Justin R. Barone

Courses Taught Last Five Years

• BSE 3154 Thermodynamics of Biological Systems
• BSE 3504 Transport Processes in Biological Systems
• BSE 3524 Unit Operations in Biological Systems Engineering
• BSE 4524 Biological Processing Plant Design
• BSE 4604 Food Process Engineering
• BSE 5944 Seminar

Other Teaching and Advising

In the past 5 years, I have mentored 9 undergraduate students in my research laboratory.  I also served as the director of the ICTAS-REU: Soft Matter Physics, from Theory to Application.  Each year I mentor graduate students and student senior design teams.  In the summer we host K-12 students and teachers to perform hands-on laboratories creating Jell-O plastics and gummy bears.  I am the faculty advisor for the Virginia Tech Student Chapter of the American Chemical Society Rubber Division. 

Research in the Biopolymers and Bioinspiration Laboratory is focused on discovering new biopolymer structures and bioinspired polymeric materials and low energy processes to form them. Biopolymers can be synthesized and self-assembled into well-organized molecular-, meso-, and macro-structures with unique properties. These processes proceed in water at room temperature and are inherently sustainable, producing ultimately biodegradable products. Bioinspiration allows us to adapt natural phenomena to engineering practice. Proteins organize over many length scales to create strong and tough materials like silk. Flowers open and close and plant stems twist and curl to allow the plant to grow and thrive. Research focuses on forming polymer systems that behave like their natural counterparts and describing the underlying molecular mechanisms driving them as well as the ultimate mechanical properties.

Reviewed Journals

(*corresponding author, ^agraduate student, ^bundergraduate student, ^chigh school science teacher)

1. N. Chauhan^b and J.R. Barone*, “Effect of molecular environment on biological elastomer properties,” Rubber Chemistry and Technology, submitted (2022). 
2. L.E. Hanzly^a, N. Chauhan^b, and J.R. Barone*, “Mechanically cycling gelatin bilayers,” Smart Materials and Structures, 31(8), 085005 (2022). DOI: 10.1088/1361-665X/ac798e
3. J.R. Barone*, Editorial for Special Edition, “Stimuli-responsive green materials,” Green Materials, 9(4), 145 (2021). DOI: 10.1680/jgrma.2021.9.4.145
4. L.E. Hanzly^a, K.A. Kristofferson^b, N. Chauhan^b, and J.R. Barone*, “Biologically controlled gelatin actuators,” Green Materials, 9(4), 157-166 (2021).  DOI: 10.1680/jgrma.20.00069 (Invited paper for special edition, “Stimuli-responsive green materials”). 
5. C.E. Wisinger^b, L.A. Maynard^b, and J.R. Barone*, “Programmable shape change in bio-inspired thermoplastic elastomer bilayers,” Rubber World, 263(1), 35-39 (2020).  (Invited paper, published after presentation and peer-reviewed conference proceeding at 2019 ACS Rubber Division International Elastomer Conference).
6. N. Christensen^b, C.E. Wisinger^b, L.A. Maynard^b, N. Chauhan^b, J.T. Schubert^b, J.A. Czuba*, and J.R. Barone*, “Transport and characterization of microplastics in inland waterways,” Journal of Water Process Engineering, 38, 101640 (2020).  DOI: 10.1016/j.jwpe.2020.101640  (Invited paper).
7. B.L. DeButts^a and J.R. Barone*, “Processing-property relationships in wheat protein-isoprene rubber composites,” Rubber Chemistry and Technology, 93(3), 498-514 (2020). DOI: 10.5254/rct.20.80448
8. L.E. Hanzly^a, B.L. DeButts^a, D. Shell^b, and J.R. Barone*, “Protein aggregation in aqueous polyvinyl alcohol solutions,” Green Materials, 8(1), 32-39 (2020).  DOI: 10.1680/jgrma.19.00012
9. B.L. DeButts^a, R.V. Thompson^c, and J.R. Barone*, “Hydrolyzed wheat protein as a self-assembled reinforcing filler in synthetic isoprene rubber vulcanizates,” Industrial Crops and Products, 141, 111815 (2019). DOI: 10.1016/j.indcrop.2019.111815
10. B.L. DeButts^a, N. Chauhan^b, and J.R. Barone*, “Agricultural proteins as multifunctional additives in ZnO-free synthetic isoprene rubber vulcanizates,” Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 136, 48141 (2019). DOI: 10.1002/app.48141
11. C.E. Wisinger^b, L.A. Maynard^b, and J.R. Barone*, “Bending, curling, and twisting in polymeric bilayers,” Soft Matter, 15, 4541-4547 (2019). DOI: 10.1039/C9SM00268E
12. L.A. Maynard^b, B.L. DeButts^a, and J.R. Barone*, “Mechanical and thermal properties of polyolefin thermoplastic elastomer blends,” Plastics, Rubber, and Composites: Macromolecular Engineering, 48(8), 338-346 (2019). DOI: 10.1080/14658011.2019.1625633
13. A.M. Davis^b, L.E. Hanzly^a, B.L. DeButts^a, and J.R. Barone*, “Characterization of dimensional stability in flax fiber reinforced polypropylene composites,” Polymer Composites, 40, 132-140 (2019). DOI: 10.1002/pc.24614
14. B.L. DeButts^a, C.R. Spivey^c, and J.R. Barone*, “Wheat gluten aggregates as a reinforcement for poly(vinyl alcohol) films,” ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, 6, 2422-2430 (2018). DOI: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.7b03872
15. B.L. DeButts^a, L.E. Hanzly^a, and J.R. Barone*, “Protein-polyisoprene rubber composites,” Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 135, 46026 (2018). DOI: 10.1002/app.46026

Oral Presentations

January 2023: American Chemical Society Rubber Division, Ohio Rubber Group, Winter Technical Meeting, Twinsburg, OH

• J. Barone, “What can gummy bears teach us about biological elastomers?”

March 2022: Macromolecules Innovation Institute Technical Conference and Review, Blacksburg, VA

• S. Garbera and J. Barone, “Mechanically-reversible shape change in elastomer bilayers”

April 2021: American Chemical Society Rubber Division Spring Meeting, Independence, OH

• J. Barone, “In situ nanofiller formation in rubber nanocomposites,” Structure and Dynamics of Polymer Nanocomposites and Filled Rubber Symposium (invited).

April 2021: American Chemical Society Spring Meeting, Virtual

•  J. Zaino and J. Barone, “Fragmentation of plastics into microplastics,” ENVR-3551803.  Division of Environmental Chemistry, Micro- & Nano-Plastics in the Environment: Detection, Characterization, Fate, and Impact Symposium (invited). 

March/April 2020: ANTEC Meeting of the Society of Plastics Engineers, San Antonio, TX

• C. Wisinger, L. Maynard, and J. Barone, “Bending, curling, and twisting of polymeric bilayers,” Undergraduate Section (2020-UG01, virtual poster)

December 2019: American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA

• N. Christensen, J. Czuba, and J. Barone, “Microplastic accumulation in floodplains,” Session H108, Plastics in the Geosphere

October 2019: International Elastomer Conference, American Chemical Society Rubber Division, Cleveland, OH

• C. Wisinger, L. Maynard, and J. Barone, “Programmable shape change in bio-inspired thermoplastic elastomer bilayers,” Paper 2057
• C. Wisinger, L. Maynard, and J. Barone, “Programmable shape change in bio-inspired thermoplastic elastomer bilayers,” Paper 2063 (poster)
• B. DeButts, N. Chauhan, and J. Barone, “Agricultural proteins as multifunctional additives in ZnO-free synthetic isoprene rubber vulcanizates,” Paper 2058 (poster)

August 2019: Fall National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, San Diego, CA

• J. Czuba, and J. Barone, “Transport and characterization of microplastics in inland waterways,” POLY-24 (invited)
• J. Barone, panelist, “Characterization of plastics in aquatic environments: A panel discussion” (invited)

May 2019: USDA Nanotechnology for Agricultural and Food Systems Annual Grantees Conference, Nashville, TN

• B. DeButts and J. Barone, “Compounding amyloid reinforcement into rubber”

March/April 2019: Spring National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Orlando, FL

• L. Hanzly and J. Barone, “Enzymatic actuation in gelatin bilayers,” CELL-503
• C. Wisinger and J. Barone, “Mechanical actuation in polymeric bilayers,” POLY-264
• C. Wisinger, L. Maynard, J. Czuba, and J. Barone, “The fate of microplastics in inland waterways,” POLY-73

March 2019: ANTEC Meeting of the Society of Plastics Engineers, Detroit, MI

• L. Maynard, C. Wisinger, and J. Barone, “Mechanical actuation in polymeric bilayers,” Thermoplastic Elastomers Section
• B. DeButts and J. Barone, “Cure and mechanical properties of filled, ZnO-free, sulfur-cured isoprene rubber,” Bioplastics Section

February 2019: Food Science and Technology Department, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA

• J. Barone, “Shape-shifting and textured foods: a soft matter perspective” (invited)

September 2018: Virginia Soft Matter Workshop, Blacksburg, VA

• J. Barone, “Shape-changing polymers”

June 2018: Gordon Research Conference on Nanoscale Science and Engineering for Agriculture and Food Systems, South Hadley, MA

• B. DeButts and J. Barone, “Compounding amyloid reinforcement into rubber” (invited, poster)

May 2018: Spring Meeting of the Blue Ridge Rubber Group, Floyd, VA

• B. DeButts, R. Thompson, and J. Barone, “Zinc-free synthetic isoprene rubber vulcanizates using wheat protein as an activator,” (invited)

May 2018: ANTEC Meeting of the Society of Plastics Engineers, Orlando, FL

• L. Maynard, B. DeButts, and J. Barone, “Elastic recovery and actuation in polyolefin thermoplastic elastomers,” Thermoplastic Elastomers Section
• B. DeButts, R. Thompson, and J. Barone, “Wheat protein as a participant in the sulfur-curing of isoprene rubber,” Bioplastics Section

March 2018: 255^th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, New Orleans, LA

• L. Hanzly and J. Barone, “Gelatin hydrogel actuators,” CELL-51 (invited, + Sci-Mix poster)
• L. Maynard and J. Barone, “Microstructural changes in polyolefin thermoplastic elastomers affect elastic recovery and energy dissipation,” POLY-240 (+ Sci-Mix poster)
• B. DeButts, R. Thompson, and J. Barone, “Zinc-free synthetic isoprene rubber vulcanizates using wheat protein as an activator,” CELL-303

March 2018: American Physical Society March Meeting 2018, Los Angeles, CA

• L. Hanzly, L. Maynard, and J. Barone, “Actuation in simple gel and elastomer systems,” Active Mechanics of Networks and Gels I

February 2018: Industrial Hemp Summit, Danville, VA

• J. Barone, “Materials science opportunities for industrial hemp” (invited)