Polymer Chemist Consultant: Thermoplastics, Bio-based Polymers, Water Soluble Polymers and REACH Compliance

Technical Consultant #371

Polymers, optical polymers, plastics and adhesives of all types.
Polymer product, process and market development.
Biodegradable polymers.
Biobased polymers.
Water soluble polymers.
Plastics recycling, and methods of recycling for municipal solid waste and tires.
United Kingdom and Europe environmental regulations.
REACH (Regulation for Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals) regulations.
Plastic packaging materials.
Alkaline fuel cell development.
Nanotechnology

Independent Consultant, 1992 - Present

Specializing in new product, process and market development for plastic/polymeric products.
Creating, planning, performing and managing innovative product and process research and development programs.
New product development and new applications and market development for chemicals, intermediates and polymers.
Business start up leading to commercialization and manufacturing, including end-use development. strategic planning, competitive analysis and forecasting.

ARGO Group International, CEO Newark, DE, U.S.A., Sandback, United Kingdom, 1985 - 1992

Polymer Science and Market Development Consulting

New product, process and market development in acrylic, methacrylic, olefinic, vinylic and styrenic copolymer systems; polymer blends; elastomers, thermosets and composites.
Reactive chemical systems, functional polymers, biobased, biodegradable and water-soluble polymers, particularly polyvinyl alcohol.
Polymers for superabsorbent; adhesives; sealants; pottants; inks; and paint and coatings.
Strategic research and development and technology portfolio analysis; research and development business/market analysis.

Environmental Consulting

ARCO Chemical Company, Newtown Square, PA, 1984 - 1991

Manager, Worldwide Styrene Quality

Instituted and managed new quality and technical service support function for 3.7 billion lbs/year styrene business.
Spearheaded competitive analysis programs to identify and prioritize styrene quality issues worldwide.
Instituted and headed styrene quality improvement team to develop styrene quality plan.
Set up engineering and research programs.

Manager, New Polymers Research and Development, 1986 - 1990

Managed group of 25 in new materials development, including engineering thermoplastics, functionalized polymers, polymer blends, thermoset composites, superabsorbents, flame-retardant foams and polymeric additives.
Developed and commercialized the first non-acrylic superabsorbent fibers (FIBERSORB).
Discovered a unique isocyanate-based RIM composite system.
Developed recyclable high-heat, high-impact functionalized styrenic/acid copolymers and blends.
Conceived and developed inter facially modified styrenic/polyester blends.
Devised high-impact, high-processability styrenic/CPVC blends.
Created high-performance polyester-sulfone clear, high-heat, high-impact, solvent and flame resistance thermoplastics.
Developed ARVIS visbroken polypropylenes.

Manager, Adhesives and Sealants Research and Development, 1984 - 1986

Managed a group of 19 in adhesives, sealants, encapsulants, coatings and elastoplastics.
Provided technical service and manufacturing support for POLY-bd hydroxy functionalized polybutadiene copolymers.
Developed improved POLY-bd products, including amino-terminated POLY-bd for high-performance structural adhesives and sealants.
Commercially scaled-up an anionic process for MACROMER functionalized block polystyrene copolymers.
Developed MACROMER/(meth) acrylate copolymers and formulated systems, and performed market development in pressure sensitive adhesives, hot-melt sealants, solar cell encapsulants, explosive binds, flow modifiers, asphalt modification and blends with styrene block copolymer thermoplastic elastomers.

E.I. DuPont De Nemours and Company, Experimental Station, Wilmington, DE, 1968 - 1984

Research Associate, Finishes and Fabricated Products Department

Technical, manufacturing and marketing development of high-performance, corrosion-resistant fluoroelastomer coatings.

Polymer Products Department

Elastomer Chemicals Department

Technical, manufacturing and marketing development of specialty adhesives and sealants.
Developed and commercialized VAMAC ethylene-acrylic ester ionomer sealant bases.
Designed novel 100% solids pressure-sensitive acrylic-based semi-structural adhesive sealant tapes.
Developed ethylene-acrylic ester ionomer based RTV sealants and pressure sensitive tape adhesives.

Senior Research Chemist, Elastomer Chemicals Department

Manufacturing management, process development and research support for radiant heating laminate venture.
Technical, process and marketing development of tailored fluoroelastomer blends. Performed basic studies on synthesis and degradation of fluorinated monomers and polymers.
Invented process for producing sol chloroprene polymers by emulsion polymerization.
Developed catalyst recycle technology for olefin/acrylic ester radical polymerizations.

Research Chemist, Elastomer Chemicals Department

Basic studies of catalyst reactivation in Ziegler-Natta olefin polymerizations, particularly EPDM.
Developed catalyst recycle technology for olefin/acrylic ester radical polymerizations.

Academic and Professional Affiliations

Publications and Patents