Kenneth Debelak

• Automotive catalyst coating. This work is a fundamental study of the deposition of a catalyst washcoat onto the ceramic monolith used for automotive and environmental catalysis. We have expanded our initial parametric work to address specific needs for the next generation of automotive catalyst coating process. We collected specific data aimed at addressing certain design issues for the new catalyst coaters. In addition, we have begun fundamental studies on flow visualization of the coating process.
• Plant-wide modeling, simulation, and control. The first commercial version of the Intelligent Process Control System (IPCS) software that we have been developing was purchased by Dupont. We have since rewritten this software to include features such as vectored input and output variables, a better graphical editor, and new operator display interface. There is considerable interest in chemical engineering in plant-wide control. We are near the forefront in this technology. Our "commercialized" applications, a coherent material balance, and an operator interface, which displays key process variables, have been updated for the new software.
• Polymer processing. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is widely used in the form of fibers, films, and containers. The commercial applications of PET polymer depend on the molecular weight. The solid state polymerization process is used to produce higher molecular weight PET materials. We are studying the structural heterogeneity, which exists in commercial PET products, and can classified into an amorphous phase, a crystallized phase, void regions, and structural defects. The structural heterogeneity and defects deteriorate the mechanical and chemical properties of PET. We have been using surface techniques such as atomic force microscopy (AFM), low voltage Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to investigate the crystallization in several commercial PET products. The crystallization gradient and microstructural features on cross-sections of PET are examined at the nanometer scale. A model of the crystallization process in the PET solid polymerization is suggested consisting of a shell of a highly crystallized phase of PET encasing a core of an amorphous phase.

Selected Publications: