Cris J. Schwartz, Ph.D., P.E.
Assistant Professor

Office: 207 Engineering/Physics Building Office Wing
Phone: 979-845-9591
Fax: 979-845-3081
Email: cschwartz@tamu.edu

Department Website

PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS
Laboratory-based scholarship
• Biomedical implant design
• Design and characterization of biomaterials
• Development of manufacturing techniques for ultra-high quality standards
• Incorporation of naturally derived and biodegradable polymers in design
• Use of nondestructive techniques to monitor in vivo mechanical processes
• Use of nondestructive techniques to monitor manufacturing processes
• Experimental design methods for efficient diagnosis of manufacturing defects
• Wear of biomaterials and the effects of wear debris in vivo
• Development and characterization of tissue engineered products for use in
challenging biomedical applications
• Formulation of polyurethane elastomers for industrial and biomedical applications
• Slip behavior of polymer solutions and their uses in industry and medicine
• Signal processing of nondestructive evaluation data

Classroom-based scholarship
• Development of teaching techniques to incorporate realistic scenarios and
constraints in mechanical design education
• Development of interactive techniques to impart critical thinking and
conceptual understanding of topics in undergraduate engineering education
• Incorporation of ethics-based considerations in mechanical design education
• Incorporation of tangible models and visualization methods for materials and
manufacturing education
• Incorporation of globalization concepts in engineering education
• Incorporation of community-service learning opportunities in mechanical and
biomedical engineering courses

EDUCATION
Doctor of Philosophy, Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, 2006
• Dissertation: Investigation of the performance of articular cartilage and synthetic biomaterials in multi-directional sliding motion as in orthopedic implants
Master of Science, Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, 1998
• Thesis: Effect of particle and transfer film characteristics on the wear of polyphenylene sulfide filled with micro and nanosized particles
Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, 1996
• Minor: Business Administration
• Graduation with Distinction

PUBLICATIONS

Plumlee, K. and Schwartz, C.J.: “Development of Porous UHMWPE Morphologies for Fixation of Gel-Based Materials,” accepted for publication in Journal of Applied Polymer Science, May 2009. Darden, M. and Schwartz, C.J.: “Investigation of Skin Tribology and its Effects on the Tactile Attributes of Polymer Fabrics,” Wear, 267(2009), 1289-1294. Plumlee, K. and Schwartz, C.J.: “Improved Wear Resistance of Orthopaedic UHMWPE by Reinforcement with Zirconium Particles,” Wear, 267(2009), 710-717. Schwartz, C.J, and Bahadur, S.:”Investigation of an Approach to Balance Wear Resistance and Mechanical Properties of Crosslinked UHMWPE,” Tribology Letters, 34 (2009), 125-131. Schwartz, C.J, Bahadur, S., and Mallapragada, S.: “Effect of Crosslinking and Pt-Zr Quasicrystal Fillers on the Mechanical Properties and Wear Resistance of UHMWPE for Use in Artificial Joints,” Wear, 263(2007), 1072-1080. PUBLICATIONS Vita of Christian J. Schwartz, Ph.D., P.E., Page 4 of 7 Schwartz, C.J., and Bahadur, S.: ”Investigation of Articular Cartilage and Counterface Compliance in Multi-Directional Sliding as in Orthopedic Implants,” Wear, 262(2007), 1315-1320. Schwartz, C.J., and Bahadur, S.: “Development and Testing of a Novel Joint Wear Simulator and Investigation of the Viability of an Elastomeric Polyurethane for Total- Joint Arthroplasty Devices,” Wear, 262(2007), 331-339.

PATENTS

Apparatus and Method for Analysis of Guided Ultrasonic Waves, Sills, J.A., Schwartz,
C.J., U.S. Patent No. 6,581,014
Easily Dispensed, Anti-Traction, Mobility Denial System, Mallow, W.A., Mathis, R.J.,
Warren, A.B., Schwartz, C.J., Brigance, E.M., Collins, K.R., Reinhardt, N.K., Marshall,
M.C., U.S. Patent No. 7,067,464
Easily Dispensed, Anti-Traction, Mobility Denial System, Mallow, W.A., Mathis, R.J.,
Warren, A.B., Schwartz, C.J., Brigance, E.M., Collins, K.R., Reinhardt, N.K., Marshall,
M.C., U.S. Patent No. 7,419,942