Stephanie Crette

Director of the WLCC
Research Professor of MS&E
Adjunct Professor of Historic Preservation

Office: 843-730-5093

Education:
1994 - BS (DEUG B) in Molecular Chemistry, University des Sciences & Techniques du Languedoc (USTL), Montpellier, France

1995 - DEA (Master Equivalent) in Inorganic Chemistry, Polymers and Catalysis, USTL, Montpellier, France

2001 - PhD in Chemistry (Organic/Polymer), UNC-Chapel Hill, NC

Responsibilities:
While studying in France, Dr. Cretté investigated the synthesis of biodegradable polyhydroxybutyrate, PHA, by chemical route as well as new processes of F-alkylation of organic compounds. In 2001, she received her PhD in Chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She completed her graduate work on the synthesis of porous and non-porous fluorinated polymer systems for catalysis and separation in liquid and supercritical carbon dioxide.

Prior to joining Clemson University, Dr. Cretté worked 7 years for MeadWestvaco Corporation in Charleston, SC. As a Research Chemist for MeadWestvaco Specialty Chemicals division, she applied her knowledge of organic/inorganic chemistry, nanotechnology, nanofillers, and nanofibers) and polymer science to projects ranging from industrial and architectural coatings to paper and packaging applications. She designed and formulated coating systems with improved mechanical and barrier properties for the food and non-food packaging industry to be applied on and off machine. She has a high level of expertise in the area of waterborne and UV-cured acrylic-, epoxy-based coatings and hybrid technology including silane, siloxane, fluorine and melamine chemistries and surface modification.

As a member of the research team at CURI – Warren Lasch Conservation Center since 2008, she implemented characterization of organic and inorganic materials, for internal and external projects, using analytical techniques such as Scanning Electron Microscopy, X-ray microanalysis techniques (EDS, WDS, XRF), and micro-FTIR spectroscopy. She developed the use of supercritical CO2 drying processes to conserve various cork and composite artifacts. She is providing her expertise in protective coatings to a collaborative project with the National Park Service which aims at designing and applying new treatment approaches to historic outdoor heritage sites.

Research interest:
High pressure techniques; corrosion mitigation; coating weathering and fouling prevention in marine environment; green chemistry; polymer composites; nanocomposites for energy systems and automotive applications.

Publications:
Jaimes, C.; Couve, J.; Cretté, S.; Sledz, J.; Schué, F. Polymerization of (R,S)-β-butyrolactone from tetraisobutyldialuminoxane (TIBAO) catalyst Eur.Polym. J. 1996, 32(10), 1175.

Cretté, S.A.; Polley, J.; Carbonell, R.; DeSimone, J.M. Solid Supports for CO2 Applications Polym. Prep., (Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Polym. Chem.), 2000, 41(1), 254.

Cretté, S.A.; DeSimone, J.M.; Carbonell, R.; Tumas, W.; Brady, J. Solid Supports for CO2 Applications Polym. Prep., (Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Polym. Chem.), 2000, 41(2), 1395.

Cretté, S.A.; DeSimone, J.M. Novel Polymeric Materials for Application in Carbon Dioxide Proceedings of the 7th International Symposium on Supercritical Fluids, Antibes, France, 2000, 1, 255.

Cretté, S.A.; DeSimone, J.M.; Carbonell, R.; Tumas, W.; Brady, J. Solid Supports for Catalysis and Separation Processes in Compressed Carbon Dioxide Proceedings of the 7th International Symposium on Supercritical Fluids, Antibes, France, 2000, 1, 475.

Cretté, S.A.; DeSimone, J.M. Neueste Anwendungen von komprimiertem Kohlendioxid (Latest applications in Compressed Carbon Dioxide) Nachrichten aus der Chemie 2001, 49(4), 462.

Cretté, S.A.; DeSimone, J.M.; Carbonell, R.; Tumas, W. Solid Supports for Catalysis and Separation Processes in Compressed Carbon Dioxide Polym. Prep., (Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Polym. Chem.), 2001, 42(1), 522.

Deitzel, J.M.; Kosik, W.; McKnight, S.H.; Beck Tan, N.C.; DeSimone, J.M.; Cretté, S. Electrospinning of polymer nanofibers with specific surface chemistry Polymer 2002, 43, 1025.

Visitin, P.M.; Denison, G.M.; Cretté, S.A.; Schauer, C.K.; DeSimone, J.M. Copper Chemical Mechanical Planarization Processes with carbon Dioxide PMSE Prep., (Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Polym. Mat.: Sci. Eng.), 2002, 87, 205.

Rubio, S.; Cretté, S.; Blancou, H. An improved procedure for the synthesis of perfluoroalkylacetylenes Synthesis 2003, 3, 361.

Rivera, J.; Cretté, S.A. Waterlogged Textile Recovered from the Civil War Submarine HL Hunley AIC 37th Annual Meeting - Textile Specialty Group Postprints, 2009. In press

Cretté S.A.; González-Pereyra N.G.; Rennison B.; Scafuri M.P.; Mardikian P.; Drews M.J.; Carrier M. Conserving Waterlogged Archaeological Corks Using Supercritical CO2 and Monitoring Their Shrinkage Using Structured-Light 3D Scanning. 11th ICOM-CC Group on Wet Organic Archaeological Materials (WOAM), North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources and East Carolina University, 2010, 257-275

González-Pereyra N.G.; Brocard T.; Cretté S.A.; de Viviés P.; Drews M.J.; Mardikian P. The Use of Subcritical Fluids for the Stabilization of Concreted Iron Artifacts, Proceedings of the Interim Meeting of the ICOM-CC Metal Working Group - Metal 2010. Charleston, SC. October 2010. 39-49.

Cretté, S.A., Nasanen, L.M.E., González-Pereyra, N.G., Ford, F.H. Assessment and Characterization of the Architectural Metal Finishes at Fort Moultrie Proceedings of AIC 39th Annual meeting, 2011 In Press

Näsänen L.M.E.; González-Pereyra N.G.; Cretté S.A. The Subcritical Mass-Treatment of a Range of Iron Artifacts from Varying Contexts Proceedings on the Asia-Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage. Manila, Philippines. November 2011. 733-744.

Cretté, S.A.,Näsänen, L., González-Pereyra, N. G., Rennison, B. Conservation and Treatment Monitoring of Waterlogged Archeological Corks Using Supercritical CO2 Proceedings of the 10th International Symposium on Supercritical Fluids, San Francisco, 2012, accepted

González-Pereyra, N.G., Cretté, S.A., Mefford, O.T., Etching of Silicon under Subcritical Conditions: A Greener Approach Proceedings of the 10th International Symposium on Supercritical Fluids, San Francisco, 2012, accepted

Näsänen, L., González-Pereyra, N. G., Cretté, S.A., DeViviés, P. The Applicability of Subcritical Fluids to the Conservation of Actively Corroding Metallic Cultural Heritage Proceedings of the 10th International Symposium on Supercritical Fluids, San Francisco, 2012, accepted

Professional society activity:
American Chemical Society since 1998
American Coatings Association - Professional Development Committee since 2006
(Short courses in Green Chemistry and Nanotechnology - ICE2006, ICE 2007, Futurecoat 2008, and CoatingsTech 2011; Technical Program Organizing Committee of AC Series on Additives – 2006; Chair of Transportation Coatings AC Series Conference - Nov 2012)

Microscopy Society of America since 2009
The Society for Protective Coatings ‘03-‘07
ISSF 2012: 10th International Symposium on Supercritical Fluids May 2012
(Session Chair - (SCF Particle/Film Technology-II)

Honors and awards:
PATENT: US 6,211,422 (2001) Enzyme Catalysis in Carbon Dioxide Fluids

PATENT: US 6,747,179 (EP1210306 A2; WO 01/14289 A2) (2004) Carbon dioxide-soluble polymers and swellable polymers for carbon dioxide applications

PATENT: US2005/0176321 A1 Wear Layer for Flooring and Other Products.

PATENT: WO2007/114997 A2 and A3 Composition de Revêtement Résistant à l’Usure

PATENT: WO2010/123689(A1) A Method for Making Multilayer Paper-based Packaging Materials Having Enhanced Barrier Properties.