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Douglas Fox

Associate Professor
Department of Chemistry

  • Additional Positions at AU

    Affiliated with Department of Environmental Science
  • Douglas M. Fox received his BS in Chemical Engineering and his PhD in Chemistry at Michigan Technological University, in Houghton, MI. He spent two years at the Naval Research Laboratory and two years at the U.S. Naval Academy investigating the physical and thermal properties of room temperature ionic liquids and polymer nanocomposites. His current research and teaching focus on “green chemistry”, environmental solutions, and the use of natural materials.

  • Degrees

    PhD, Chemistry, Michigan Tech
    BS, Chemical Engineering, Michigan Tech
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Partnerships & Affiliations

Teaching

  • Fall 2014

Scholarly, Creative & Professional Activities

Research Interests

Dr. Fox's group focuses on measuring physical, chemical, and thermal properties of alternative (or "green") solutions and polymer nanocomposites.  The three main current projects are polymer nanocomposites using additives prepared from natural materials, green solvents and their solutions, and kinetics of metathesis reactions.  The majority of work is conducted on the AU campus; however, some measurements must be acquired in collaboration with groups at the NIST in nearby Gaithersburg, MD.

Selected Publications

  • D. M. Fox, J. Lee, C. J. Citro, and M. Novy, “Flame Retarded Poly(lactic acid) Using POSS-Modified Cellulose. 1. Thermal and Combustion Properties of Intumescing Composites,” Polym. Degrad. Stab., 2013, 98, 590-596.  
  • D. M. Fox, J. Lee, M. Zammarano, D. Katsoulis, D. V. Eldred, L. Haverhals, P. C. Trulove, H. C. De Long, and J. W. Gilman, “Char – Forming Behavior of Nanofibrillated Cellulose Treated with Glycidyl Phenyl POSS,” Carbohydr. Polym., 2012, 88, 847-858.
  • M. Zammarano, P. Maupin, L.-P. Sung, J. Gilman, E. McCarthy, Y. Kim, and D. M. Fox, “Revealing the Interface in Polymer Nanocomposites,” ACS Nano, 2011, 5, 3391-3399.
  • D. M. Fox, P. C. Trulove, H. C. De Long, J. W. Gilman, and P. H. Maupin, “Nonaqueous Solvatochromic Behavior of Nile Blue A Perchlorate in Imidazolium – Exchanged Clays and its Implication Toward Exfoliation in Polymeric Composites,” in Proc. Int. Symp. Molten Salts and Ionic Liquids 16, D. M. Fox, R. A. Mantz, P. C. Trulove, H. C. De Long, G. R. Stafford, and M. Matsunaga, Eds., ECS Transactions, 2009, 16(49), 141-149.
  • R. A. Mantz, D. M. Fox, J. M. Green III, P. A. Fylstra, S. Bellayer, J. W. Gilman, P. C. Trulove, and H. C. De Long, “Dissolution of Biopolymers Using Ionic Liquids,” Z. Naturforsch. A, 2007, 62, 275-280.

Work In Progress

  • "Reduced Polymer Flammability Using POSS-Modified Cellulose.”  
  • "Ion Exchange Equilibria and Kinetics of Lignosulfonates."  
  • “Imidazolium Exchanged Smectite Clays for Film Based Removal of Dyes.”      
  • "Liquid and Solvent Properties of the Mixtures Containing Ethyl Lactate."  
  • “Electrochemical Response of a Protein Based Electrode Using Bovine Serum Albumin Encapsulated Gold.”

Grants and Sponsored Research

  • 2011, "Lignocellulosic Materials as Intumescing Flame Retardants for Bio-based Polymer Composites", NIST – BFRL Extramural Fire Research Grants Program, 3-yr project.     
  • 2010, “POSS-Modified Cellulose for Improved Biopolymer Performance”, US AFOSR – DURIP, 1-yr project.     
  • 2008, “Reduced Polymer Flammability Using POSS-Modified Cellulose”, NIST – BFRL Extramural Fire Research Grants Program, 3-yr project.  
  • 2007, “Thermodynamic and Transport Properties of Room Temperature Ionic Liquid – Electrolyte Solutions,” AU-CAS.

Professional Presentations

  • "Polymer Property Enhancements of Poly(lactic acid) Using POSS-Modified Cellulose Based Intumescing Flame Retardants," 243rd Natl ACS Conf, San Diego, CA, Mar 2012. 
  • “Modified Cellulosic Materials as Intumescing Flame Retardants for Poly(lactic acid),” 15th ACS Green Chemistry and Engineering Conf., Washington, DC, 2011.
  • “Nonaqueous Solvochromatic Behavior of Nile Blue A Perchlorate in Imidazolium – Exchanged Clays,” 214th Natl ECS Mtg, Honolulu, HI, Oct 2008.
  • “The Preparation and Characterization of Bombyx Mori Silk Nanocomposites Using Ionic Liquids,” 210th Natl ECS Mtg, Cancun, Mexico, Nov 2006.  

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