Research

Israel Cabasso's fundamental research is divided between two primary, interconnected topics in polymer science. The first combines: (a) the synthesis and polymerization of functionalized monomers and polymers, (b) polymer to polymer interactions in polymer blends, and (c) polymer-salt and ion interactions in polymer complexes. The second is a large program in the formation and preparation of synthetic membranes which also includes: the fundamentals of the mass-transport phenomenon in polymers, interaction of small molecules that diffuse through membrane matrices, and the technological aspects that are associated in the use of polymer membranes in electrochemical applications (such as fuel cells, double layer capacitors), reverse osmosis, separation of gas mixtures, energy storage (rechargeable batteries), kidney dialysis, and a host of other contemporary topics based on membrane technologies.

Selected Publications and Patents

• Separation of Paramagnetic and Diamagnetic Molecules Using High-Tc Superconducting Ceramics, S. Reich and I. Cabasso, Nature 338, 330 (1989).
• Analysis and Construction of Multi-Layer Composite Membranes for the Separation of Gas Mixtures, K. Lundy and I. Cabasso, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 28, 742 (1989).
• "Membranes," I. Cabasso, in The Concise Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Engineering, Ed., J.I. Kroschwitz, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 598-605 (1990).
• Acrylated Phosphonate Esters Containing 1,3-Dioxane and 1,3-Dioxolane Moieties as Adhesion Promoting Agents for Dentin and Hard Tissues (I), I. Cabasso and S.K. Sahni, J. Biomed. Mat. Res. 24, 705-720 (1990).
• Correlation Between the Degree of Phosphorylation of Poly(Styrenephosphonate Ester) and the Characteristic of its Blends with Cellulose Acetate, J. Sun and I. Cabasso, Macromolecules 24, 3603-3611 (1991).
• Photoelectron Transfer Mediated by Size-Quantized CdS Particles in Polymer-Blend Membranes, Y.Yuan, J.H. Fendler, I. Cabasso, Chemistry of Materials 4(2), 312-318 (1992).
• Novel Carbamoyl Phosphonate Monomers and Polymers from Unsaturated Isocyanates, F. Ignatious, A. Sein, I. Cabasso and J. Smid, J. Polymer Science: Part A: Polymer Chemistry 31, 239-247 (1993).
• Preliminary Study of Phosphonate Ion Exchange Membranes for PEM Fuel Cells, Proceedings of the American Chemical Society, Division of Polymeric Materials: Science and Engineering 68, 120-121 (1993).
• Formation and Microstructure of Polyethylene Microporous Membranes through Thermally Induced Phase Separation, Wenjun Li, Y. Yuan and I. Cabasso, Chinese J. of Polymer Sci., 13, 7-19 (1995)
• Nanoparticles in Polymer and Polymer Dendrimers, I. Cabasso and Y. Yuan, in Nanoparticles in Solids and Solutions, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Ed., 131-153 (1996).
• Thermomechanical Investigation of Poly(methylmethacrylate) Containing an Organobismuth Radiopacifying Additive, H.R. Rawls, R.J. Granier, J. Smid and I. Cabasso, J. Biomedical Materials Research, 31, 339-343 (1996).
• Synthesis and Characterization of Carbamoylphosphonate Monomer and Its Copolymer with Styrene, S. Lin and I. Cabasso, II. J. Polym. Sci. Part A, 889-899 (1997).
• Radiopaque Copolymers of Styryldiphenylbismuth Vinylbenzylphosphonate and Methyl Methacrylate, H. Tamber, J. Smid and I. Cabasso, Chemistry of Materials, 9, 1335-1341 (1997).

Patents

• A Thin Ribbonlike Flexible Rechargeable Zinc/Halide Cell, (1995) Eur. Pat. 0 347 910 B1.
• Sulfonated Polyethylene Rearrangement of Polyorganosiloxanes, (1996) U.S. Pat. 5,486,590.
• Preparation of Polydiorganosiloxane and Sulfonated Polyolefin Blends, (1996) U.S. Pat. 5,488,087.
• Gas Diffusion Electrodes Based on Poly(Vinylidene Fluoride) Carbon Blends, (1998) U.S. Pat. 5,783,325.

Prospective students are strongly encouraged to contact members of the faculty directly.