Dr. Dimitriou is a polymer scientist who specializes in the design, manufacture, and performance of polymer-based systems used in building and construction, automotive, industrial coating, medical, electronic, and consumer product industries. His areas of expertise include surface analysis, polymer rheology, chemical, thermal, and mechanical analysis of coatings, adhesives, sealants, fibers, non-wovens, rubbers, elastomers, thermoplastics, thermosets, gels, and novel polymer materials.

With extensive experience in materials characterization methods on a variety of polymer and composite systems, Dr. Dimitriou guides clients in product development, design, materials selection and formulation, service life, failure analysis, and intellectual property matters.

Dr. Dimitriou's training and experience is in polymer physics and synthesis utilizing material design and processing conditions to yield the physical properties of choice for polymer based applications. He has assessed polymer building materials including sealants, adhesives, insulation, carpet, roofing, flooring, and siding from the perspective of product development and design, service life, and failure analysis. He has also addressed issues related to formulation, application, and performance of paints and protective coatings applied to a range of products and substrates.

Dr. Dimitriou has performed numerous project evaluations involving design, performance testing, and failure analysis of polymeric based systems used in automotive environments and consumer products, including evaluating such materials in patent infringement and trade secret disputes. He also has direct product development experience using polymer processing techniques such as extrusion and fiber spinning. Beyond commodity polymers he has research experience defining the structure-property relationships of polymer systems including block copolymers, polymeric surfactants, polymer blends, polymer brushes, confined films, hydrogels, and hierarchical structures.

Dr. Dimitriou has extensive research, testing and project experience with a variety of thermomechanical [rheology, Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA)], surface characterization [Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Near Edge X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy, surface energy measurements, dynamic Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (dSIMS)], macromolecular [Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)], and scattering [Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), X-ray and neutron scattering, ellipsometry] characterization techniques. He is experienced in methods of polymer coating and thin film deposition including spin coating, spray coating, doctor blade, vapor deposition, and Langmuir-Blodgett deposition.

Prior to joining Exponent, Dr. Dimitriou worked at the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Center for Neutron Research, where he utilized a variety of X-ray and neutron scattering techniques to investigate water uptake in polyelectrolyte brushes (organic sensors) and protective coatings, polymer interdiffusion in confined thin films, and antibody interactions at a membrane interface. There he became versed with neutron activation of materials and safe handling protocols. Dr. Dimitriou's doctoral work, funded by the Office of Naval Research, focused on incorporating fluorocarbons into block copolymers to control surface properties. He used this strategy to engineer both an environmentally friendly anti-biofouling coating and a lithographic template for patterning.