Academic Credentials
  • Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, Drexel University, 2019
  • B.S., Chemical Engineering, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 2012
Languages
  • Tagalog

Dr. Santos consults on a wide variety of projects related to the structure-property relationship of polymers specified for use in the construction and building materials, automotive, medical and consumer products industries. She routinely investigates technical challenges in all aspects of product development from concept through commercialization with an emphasis on failure analysis, materials characterization, chemical compatibility, and considering product end-use environment.

Trained as a polymer scientist, Dr. Santos specializes in the formulation and characterization of paints, coatings and sealants and leverages her broad knowledge of the chemical and physical behavior of polymers to design and formulate new products in the adhesives, personal care, consumer products, and construction industries.

Dr. Santos has extensive experience with a variety of material characterization techniques such as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Additional characterization techniques that she is proficient with include scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). Dr. Santos has experience with various composite fabrication techniques as well as standardized mechanical test methods for polymers and composite materials.

Prior to joining Exponent, Dr. Santos doctoral research involved the development, incorporation, and creation of microencapsulated reversible healing chemistries and corrosion additives to improve the durability of epoxy-amine coatings for corrosion prevention. Her work included the development and study of solvent diffusion, plasticization, and microencapsulation reactions in self-healing coatings. She utilized fracture mechanics and electrochemical techniques to characterize self-healing ability and corrosion resistance of thermoset coatings.