Christopher W. Macosko is an American chemical engineer and professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at the University of Minnesota. He is internationally known for his work inpolymerscience and engineering, especially in the areas of rheology and polymer processing. Macosko is an author of more than 500 academic papers, dozens of patents, and two books including the text: "Rheology: Principles, Measurements and Applications". He served as Director of the Industrial Partnership for Research in Interfacial and Materials Engineering, a university-industry consortium at the University of Minnesota, from 1999 to the present. Macosko and his wife Kathleen have been married since 1967 and are long-time residents of Minneapolis. They have four children and numerous grandchildren.
Early life and education
Macosko received a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering in 1966 from Carnegie-Mellon University. He then spent one year at Imperial College, London and obtained an M.S. degree in Chemical Engineering in 1967. Macosko earned his Ph.D. degree in Chemical Engineering in 1970 from Princeton University, where he worked under the supervision of Bryce Maxwell. His thesis work included the design of a new less-compliant rheometer. Macosko and a fellow graduate student, Joe Starita, co-founded the company Rheometrics, whose instruments have significantly advanced the field of rheology. The company is now part of TA Instruments, a world-leading manufacturer of rheological devices.
Research at Minnesota
In 1970, Macosko joined the University of Minnesota and become one of the first assistant professors in the then newly combined Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science. His research on polymers served as a bridge between the two disciplines, and his leadership helped attract other faculty in this area and contributed to the international reputation in polymers at the University of Minnesota. Macosko's research was centered around polymer processing, with special emphasis on the structure-function relation between polymer morphology and the associated rheological, mechanical, electronic, and other physical properties. He made significant contributions toward understanding the rheology of polymer materials, such as the characterization of network formation during gelation, the elasticity of foams, interfacial area generation in reactive blends, and the viscoelastic character of polymer composites. Macosko's research has addressed a broad range of polymer processing operations including reaction injection molding, extrusion, melt blowing, and coating. His current research interests include network polymerization, nanoparticle reinforced polymer composites, interfacial reaction during polymer blending, and polymerization with phase separation. Macosko has taught short courses for many years on rheological measurements that have attracted industrial interest.
Chris Macosko has authored numerous journal articles describing significant advances in polymer rheology, melt processing, and nanocomposites which includes but is not limited to:
C.W. Macosko, D.R. Miller "A new derivation of postgel properties of network polymers", Rubber Chemistry and Technology, 49, 1219-1231,.
C.W. Macosko, D.R. Miller "A new derivation of average molecular weights of nonlinear polymers", Macromolecules, 9, 199-206,.
A.C. Papanastasiou, L.E. Scriven, C.W. Macosko "An Integral Constitutive Equation for Mixed Flows: Viscoelastic Characterization", Journal of Rheology, 27, 387-410,.
U. Sundararaj, C.W. Macosko "Drop breakup andcoalescence in polymer blends: the effects of concentration and compatibilization", Macromolecules, 38, 2647-2657,.
X. Cao, L.J. Lee, T. Widya, C.W. Macosko "Polyurethane/clay nanocomposite foams: processing, structure and properties", Polymer, 46, 775-783,.
C.J. Ellison, A. Phatak, D.W. Giles, C.W. Macosko, F.S.Bates "Melt blown nanofibers: fiber diameter distributions and onset of fiber breakup", Polymer, 48, 3306-3316,.
H. Kim, A.A. Abdala, C.W. Macosko "Graphene/Polymer Nanocomposites", Macromolecules, 43, 6515-6530,.
Chris was also the author of two highly influential books:
