Anil Netravali | Cornell University | USA
After obtaining Ph.D. from North Carolina State University in 1984 Dr. Netravali joined the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Cornell University as a postdoctoral associate. In 1985 he joined the Department of Mechanical Engineering as a research associate and in August of 1987 he joined the Department of Fiber Science & Apparel Design as an assistant professor of Fiber Science. His main research is in the field of Fiber Reinforced Composites and Green Materials. Within the composites area the primary focus of his group has been in the development of Green resins from plant-based proteins and starches and reinforcing them using plant-based fibers to fabricate environment-friendly, Green Composites for a variety of applications. In the past few years, his research group has developed green resins and adhesives that have excellent mechanical properties; in some cases, better than commonly used epoxy resins. These carbon-neutral alternatives for the conventional petroleum-based composites are fully compostable at the end of their life. His group has also made ‘Advanced Green Composites’ with high strength and toughness that may be used in structural and ballistic applications. The second focus of his group is modification of fiber surfaces to control fiber/resin interface characteristics in composites. His research group has used many techniques including polymerizing and non-polymerizing plasmas, pulsed excimer laser, high power ion beam, solvent treatments, etc., to modify fiber surface chemistry and topography and controlling their adhesion to resins and thus the mechanical properties of composites. A third focus of his group is to develop new green nanofibers from proteins and starches for a variety of applications including high efficiency filtration and bacterial nanocellulose from food and agricultural waste for composites and medical applications.ral waste for use in composites, medical and other applications.
