NOV 2011 SPE MEETING
LEHIGH VALLEY SECTION
November 2011
SECTION MEETING WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2011
TOPIC:
Excellence in Polymer Science & Engineering Awards “Redox-Initiated ‘Adiabatic’ Emulsion Polymerization” By Shi Wang Ph.D. Candidate, Chemical Engineering “Sequence-Specific Interactions between DNA and Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes” By Daniel Roxbury Ph.D. Candidate, Chemical Engineering
PLACE:
TIME: Stabler Observation Tower Lehigh University 111 Research Drive Iacocca Hall Bethlehem PA 18015
BOD mtg…………………………..5:30PM Dinner………………………………6:00PM Presentations………………….. 7:00PM
COST: Members……………………………$20.00 Non-members…………………….$30.00 Emeritus/Retirees……………….$10.00 Students………………….………… $6.00
PLEASE NOTE: The November 15 SPE Meeting will be taking place at Lehigh University; Stabler Observation Tower inside of Iacocca Hall; 111 Research Drive, Bethlehem PA. We would like to get an accurate head count so if you are attending, please call Ann Marie Lobley at 610 758-4222 or email her at [email protected] Thank you!
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE By Patrick Kelley, President
LEHIGH VALLEY SECTION OFFICERS 2011 - 2012 President Patrick W. Kelley Waste Not Technologies, LLC (570) 992-7041 [email protected] President Elect Treasurer Jeff Drusda Silberline Manufacturing Co., Inc. (570) 668-8321 [email protected] Secretary/Membership Councilor Larry Ingram Alcan [email protected] (570)321-7715 Past President Program Director Larry Ingram Alcan Cable (570) 321-7715 [email protected] Newsletter Editor Ray Pearson Lehigh University (610) 758-3857 [email protected]
DIRECTORS
Term Expires June 30, Bob Schoppe Ray Pearson Rich Kotschessa
2014 (570) 668-8479 (610) 758-3857 (610) 417-3173
Term Expires June 30, John Coulter Lloyd Robeson Les Sperling
2013 (610) 758-6310 (215) 870-3413 (610) 758-3845
Term Expires June 30, Mark Connor Garo Khanarian Leena Vadaketh
2012 (215) 942-3299 (215) 619-5759 (610) 253-6272
If you had any interest in the current state of plastics recycling, our section’s October meeting was the place to be. Four highly knowledgeable leaders spoke about their perspective of plastics recycling. You could not have found four more interesting presentations even at GPEC. The presenters spoke on a variety of different aspects of plastics recycling: The first presenter was Frank Sorg, principal at Midlantic Advisors. Frank spoke on the concept of the pyrolysis of difficult to recycle plastics. There will always be difficult to recycle plastics from multi-layer packaging, to discarded toys and fabrics made from plastics like polyester and nylon. Pyrolysis offers an opportunity to capture the latent BTU value in plastics rather than lose that value in land-fills. The second presenter was Bridget Anderson from the Department of Sanitation in New York City. Bridget participates on an ASTM committee that is investigating the revision of the plastics recycling codes. Those are the numbers, 1 through 7, that are enclosed in the chasing arrow sign that is molded into plastic containers. As the plastics recycling industry has grown, there has become a need for more detailed information on the processability of recycled plastics. For example blow molded containers may be marked with a #2 representing high density polyethylene, but be made with materials of significantly different molecular weight distributions. This means that the two different high density polyethylene plastics will process under different conditions. No processor, whether of virgin or recycled plastic, can succeed economically if the processability of their raw material changes from day to day or even hour to hour. Hence the need for expanded recycling codes for plastics. The third presenter was Himanshu Pandya, Ph.D. Dr. Pandya is the owner of a small plastics lumber manufacturing company. He also owns a computer retail business. When customers would purchase a new computer, they wanted him to take back their old computer. This presented a problem of what to do with the older computer. He decided to become involved with the dismantling and recycling of these old computers. He started the plastic lumber business as a means of disposing of the plastic from old computers, monitor, keyboards, etc. Over time he has taken on the recycling of other plastics. The fourth presenter was yours truly. I am the owner of a small plastics manufacturing business that uses recycled post-consumer plastics as its sole raw material. My business makes post and rail fence primarily from recycled milk jugs. The process involves the extrusion of the fence rails and injection molding of the fence posts. I, along with Dr. Pandya, gave a first-hand account of many of the challenges that are faced by entrepreneurs in the plastics recycling industry. Thank you to all the section members that help to make this valuable meeting a success.
SOCIETY OF PLASTICS ENGINEERS – LEHIGH VALLEY SECTION
“Redox-Initiated ‘Adiabatic’ Emulsion Polymerization” By Shi Wang Ph.D. Candidate, Chemical Engineering Advisors: Mohamed S. El-Aasser and Andrew Klein
ABSTRACT Emulsion polymerizations are usually carried out under isothermal conditions at relatively high temperatures (e.g., 70°C) to synthesize commercial latex polymer products. However, this process incurs significant energy costs. To reduce energy cost, redox-initiated ‘adiabatic’ emulsion polymerization processes are being evaluated as a green process, where the polymerization can be initiated at a low temperature and the reaction heat can be efficiently utilized. n-Butyl methacrylate (BMA) was used as the monomer in a model system employing redox initiators (ascorbic acid and H2O2). An isothermal batch emulsion polymerization process was first carried out to study the influences of redox initiator on both particle size and molecular weight. The high radical flux resulting from the use of redox initiator leads to latexes with much smaller particle size, lower molecular weight and faster reaction rate compared with thermal-initiated emulsion polymerizations. The appearances of the three intervals of polymerization had also been changed by the high radical flux. 7 mM of NaCl was added to control the viscosity of the latex due to the low concentration of electrolyte. The particle size was increased with lower surfactant concentration, higher solids content, or lower redox initiator concentration. The molecular weight was higher with higher surfactant concentration and lower redox initiator concentration. Based on the reaction rates and the relationships between particle numbers and surfactant concentrations/initiators concentrations, it has been demonstrated that the both micelle nucleation and homogeneous nucleation play the important roles in redox-initiated system. ‘Adiabatic’ batch emulsion polymerization was thus carried out in Mettler RC1, and the reaction heat was utilized to increase the reactor temperature and shorten the cycle time. No significant change was detected in particle size and molecular weight compared with the latex produced by redox initiators under the isothermal condition with same starting temperature.
BIOGRAPHY Shi Wang came to Lehigh in 2006 and joined the Emulsion Polymers Institute. Shi received his bachelor and master degree in chemical engineering from Tianjin University, China. Shi completed several side projects besides his thesis research utilizing emulsion polymer techniques, including a two-year scale-up project, which cooperated with Dynalene Inc. He was awarded with Best Poster Award in 2011 International Polymer Colloids Group Conference. As the vice president of Lehigh Chinese Students and Scholars Association with 200 plus membership in 2008, he led the Association to an award of Multicultural Life at Lehigh. OCIETY OF PLASTICS ENGINEERS – LEHIGH VALLEY SECT
SOCIETY OF PLASTICS ENGINEERS – LEHIGH VALLEY SECTION
“Sequence-Specific Interactions between DNA and Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes” By Daniel Roxbury Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Chemical Engineering Advisor: Anand Jagota
ABSTRACT Recently, it has been discovered that single-stranded DNA adopts a helical wrap around a single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT), forming a water-dispersible hybrid molecule. The ability to sort mixtures of SWCNTs based on chirality has also been demonstrated using special short DNA sequences that recognize certain matching SWCNTs of specific chirality. We have investigated these DNA sequence-specific interactions through both experimental and molecular simulation studies. The DNA-SWCNT binding strengths were experimentally quantified by studying the kinetics of DNA replacement by a surfactant. Recognition ability was found to correlate strongly with measured binding strength. Next, using replica exchange molecular dynamics (REMD) simulations, we explored equilibrium structures formed by (a) single-strands and (b) multiple-strands of 12-mer oligonucleotides adsorbed on various SWCNTs. We found a number of conformations in which the DNA strand wraps around the SWCNT and ‘stitches’ to itself. Great variability among equilibrium structures was observed and shown to be directly influenced by DNA sequence and SWCNT type. These are the first theoretical indications that DNA-based SWCNT selectivity can arise on a molecular level.
BIOGRAPHY Daniel Roxbury is a doctoral candidate in Chemical Engineering at Lehigh University. He is advised by Dr. Anand Jagota, professor of Chemical Engineering and director of the Biological Engineering Department. Prior to graduate studies, Dan also received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Lehigh in 2007. He decided to enter the Ph.D. program to pursue a biological/nanomaterial cross-disciplined research topic. Outside of work, he enjoys playing several sports and outdoor activities.
SOCIETY OF PLASTICS ENGINEERS – LEHIGH VALLEY SECTION 2011-2012 Program DATE October 18
PLACE Northampton Community College
SPEAKER
TOPIC
See President’s Message
Plastics Recycling Mini-Conference
November 15
Tower Room, Lehigh University
Shi Wang/Daniel Roxbury
Excellence in Polymer Science & Engineering
February 14
Campus Pizza
Students
Student ANTEC Papers
March 5-7
Lehigh University
Many - See Below
Nanocomposites 2012 Conference
7th ANNUAL SPE POLYMER NANOCOMPOSITESTM CONFERENCE Processing, Properties and Applications Rauch Business Center - Lehigh University Bethlehem, Pennsylvania USA March 5-7, 2012 Monday, March 5, 2012 Evening Clinic - "Thermoplastic Polymer Nanocomposite Processing" Tuesday, March 6, 2012 Session I: Thermoplastic-Based Nanocomposites Keynote: Don Paul (UT-Austin) "Polyolefin-Based Nanocomposites" Session II: Interfaces in Polymer Nanocomposites Keynote: Rich Vaia (USAF) "Focusing on the Interface:New Opportunities for Polymer Nanocomposites" Wednesday, March 7, 2012 Session III: Bio-Based Polymer Nanocomposites Keynote: Robert Moon (US Forest Products Lab) "Cellulose Nanomaterials and Nanocomposites" Session IV: Nanocomposites in Drug Delivery Keynote: Kathryn Uhrich (Rutgers University) "Nanoscale Assemblies in Drug Delivery" CONFERENCE EVENTS Tuesday, March 6 Exhibitor Reception and Graduate Student Poster Session Tuesday & Wednesday March 6-7 Exhibition Hall: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM HOTEL INFORMATION Comfort Suites 120 West Third St Bethlehem, PA 18015 PH: +1 610-882-9700 Request reservations under "SPE/Lehigh University”
November 2011
SECTION MEETING WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2011
TOPIC:
Excellence in Polymer Science & Engineering Awards “Redox-Initiated ‘Adiabatic’ Emulsion Polymerization” By Shi Wang Ph.D. Candidate, Chemical Engineering “Sequence-Specific Interactions between DNA and Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes” By Daniel Roxbury Ph.D. Candidate, Chemical Engineering
PLACE:
TIME: Stabler Observation Tower Lehigh University 111 Research Drive Iacocca Hall Bethlehem PA 18015
BOD mtg…………………………..5:30PM Dinner………………………………6:00PM Presentations………………….. 7:00PM
COST: Members……………………………$20.00 Non-members…………………….$30.00 Emeritus/Retirees……………….$10.00 Students………………….………… $6.00
PLEASE NOTE: The November 15 SPE Meeting will be taking place at Lehigh University; Stabler Observation Tower inside of Iacocca Hall; 111 Research Drive, Bethlehem PA. We would like to get an accurate head count so if you are attending, please call Ann Marie Lobley at 610 758-4222 or email her at [email protected] Thank you!
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE By Patrick Kelley, President
LEHIGH VALLEY SECTION OFFICERS 2011 - 2012 President Patrick W. Kelley Waste Not Technologies, LLC (570) 992-7041 [email protected] President Elect Treasurer Jeff Drusda Silberline Manufacturing Co., Inc. (570) 668-8321 [email protected] Secretary/Membership Councilor Larry Ingram Alcan [email protected] (570)321-7715 Past President Program Director Larry Ingram Alcan Cable (570) 321-7715 [email protected] Newsletter Editor Ray Pearson Lehigh University (610) 758-3857 [email protected]
DIRECTORS
Term Expires June 30, Bob Schoppe Ray Pearson Rich Kotschessa
2014 (570) 668-8479 (610) 758-3857 (610) 417-3173
Term Expires June 30, John Coulter Lloyd Robeson Les Sperling
2013 (610) 758-6310 (215) 870-3413 (610) 758-3845
Term Expires June 30, Mark Connor Garo Khanarian Leena Vadaketh
2012 (215) 942-3299 (215) 619-5759 (610) 253-6272
If you had any interest in the current state of plastics recycling, our section’s October meeting was the place to be. Four highly knowledgeable leaders spoke about their perspective of plastics recycling. You could not have found four more interesting presentations even at GPEC. The presenters spoke on a variety of different aspects of plastics recycling: The first presenter was Frank Sorg, principal at Midlantic Advisors. Frank spoke on the concept of the pyrolysis of difficult to recycle plastics. There will always be difficult to recycle plastics from multi-layer packaging, to discarded toys and fabrics made from plastics like polyester and nylon. Pyrolysis offers an opportunity to capture the latent BTU value in plastics rather than lose that value in land-fills. The second presenter was Bridget Anderson from the Department of Sanitation in New York City. Bridget participates on an ASTM committee that is investigating the revision of the plastics recycling codes. Those are the numbers, 1 through 7, that are enclosed in the chasing arrow sign that is molded into plastic containers. As the plastics recycling industry has grown, there has become a need for more detailed information on the processability of recycled plastics. For example blow molded containers may be marked with a #2 representing high density polyethylene, but be made with materials of significantly different molecular weight distributions. This means that the two different high density polyethylene plastics will process under different conditions. No processor, whether of virgin or recycled plastic, can succeed economically if the processability of their raw material changes from day to day or even hour to hour. Hence the need for expanded recycling codes for plastics. The third presenter was Himanshu Pandya, Ph.D. Dr. Pandya is the owner of a small plastics lumber manufacturing company. He also owns a computer retail business. When customers would purchase a new computer, they wanted him to take back their old computer. This presented a problem of what to do with the older computer. He decided to become involved with the dismantling and recycling of these old computers. He started the plastic lumber business as a means of disposing of the plastic from old computers, monitor, keyboards, etc. Over time he has taken on the recycling of other plastics. The fourth presenter was yours truly. I am the owner of a small plastics manufacturing business that uses recycled post-consumer plastics as its sole raw material. My business makes post and rail fence primarily from recycled milk jugs. The process involves the extrusion of the fence rails and injection molding of the fence posts. I, along with Dr. Pandya, gave a first-hand account of many of the challenges that are faced by entrepreneurs in the plastics recycling industry. Thank you to all the section members that help to make this valuable meeting a success.
SOCIETY OF PLASTICS ENGINEERS – LEHIGH VALLEY SECTION
“Redox-Initiated ‘Adiabatic’ Emulsion Polymerization” By Shi Wang Ph.D. Candidate, Chemical Engineering Advisors: Mohamed S. El-Aasser and Andrew Klein
ABSTRACT Emulsion polymerizations are usually carried out under isothermal conditions at relatively high temperatures (e.g., 70°C) to synthesize commercial latex polymer products. However, this process incurs significant energy costs. To reduce energy cost, redox-initiated ‘adiabatic’ emulsion polymerization processes are being evaluated as a green process, where the polymerization can be initiated at a low temperature and the reaction heat can be efficiently utilized. n-Butyl methacrylate (BMA) was used as the monomer in a model system employing redox initiators (ascorbic acid and H2O2). An isothermal batch emulsion polymerization process was first carried out to study the influences of redox initiator on both particle size and molecular weight. The high radical flux resulting from the use of redox initiator leads to latexes with much smaller particle size, lower molecular weight and faster reaction rate compared with thermal-initiated emulsion polymerizations. The appearances of the three intervals of polymerization had also been changed by the high radical flux. 7 mM of NaCl was added to control the viscosity of the latex due to the low concentration of electrolyte. The particle size was increased with lower surfactant concentration, higher solids content, or lower redox initiator concentration. The molecular weight was higher with higher surfactant concentration and lower redox initiator concentration. Based on the reaction rates and the relationships between particle numbers and surfactant concentrations/initiators concentrations, it has been demonstrated that the both micelle nucleation and homogeneous nucleation play the important roles in redox-initiated system. ‘Adiabatic’ batch emulsion polymerization was thus carried out in Mettler RC1, and the reaction heat was utilized to increase the reactor temperature and shorten the cycle time. No significant change was detected in particle size and molecular weight compared with the latex produced by redox initiators under the isothermal condition with same starting temperature.
BIOGRAPHY Shi Wang came to Lehigh in 2006 and joined the Emulsion Polymers Institute. Shi received his bachelor and master degree in chemical engineering from Tianjin University, China. Shi completed several side projects besides his thesis research utilizing emulsion polymer techniques, including a two-year scale-up project, which cooperated with Dynalene Inc. He was awarded with Best Poster Award in 2011 International Polymer Colloids Group Conference. As the vice president of Lehigh Chinese Students and Scholars Association with 200 plus membership in 2008, he led the Association to an award of Multicultural Life at Lehigh. OCIETY OF PLASTICS ENGINEERS – LEHIGH VALLEY SECT
SOCIETY OF PLASTICS ENGINEERS – LEHIGH VALLEY SECTION
“Sequence-Specific Interactions between DNA and Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes” By Daniel Roxbury Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Chemical Engineering Advisor: Anand Jagota
ABSTRACT Recently, it has been discovered that single-stranded DNA adopts a helical wrap around a single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT), forming a water-dispersible hybrid molecule. The ability to sort mixtures of SWCNTs based on chirality has also been demonstrated using special short DNA sequences that recognize certain matching SWCNTs of specific chirality. We have investigated these DNA sequence-specific interactions through both experimental and molecular simulation studies. The DNA-SWCNT binding strengths were experimentally quantified by studying the kinetics of DNA replacement by a surfactant. Recognition ability was found to correlate strongly with measured binding strength. Next, using replica exchange molecular dynamics (REMD) simulations, we explored equilibrium structures formed by (a) single-strands and (b) multiple-strands of 12-mer oligonucleotides adsorbed on various SWCNTs. We found a number of conformations in which the DNA strand wraps around the SWCNT and ‘stitches’ to itself. Great variability among equilibrium structures was observed and shown to be directly influenced by DNA sequence and SWCNT type. These are the first theoretical indications that DNA-based SWCNT selectivity can arise on a molecular level.
BIOGRAPHY Daniel Roxbury is a doctoral candidate in Chemical Engineering at Lehigh University. He is advised by Dr. Anand Jagota, professor of Chemical Engineering and director of the Biological Engineering Department. Prior to graduate studies, Dan also received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Lehigh in 2007. He decided to enter the Ph.D. program to pursue a biological/nanomaterial cross-disciplined research topic. Outside of work, he enjoys playing several sports and outdoor activities.
SOCIETY OF PLASTICS ENGINEERS – LEHIGH VALLEY SECTION 2011-2012 Program DATE October 18
PLACE Northampton Community College
SPEAKER
TOPIC
See President’s Message
Plastics Recycling Mini-Conference
November 15
Tower Room, Lehigh University
Shi Wang/Daniel Roxbury
Excellence in Polymer Science & Engineering
February 14
Campus Pizza
Students
Student ANTEC Papers
March 5-7
Lehigh University
Many - See Below
Nanocomposites 2012 Conference
7th ANNUAL SPE POLYMER NANOCOMPOSITESTM CONFERENCE Processing, Properties and Applications Rauch Business Center - Lehigh University Bethlehem, Pennsylvania USA March 5-7, 2012 Monday, March 5, 2012 Evening Clinic - "Thermoplastic Polymer Nanocomposite Processing" Tuesday, March 6, 2012 Session I: Thermoplastic-Based Nanocomposites Keynote: Don Paul (UT-Austin) "Polyolefin-Based Nanocomposites" Session II: Interfaces in Polymer Nanocomposites Keynote: Rich Vaia (USAF) "Focusing on the Interface:New Opportunities for Polymer Nanocomposites" Wednesday, March 7, 2012 Session III: Bio-Based Polymer Nanocomposites Keynote: Robert Moon (US Forest Products Lab) "Cellulose Nanomaterials and Nanocomposites" Session IV: Nanocomposites in Drug Delivery Keynote: Kathryn Uhrich (Rutgers University) "Nanoscale Assemblies in Drug Delivery" CONFERENCE EVENTS Tuesday, March 6 Exhibitor Reception and Graduate Student Poster Session Tuesday & Wednesday March 6-7 Exhibition Hall: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM HOTEL INFORMATION Comfort Suites 120 West Third St Bethlehem, PA 18015 PH: +1 610-882-9700 Request reservations under "SPE/Lehigh University”
