SPE WORKSHOP: Consider Recycling when Addressing Polymer Design and Optimization

  SPE Workshop

Consider Recycling When Addressing Polymer Design and Optimization

  May 13, 15, 20 & 21, 2025
  All workshop days are from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM EDT.
  Online

Next Lesson: Session 1 

  Summary

Often, as part of materials design processes, inevitably, there is a reconciliation where various inadequacies and limitations are addressed relative to design requirements. These adaptations include changes to material composition through copolymerization, blending, physical integration and fixturing, and through process design and component design to minimize stress concentrations, etc. We will consider here the impact these adaptations have on the design lifetime and the corresponding capacity for polymeric designs to ultimately be recycled. The goal of the workshop is not to make every conceivable product fully recyclable, but to empower registrants to recognize the impact of decisions that ultimately can render a viable product more or less recyclable.


  Agenda

May 13, 2025
Duration: 1 ½ Hours

  Outline

  • The Design Process relating to polymers. Distinctions between polymers and other materials classes.

  Presentations

  • TBA

Go to Session 1 

May 15, 2025
Duration: 1 ½ Hours

  Outline

  • Critical Design Requirements Assessments. Common schemes to shore up an inadequate design requirement through formulation and their impact on recyclability.

  Presentations

  • TBA

Go to Session 2 

May 20, 2025
Duration: 1 ½ Hours

  Outline

  • The duality between polymer complexity and circular design scenarios for polymers, copolymers, and composites.

  Presentations

  • TBA

Go to Session 3 

May 21, 2024
Duration: 1 ½ Hours

  Outline

  • End of life and design lifetime considerations for existing and future polymer designs. Here, I will describe many of my experiences linked with single use, disposable and packaged products used in medicine, as well as some other examples.

  Presentations

  • TBA

Go to Session 4 

 

If you can't attend one or several sessions live, or if you want to review some concepts, the recordings will be available after each session.

  Registration Information

SPE Premium Member $540
SPE Members $600
Nonmembers $800

  Register Now

Not an SPE member? Join today and attend this workshop at a discounted rate!


 
4 Sessions
 
Level: Intermediate
 
Total Hours: 6 Hours
 
Streaming access on desktop and mobile browsers

  Instructor

Brian Love
Professor
University of Michigan

Brian Love has been a Professor in Materials Science and Biomedical Engineering at Michigan for the last 15 years. His research has focused on the kinetics of polymerization and structural evolution in soft structures, and on other implications linked to structure/property relationships in polymers and composites. Dr. Love’s research has pivoted towards polymer recycling, capture, and bypass via isolating natural polymeric substitutes derived from biomass and other plant-based polymers. Brian has been teaching part of the capstone design sequence and with that has come a larger understanding of life cycle assessment and valuing these other material substitutions. It should be an engaging and productive workshop to work through some examples and consider how we make decisions about addressing limitations in polymer features and attributes at present.


  Questions? Contact:

For questions, contact Iván D. López.


  Who Should Attend?

  • Are you a plastic parts designer aiming to integrate recyclability into your designs?
  • Do you struggle to balance recyclability with performance requirements?
  • Are you worried about how traditional methods like material blending and composites might impact a part's recyclability?
  • Do you consider how assembly methods, such as physical integration or fixturing, could affect a product's recyclability?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, this workshop is designed for you!


This educational program is provided as a service of SPE. The views and opinions expressed on this or any SPE educational program are those of the Speaker(s) and/or the persons appearing with the Speaker(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Society of Plastics Engineers, Inc. (SPE) or its officials, employees or designees. To comment or to present an opposing or supporting opinion, please contact us at info@4SPE.org.

Refund Policy

30 days prior to the event start date a full refund minus a $50 processing fee will be granted. No refunds after. Please contact customerrelations@4spe.org for assistance with registration.

Copyright & Permission to Use

SPE may take photographs and audio/video recordings during the conference, pre-conference meetings and receptions that may include attendees within sessions, networking areas, exhibition areas, and other areas associated with the conference both inside and outside of the venue. By registering for this event, all attendees are providing permission for SPE to use this material at its discretion on SPE's websites, marketing materials, and publications. SPE retains ownership of copyright to all photographs and audio/video recording obtained at this event and attendees may request copies of any material in which they are included.

Anti-Trust Statement

  1. No discussion among members, volunteers, or staff, which attempts to arrive at any agreement regarding prices, terms or conditions of sale, distribution, volume, territories, or customers;
  2. No activity or communication which might be construed as an attempt to prevent any person or business entity from gaining access to any market or customer for goods or services or any business entity from obtaining services or a supply of goods;
  3. No activity or communication which might be construed as an agreement to refrain from purchasing or using any materials, equipment, services or supplies of or from any supplier; or
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