1. CLiPS has a New Spin on Nanofibers Eric Baer, Case Western Reserve University, DMR 0423914 Polymer nanofibers are being produced by a multilayering process in CLiPS (the NSF Center for Layered Polymeric Systems) which have diameters as small as 10 nanometers – this is 10,000 times thinner than a human hair. The fibers are unique not only because of their size but also because of their unusual rectangular cross-section. The CLiPS process is entirely free of the organic solvents required in traditional fiber processes. This is a significant improvement over traditional polymer fiber manufacturing. Potential applications for the fibers from the CLiPS process include: Air Filters – using a nanofiber/microfiber hybrid based on polypropylene (nanofibers for particle collection) and PA6 (microfibers for improved mechanical properties). Fuel Filters – using a hybrid of polypropylene nanofibers (hydrophobic), vertically layered, multiplied and extruded with PA6 microfibers (hydrophilic), then oriented and separated for improved chain orientation, mechanical properties and surface area. Water Filters – co-extruded polypropylene and polyvinylidene fluoride, when oriented by bi-axial stretching, produce nanofibers with excellent mechanical properties, yet have pore sizes sufficiently small for effective filtration. Lithium Ion Battery Separators – A non-woven nanofiber film can be fabricated, based on robust polyethylene and polypropylene nanofibers that are co-extruded and oriented by bi-axial stretching, yielding high-modulus, low thickness and high porosity, Air Filters Fuel Filters Water Filters Lithium Ion Battery Separators

2. Frontiers in Polymer Science – a technical symposium held at Kentucky State University, February 7-8, 2014 Members of the CLiPS STC include affiliate schools – institutions that are primarily known for excellent undergraduate teaching. Relationships with the affiliates help advance our agenda for diversity and contribute to the pipeline into CLiPS REU and graduate programs. Three of the affiliate schools are Historically Black Colleges or Universities, and were added to the CLiPS center in 2012. In February of 2013, a technical workshop was help at Kentucky State University. The goal of this workshop was to deepen relationships with the new CLiPS affiliate schools, to introduce the breadth of CLiPS research to our new colleagues, and to develop strategies for working together to further our research, educational and diversity agendas. The audience included faculty members, undergraduate and graduate students. Frontiers in Polymer Science will be a continuing activity, hosted in 2014 by Bowie State University in Bowie, Maryland. Speakers at the workshop included – back row: Benny Freeman, UT, Alan Anderson, Bowie State, David Schiraldi, CWRU, Tryreno Sowell, CWRU, student from Bowie State, Kazi Javed, Kentucky State. Front row: Pamela Bligh-Glover, CWRU, Natalie Arnett, Fisk, Suzanne Seleem, Central State, LaShanda Korley, CWRU, Lei Zhu, CWRU. Historic Hume Hall on the Kentucky State University campus. CLiPS has a New Spin on Nanofibers Eric Baer, Case Western Reserve University, DMR 0423914