Bio

Professor Maury Balik retired from NC State University on July 1, 2022. His past research involved measuring the solubility and diffusivity of methyl bromide at various temperatures and pressures in polymeric materials of construction. The motivation for this work came from the use of methyl bromide to decontaminate large enclosed areas that were infected with harmful toxicological agents such as Bacillus anthracis spores (anthrax). During the decontamination process, methyl bromide can diffuse into various polymeric materials of construction such as rubber, plastics, carpet fibers, etc. After decontamination, the methyl bromide that has diffused into these materials will remain and slowly diffuse out, possibly presenting a health hazard. This research provided quantitative information regarding methyl bromide diffusion and solubility that facilitated an objective assessment of the health risk.

Area(s) of Expertise

Maury Balik joined the NCSU faculty in 1982 after a year of post-doctoral research in the Dept. of Macromolecular Science at Case Western Reserve University.

Dr. Balik's research group is generally concerned with the chemical and physical structure of polymeric materials and their relationship to polymer properties. A major area of emphasis is the sorption and diffusion of small molecules through polymers. They are studying those aspects of polymer structure that influence sorption and diffusion of small molecules, and are using those measurements as an indirect probe of polymer structure. Other areas of research with which they have recently been involved include polymer-cyclodextrin inclusion compounds, use of FTIR-ATR to measure real-time diffusion of liquids and liquid mixtures in polymers, RF plasma modification of polymer surfaces, mechanical alloying of polymers, and characterization of novel ROMP polymers.

Publications

• The Effect of Crystallinity on Materials Removal Rate of Polyolefins During Ga+ Focused Ion Beam Nanomachining , Microscopy and Microanalysis (2011)
• Morphology of polystyrene/poly(dimethyl siloxane) blends compatibilized with star polymers containing a γ–cyclodextrin core and polystyrene arms , Polymer (2010)
• Properties of polystyrene/poly(dimethyl siloxane) blends partially compatibilized with star polymers containing a γ-cyclodextrin core and polystyrene arms , Polymer (2010)
• The Sputtering Behavior of Polymeric Materials During Focused Ion Beam Nanomachining , Microscopy and Microanalysis (2010)
• Compatibilization of polystyrene/poly(dimethyl siloxane) solutions with star polymers containing a γ-cyclodextrin core and polystyrene arms , Polymer (2009)
• The effect of water and guest hydrophobicity on the complexation of oligomers with solid α-cyclodextrin , Polymer (2008)
• Characterization of titanium alkoxide sol–gel systems designed for anti-icing coatings: I. Chemistry , Journal of Coatings Technology and Research (2007)
• Characterization of titanium alkoxide sol–gel systems designed for anti-icing coatings: II. Mass loss kinetics , Journal of Coatings Technology and Research (2007)
• Effect of Guest Hydrophobicity on Water Sorption Behavior of Oligomer/α-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complexes , The Journal of Physical Chemistry B (2007)
• Effect of Guest Hydrophobicity on Water Sorption Behavior of Oligomer/α-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complexes , The Journal of Physical Chemistry B (2007)

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