Han Meijer
Professor, TU/e: Eindhoven University of Technology

Fractal Structuring in Polymer Processing

For a multitude of high-end applications such as photovoltaics and membranes for fuel cells or gas separation, creating large internal surfaces via fractal structuring during polymer processing can result in unique possibilities for enhancing performance. Structuring is possible even in processing techniques like injection molding. Inspired by microfluidic practice, an optimized splitting and recombining static mixer is realized on the parting surface of a mold. Different geometries are used to multiply, rotate, and add stratified structures. After the obvious structuring of a number of parallel layers, attention is focused on layers perpendicular to the product surface. A combination of the two allows complex hierarchical fractal structures to be obtained.

Han Meijer is full professor in Polymer Technology at the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), The Netherlands. He received his Ph.D. degree from the University of Twente in 1980, and then joined DSM research, where he was active in the areas of basic research, polymer processing modeling and explorative research. In 1985, he became visiting professor at TU/e in the department of Polymer Chemistry and Technology in the area of Applied Rheology. In 1989, he became full professor in Polymer Technology in the Fundamental Mechanics group of the department of Mechanical Engineering. Over the years, he supervised more than 60 Ph.D. students. His present interests include structure development during flow and structure-property relations, micro-rheology and microfluidics, micro-macro-mechanics, modeling of polymer processing and design in polymers, and America’s Cup sailing.

Dr. Jinliang Qiao
Vice President, SINOPEC Beijing Research Institute of Chemical Industry

New Polymer Materials Developed in SINOPEC
This presentation will give a brief introduction on new polymer materials developed in SINOPEC Beijing Research Institute of Chemical Industry, including new polyolefin materials, new polymer nano-composites and new conductive polymer composites. In addition to industrialized polymer materials, fundamental research also will be included.

Dr. Jinliang Qiao was born in Beijing and has been working with SINOPEC since 1985. Currently, he is the Vice President of SINOPEC Beijing Research Institute of Chemical Industry. Dr. Qiao has published more than 100 papers, and is credited for over 60 patents.

Dwight N. Tozer
Vice President, Adhesion Industry Business
ExxonMobil Chemical Company 

Abundant U.S. Shale Gas Supplies Are Revitalizing the Plastics Industry
The enormous increase in domestic natural gas production is spurring a manufacturing renaissance in the U.S., particularly for energy-intensive industries like the chemical and plastics businesses. ExxonMobil’s Outlook for Energy to 2040 indicates that the chemicals subsector of industrial energy demand will be the fastest-growing area over the next 25 years, with demand growing more than 50 percent, largely due to increased demand for plastics and other advanced products. An abundant, competitive natural gas supply in the U.S. provides a very strong foundation for increasing economic output, opening up new and valuable opportunities in many regions and sectors of the economy, including industrial sectors such as steel, auto manufacturing, and plastics. Expanded natural gas production is allowing chemical and plastics manufacturers to create jobs and increase sales to domestic and global markets. The shale gas advantage comes in the form of lower cost energy, increased supply security, creation of new jobs and enhanced global competiveness.

Dwight Tozer is vice president of the Adhesion Industry Business of ExxonMobil Chemical Company in Houston, Texas. Mr. Tozer joined the company in 1991 as a design engineer before working in a series of supervisory, corporate analyst and operations management roles in England, New Jersey, Texas and California. In 2004, Mr. Tozer was appointed technical manager at ExxonMobil’s Joliet Refinery in Illinois. He was named process manager of the Baytown Refinery in Texas in 2006. Mr. Tozer was then appointed Port Jerome Refinery manager in Notre-Dame-de-Gravenchon, France in 2008. Mr. Tozer moved to Houston to serve as vice president of the global Adhesion Industry Business unit in July 2012. Mr. Tozer received a master’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and a master’s of business administration from Columbia University.

Robert D. Kenny
Vice President and General Manager of Communications and Electronics
General Cable North America

Driving Innovation in the Wire and Cable Industry

The wire and cable manufacturing industry designs, manufactures, and distributes cable products by extruding metallic or fiber optic material and covering them with some form of polymeric jacket. The global market is valued at $185B. Specific requirements for wire and cable products vary greatly based on the extensive diversity of applications which use them. Primary industry drivers are energy related legislation and investments, infrastructure spending, construction cycles, industrial activities, and emerging markets and population growth. General Cable, a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Highland Heights, Kentucky, is a leader in the design, development, manufacture, marketing, and distribution of copper, aluminum, and fiber optic wire and cable products for the energy infrastructure, construction, retail, telecommunications and original equipment manufacturer markets. Mr. Kenny's presentation will provide overview of the wire and cable industry, macro trends affecting the wire and cable industry, the use of thermoplastic/thermoset compounds, the role of halogens in the wire and cable industry, innovation and compound advances in the wire and cable market and General Cable’s commitment to green products through the 17 Free™ Platform.

Mr. Kenny is Vice President and General Manager of Communications and Electronics. He has full P&L responsibility for General Cable’s global data communications, telecommunications, electronics, and broadcast lines of business which are valued at $750M. He joined General Cable in 2007 and has over 20 years of experience in the wire and cable field. In 2011, he was named by the Wire & Cable Manufacturers’ Alliance (WCMA) as a recipient of its Distinguished Career Award.  In 2012, he was named to the Tau Beta Pi honorary society as an eminent engineer. He has been a part of key innovations within the industry and is currently named on over 35 patents. Prior to joining General Cable, he held senior level management positions in technology, marketing, and general management with Belden, ADC/Krone, and DuPont. Mr. Kenny holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering with a minor in Mathematics from Ohio Northern University.