Julia Ann Kalow

Polymer networks are ubiquitous in modern life, in the form of rubbers, adhesives, synthetic resins, and gels. When the molecular interactions that hold together the infinite network are irreversible covalent bonds, these materials cannot be mended after fracture, cannot be recycled, and cannot adapt to applied stress. However, as we learn more about the mechanics of biological tissue, and as plastics accumulate in our oceans, there is a growing need for materials that change over time and in response to stimuli. The Kalow Lab combines physical organic and polymer chemistry to translate molecular reactivity into the macroscopic properties of reprocessable elastomers and adaptable hydrogels. In this talk, I will discuss molecular strategies to control the stiffness and flow of these dynamic networks, inspired by asymmetric catalysis and enzymology.