a large variety of shapes. Un- Dr. Rufina Alamo, Professor branched, short-branched, long-branched, star-like, pompom like, comb-like and other types of polyolefins are feasible via relatively easy and inexpensive synthetic paths. Used almost everywhere, the short and long-branched polyolefins cover about 80% of the total worldwide production of plastics. The two major types, polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) are often considered first for use in any application because of their excellent cost/performance value such as low density, easy recyclability, and processability. Polyolefins are easy to fabricate into useful products (film wraps, green houses, carpeting, automobile parts, hospital gowns and hoses…) and have increasing design capability. Many, many products are made from them with targeted product applications matched to polyolefin branching and structure. For example, with few or no branches, the long molecules fold many times and pack in symmetric strong arrays with uses often geared to special applications, such as bullet-proof protective wear and orthopedic implants. Conversely, highly branched polyolefins cannot easily pack in symmetric arrays because the branches are in the way. The result is a softer, more elastic material such as film wraps, plastic bags, clothing and more. Alamo studies how these molecules fold to understand the performance of polyolefin materials. Alamo’s name and Fellowship citation appears in the March 2013 publication issue of APS News and on the Fellowship Page of the America Physics Society home page. Bruce Locke, professor in chemical and biomedical engineering and previous chair of the department, upon learning of Alamo’s nomination announced to the College at-large, “Please join me in congratulating Dr. Alamo for her Fellowship in the American Physical Society. Great work!” Faculty in the News 7