Overview: College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering

Paula Watt, Ph.D.

Director of Outreach

College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering

• Favorable strength to weight ratio

• Wide range of capabilities and properties

• Design flexibility

• Integrated functionality

• Optimization through multi-material system design

Polymers and Composites are ideal for lightweighting strategies :

Legacy in Polymer Discovery, Innovation, Talent

Dr. Charles Knight (1875-1913)

Gave first semester-long class on polymers in the world in 1910 called “Chemistry of India Rubber”

Strong, Lightweight, Impact Resistant, Functional, Cheap, ReliablePolymers represent a trillion dollar industry world-wide

Established 1988Polymer Science Faculty 21Polymer Engineering Faculty 12

Graduate StudentsPolymer Science 195Polymer Engineering 156

BuildingsGoodyear Polymer 1991Polymer Engineering Academic 2001Olson Engineering Research 1979Akron Polymer Training 1993National Polymer Innovation 2010

COLLEGE OF POLYMER SCIENCE AND POLYMER ENGINEERING

For Ohio the polymer industry is the largest manufacturing sector with over 130,000 jobs

Polymer Valley of Northeast Ohio has

2,400 polymer related companies

50% of North American plastics processing

is within a 250 mile radius of Akron

Plastics Ohio #2

CoatingsOhio #1

RubberOhio #1

Ohio is consistently in the top five states in polymer industry market segments: Coated and Laminated Paper Manufacturing, Inorganic Dye and Pigment Manufacturing, Synthetic Inorganic Dye and Pigment Manufacturing, Plastics Material and

Resin Manufacturing, Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing, Adhesive Manufacturing, Printing Ink Manufacturing, Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins, Unlaminated

Plastics Film and Sheet (except Packaging) Manufacturing, Unlaminated Plastics Profile Shape Manufacturing, Plastic Pipe and Pipe Fitting Manufacturing, Laminated

Plastics Plate, Sheet (except Packaging) and Shape Manufacturing, Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing, Urethane and Other Foam Product (except Polystyrene)

Manufacturing, Tire Manufacturing (except Retreading), Tire Retreading, Rubber and Plastics Hoses and Belting Manufacturing, Rubber Product Manufacturing for

Mechanical Use, Plastics and Rubber Industry Machinery

Beyond Ohio: National and International Reach

Graduates contribute in “Polymer Valley” of Northeast Ohio and in

polymer related industries nationally

International reach reflects student origins and global polymer industry

Supportive alumni are active in Taiwan, Korea, China, and India

MATERIALS AND DEVICES• Photovoltaic devices• Optical compensation films• Core shell nanostructures• Nanogels• Polymer nanocomposites• Shape memory polymers• Magnetic nanoparticles• Aerogels• Mesoporous carbon materials• Novel coating materials• Thin films• Antibacterial coatings• Thermoelectric devices• Self-powered electronics• Bio-materials• Biomedical materials

CHARACTERIZATION AND MODELING• Nano-Raman spectroscopy • X-ray reflectivity• Multilayer film layer uniformity and interface quality• AFM; TEM; • Inorganic-organic interfaces• Force fields for interfacial properties• MD simulation of chain molecules• Surface force analysis of nanoscale bio materials• Nanoscale tribology• Lipid membranes and proteins• Mold filling analysis

PROCESSING/MANUFACTURING• Microlayer coextrusion• Ink jet printing• Stretching with structural-control• Nanolithography•Holographic multi-beam polymerization•Nanoscale filler dispersion by ultrasound and chaotic mixers•Block copolymer lithography• Hybrid processing• Electro-spinning• R2R processing• Field alignment• Zone annealing• Ice-phobic surfaces• Patterning; 3-D printing

MISSION: INVENT, INNOVATE, MANUFACTURE

Interdisciplinary Collaborative Faculty

Polymer Modeling and Visualization CenterNew in 2016

Additive Manufacturing LaboratoryNew in 2017

Akron Polymer Technology Services

Over 2500 individuals, from 900 companies, have used our training services since 2002.

Customized Training ProgramsAkron Polymer Technology Services specialize in development and delivery of courses and workshops specific to a company’s needs.

Course Offering Examples

Silicone Elastomers Technology and Fabrication Seminar - 4 Day CoursePolyurethane Elastomers: Chemistry, Applications and Formulations - 1 Day CourseSystematic Innovation for Six Sigma Black Belts and Lean Masters: An Introduction - 2 Day Course

Workforce Development TrainingSince 1993 we have been providing non-degree workforce training through our Akron Polymer Technology Services organization.

With a full-time professional staff, and a half-million dollar inventory of modern instrumentation, the Testing Center is dedicated to performing sophisticated and timely contractual technical services for industrial and government clients. In addition to dedicated resources maintained by the Center, the laboratory has access to highly sophisticated instrumentation through the College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, and will interface with over 30 highly specialized faculty to solve more complex polymer related problems.

Contract Services Fast Turnaround Confidentiality Professional Staff

Akron Polymer Technology Services

Akron Polymer Technology Services

The Polymer Processing Center offers the capability for experimentation and pilot level process

trials for a variety of plastics processing techniques, including:

• Compounding, blending and mixing

• Film blowing

• Injection, compression and vacuum molding

• Roll to Roll casting and extrusion

• Coating

• Additive manufacturing

National Polymer Innovation Center

Akron Functional Materials Center

• Bio-medical Materials

• Coatings and Adhesives

• Additive Manufacturing

• Energy and Electronics

• Polymer Assembly

Some Current Research Partners and Sponsors

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Professional MastersCoursework focused Masters degree in Polymer Science and Engineering

with integrated professional courses in business, law, and engineering

Rationale

There are a range of non-research positions for which a polymer technical background

would be very useful

Surveys of industry executives and technical staff suggest a professional MS with

business and law components would be viewed favorably

Trends outside UA

Other schools starting Professional MS degrees in Engineering and Science include Rice,

U. Penn, CWRU, Virginia Tech

None of these currently compete in the polymers area

Structure

18 polymer credits in chemistry, characterization, processing, and technology

12 business and law credits, core courses and electives in finance, project management,

supply chain, intellectual property, compliance

Instruction on research methods and communications; no thesis requirement

First entering class in Fall 2017

The Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch | 21-22 MARCH 2017

SPE THERMOSET DIVISION – 2017 ANNUAL TOPICAL CONFERENCE

Technical Agenda

‒ Experts in the Raw Material space

‒ Processing Innovations

‒ Market Updates

Exhibit & Sponsorship

Opportunities

Social Activities to

Promote Collaboration

Logon to www.spethermosets.org for more information

Questions