Dr. Richard J. Spontak
Nominated by the SPE Theroplastic Elastomers TIG
Dr. Richard J. Spontak is a Distinguished Professor of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and Professor of Materials Science & Engineering at NC State University. He received his B.S. degree from the Pennsylvania State University in 1983 and his Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley in 1988.
He pursued post-doctoral research at the University of Cambridge (UK) and the Institute for Energy Technology (Norway) before joining the Corporate Research Division of the Procter & Gamble Co. in 1990. In 1992, he accepted a faculty position at NC State University, where he supervises the Macromolecular Materials & Morphology Group. He has published over 300 peer-reviewed journal papers in high-profile journals such as Science, Nature Materials and Advanced Materials, as well as 40 scholarly works as book chapters and invited monographs, and his work has been featured on 32 journal covers. Dr. Spontak has delivered over 400 invited lectures around the world.
His primary research interests relate to the identification of key chemistry-structure-property-processing (CSPP) relationships in nanostructured polymers (e.g., block copolymers, especially thermoplastic elastomer [TPE] systems), polymer nanocomposites and coatings, and stimuli-responsive soft materials, as well as advanced electron microscopy. His research achievements include (1) developing anionic TPEs as rapid, self-cleaning antimicrobial surfaces, solar cells, electroactive media, high-efficiency bipolar electrolyzers, and high-flux gas-separation membranes; (2) establishing fundamental CSPP relationships in TPEs chemically-functionalized for various contemporary applications; (3) employing both experiments and simulations to elucidate the underlying polymer physics regulating the unique morphological and mechanical behavior of oil-extended TPEs, including isothermal time-composition superpositioning, binetwork synergy, network formation, and complex phase behavior; (4) physically-functionalizing commercial TPEs to enable their 21st - century use as promising tunable electroelastomers, shape-memory materials and giant-strain microfibers; and (5) designing plastics for interactions with carbon dioxide as a processing aid for foaming/blending or as high-permeability/selectivity carbon-capture membranes.
He has served as a fellow or visiting professor at universities around the globe, for which he received the NC State Outstanding Global Engagement and Jackson Rigney International Service Awards. In recognition of his research at NC State, Dr. Spontak has been awarded the Alexander Q. Holladay Medal for Excellence (the highest university faculty award), the R.J. Reynolds Award for Excellence in Teaching, Research & Extension (the highest engineering faculty award), the Alcoa Foundation Distinguished Engineering Research Award, and the Alumni Outstanding Research Award. In addition, he has received the Society of Plastics Engineers International Award, the ACS (Rubber Division) Chemistry of Thermoplastic Elastomers Award, the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) Colwyn Medal, the Institute of Chemical Engineers Underwood Medal and Global Award (Research Project), the American Chemical Society (ACS) (PMSE Division) Roy W. Tess Award in Coatings and the Cooperative Research Award in Polymer Science & Engineering, the Society of Polymer Science (Japan) International Award, and the German Society for Electron Microscopy Ernst Ruska Prize.
An elected fellow of the American Physical Society, the IOM3, the Royal Society of Chemistry, and the ACS (PMSE Division), Dr. Spontak was named the Lars Onsager Professor at, and received an honorary doctorate (doctor honoris causa) from, the Norwegian University of Science & Technology, and is a member of the Norwegian Academy of Technological Sciences. He was recognized by the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society with the Distinguished Alumnus and McDonald Mentor Awards, and he is also an award-winning instructor, having received every teaching award at NC State University, including the Board of Governors' Award for Excellence in Teaching (the highest university teaching award). He lives in Raleigh with his wife, Josie.
