Raymond Neff

Dr. Raymond Neff is a Senior Research Associate at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), affiliated with the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering and the ARC Training Center for Fire Retardant Materials and Safety Technologies. He joined UNSW in February 2020 after a career spanning roles at

• BASF Corporation (1997–2020), as a Senior Research Scientist
• National Institute of Standards and Technology (1995–1997), as an NRC Postdoctoral Associate

His education includes a

• PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota (1995)
• BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (USA)

Research interests focus on sustainable flame-resistant materials, including flexible polyurethane foam for comfort applications, protective coatings/membranes for flammable building materials, and textile treatments. He also explores firefighting products for bushfire protection (e.g., structural and vegetation applications) and gas sensing nanotechnology for detecting fire emissions, toxic materials, and explosives. His work integrates structure-property relationships and rheology to enhance material performance and durability.

His publications span advanced materials development, renewable polyurethane building blocks, and polymer processing techniques. Recent work emphasizes conductive sponges and nanotechnology applications, while earlier studies focused on polyurethane foam morphology and curing mechanisms.

Dr. Neff coordinates industry collaborations, such as projects with Flame Security International. He advises students on flame-resistant materials research and has extensive experience in polymer innovation, including roles at BASF and NIST.

He contributes to interdisciplinary teams at the ARC Training Center, advancing fire safety technologies and material science solutions.