Reservations must be in by noon on Friday, Apr. 13th with Mark Holtman at holtman@uakron.edu or 330-972-6008.

Martin University Center, University of Akron
105 Fir Hill Street, Akron, OH

Directions: From Cleveland, take I-77 South. Rte 21 will merge with I-77S at Exit 145 near Richfield. At Exit 136, I-77 and Rte. 21 split. Stay on I-77 South towards Akron. I-76 will merge with I-77S at Exit 129. Stay on I-77S. Exit LEFT at Exit 23B, Rte. 8 North. In 0.2 miles, exit right for Carroll St/Buchtel Ave. Turn left (west) on Buchtel Ave. In 0.2 miles, turn right on Fir Hill Street. Martin University Center is at 105 Fir Hill Street. Parking lot is on the north side of Martin University Center.

Printable Polymer Photovoltaic Cells For "Plastic" Electronics
Semiconducting polymer optoelectronic and electronic devices have evolved as promising cost-effective alternative to silicon-based devices. These devices include light emitting diodes, fieldeffect transistors, solar cells, photodetectors, lasers, sensors, etc. This presentation will focus on our recent progress in polymer solar cells and polymer photodetectors.
 
Polymer solar cells: both novel materials and novel device structures for approaching high performance of polymer solar cells, the insight of physics of polymer solar cells and the guidance on next steps to improve device performance will be presented. Our discovery demonstrated that polymer solar cells should be as good as inorganic solar cells.
 
Polymer photodetectors: solution-processed ultrasensitive polymer photodetectors with spectral response from the Uv-visible to the infrared range will also be presented. Our results demonstrated that polymer photodetectors are comparable to or even better than the photodetectors fabricated from any inorganic materials.
 

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  AGPA Outreach Details of the Akron Global Polymer Academy (AGPA)
Outreach initiatives will be provided with suggested possible involvement of SPE with AGPA. The mission of the AGPA at The University of Akron is to assist the College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering in creating and disseminating knowledge about polymer science, polymer engineering, and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education by supporting initiatives in P-16 education and other distributive education ventures. AGPA, which started 10 years ago with funding from the State of Ohio, accomplishes this mission through an extensive website for teachers and students of all ages (http://agpa.uakron.edu/p16/), various face-to-face initiatives, and professional development for teachers.
 
The website, which receives over 10,000 visits/month, includes basic information on polymers, lesson plans, video demonstrations, best teaching practices, and other valuable information. Through face-to-face initiatives, AGPA interacts with over 2,000 students each year. These initiatives include visits by AGPA to local schools, visits from schools to the College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, polymer family nights at local schools, and the Akron Regional Science Olympiad Tournament held at The University of Akron. To encourage creativity and innovation by students, the AGPA hosts a Rubber Band Contest. This contest challenges students to design and create a working invention that incorporates at least one rubber band. In addition, AGPA holds or participates in workshops for teachers to enhance their science content knowledge and science teaching methods. AGPA hopes that through these efforts the students will become more scientifically literate and view science favorably, which could lead to a higher number of students pursuing careers in science and engineering.

Dr. Xiong Gong, Asst. Professor of Polymer Engineering, University of Akron Polymer Engineering
Education/Experience:
Manager of Advanced Materials and Devices, Cbrite Inc. (2006-2010)
Guest Professor, South China University of Technology (2007-present)
Senior Scientist, Cbrite Inc. (2005-2006)
Postdoc, UC, Santa Barbara, with Professor Alan J. Heeger, (2001-2004)
Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship (1999-2000)
Research Associate, Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong (1997-1999)
Faculty, Department of Chemistry, Northwest Normal University (1986-1994)
Ph.D. Physics (Optics), Nankai University (1997)
M.S. Chemistry, Lanzhou University (1994)
B.S. Chemistry, Northwest Normal University (1986)
 
Selected Honors/Awards:
3M Nontenured Faculty Award (2011)
Overseas Outstanding Chinese Youngest Scientist Awards, The National Science Foundation of China (2008)
K.C. Wong Education Foundation Fellow (2009)
Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship (1999)
 
Research Interests:
Design, fabrication and characterization of organic/polymer electronic and optoelectronic devices (photovoltaic cells, white light light emitting diodes and displays, thin film transistors,electrochemical cells and biosensors)
Chemistry and physics of semiconducting organic/polymeric materials
Chemistry and physics of inorganic quantum dots and nanoparticles
Chemistry, physics and applications of organometallic compounds
Materials characterization: optical and electrical properties
 

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  Carin A. Helfer is the Assistant Director Science Education Outreach for the Akron Global Polymer Academy in the College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering at The University of Akron and the Director of the Akron Regional Science Olympiad. Carin coordinates the outreach initiatives for the AGPA, which include generating science content for the P-16 section of the AGPA's website and developing various face-to-face activities for students and teachers. She also serves on the Board of the Women's Network of Northeast Ohio and chairs the Judith A. Resnik Scholarship Committee. Carin has received funding awards from the U.S. Department of Education, the Ohio Board of Regents, and Connect a Million Minds Initiative of Time Warner Cable for science education outreach.
 
Carin received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University. After working for 4 years at the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company as a compounder in the Research Division, she earned a Ph.D. in Polymer Science from The University of Akron. Her graduate studies and a post-doctoral research position were completed under the supervision of Prof. Wayne L. Mattice at The University of Akron. Carin resides in Copley with her two daughters. Sarah is a 1st year student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and is majoring in architecture. Emily is a junior at Copley High School.

Reservations must be in by noon on Friday, March 9th to
Gary Casterline at 330-240-2543 or gcasterline@gmail.com.

For Directions CLICK HERE or on the right map above.

The topics covered in this presentation will be a general overview of the Liquid Silicone Process from general chemistry, market segments, plastics vs. LSR and examples of parts made using LSR. Additional items that can be discussed could be the necessary equipment for LSR production, additives such as color, antimicrobials and radiopaques.

Mr. Bob Pelletier received a BBA from Western Michigan University and an AS in Science from Schoolcraft College. He has worked in the LSR & RTV industry for 19 years. Although his main focus is sales and marketing, he also writes service manuals and literature. His knowledge of the systems is largely based on his hands-on approach and he conducts many of the training, installation and technical seminars.
 
Mr. Pelletier is married and has two boys and a daughter and enjoys being a Baseball Coach and Den Leader in his time off.

Reservations must be in by noon on Friday, Feb. 10th to
Gary Casterline at 330-240-2543 or gcasterline@gmail.com.

For Directions CLICK HERE or on the right map above.

In-mold decorating (IMD), also called in-mold labeling (IML), is often associated with dedicated, hi-volume molding applications such as food containers or media packaging. But the process can also be applied successfully to shorter-run custom-molded parts. The presentation will explore the benefits of IMD for custom molders and processors, including:

• Improved product quality and added value for the customer
• Enhanced consumer safety with reduced liability
• Reduced costs for the molder
• Upgraded technical capabilities to differentiate your company
• Expanded markets for existing products

In addition, the presentation will use installation examples and part samples to show how IMD can be implemented cost-effectively, sometimes through retro-fitting of existing equipment.

John Campbell, Ranger Automation Systems, Inc., holds a Bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering and Masters in Business, and has been involved with the plastics and chemical process industries for over 28 years. He has held positions with DuPont and Application Engineering Corp. (AEC) as Project Engineer and Market Manager in the areas of process heating & cooling, material handling, reclaim and factory automation. Currently, John manages sales and application engineering for Ranger Automation Systems, a US manufacturer of parts handling robots and automation cells for injection molding, blow-molding and extrusion operations, serving local Ohio molders including Mar-Bal, Netshape and DK Manufacturing, as well as multi-national corporations such as 3M Company, Valeo Sylvania and Velcro.
 

Reservations must be in by noon on Friday, Jan 13^th with Mark Holtman
at holtman@uakron.edu or 330-972-6008.

Guy's Party Center
500 E. Waterloo Rd., Akron, OH 44319

From Cleveland, take I-77 South or I-271 to Rte 8 South.
Rte 8 South will merge with I-77S at Exit 23.
Stay on I-77S towards the south side of Akron.
Continue on I-77 South to Exit 122B (Waterloo Road)
Take Exit 122B and turn right on Waterloo Road.
Guy;s Party Center will be 400 ft down on the left.
 
Click on maps below for larger images.

New Technology in the New Economy Panel Discussion will include:

• "From Lab to Laptop: A Story About the Commercialization of University Based Material Technologies" by Matt Graham, Akron Polymer Systems, Akron, Ohio
• "Liquid Crystals on Flexible Substrates" by Bahman Taheri, CEO, AlphaMicron Inc.
• "Nano Materials-- BIG Results" by Leon A. Polott, President, AlSher Titania, a nanotech startup in Cleveland

4:00	Board Meeting at Laszeray
5:30	Cash Bar
6:15	Buffet Dinner
7:00	Presentation
7:30	Firestone Madrigal Singers Door Prize Drawing

Members/Guests: $25.00
Retired $20.00
Student and/or guest $5.00

Reservations must be in by noon on Friday, Dec. 9th with Mark Holtman at holtman@uakron.edu or 330-972-6008.

Martin University Center, University of Akron
105 Fir Hill Street, Akron, OH

Directions: From Cleveland, take I-77 South. Rte 21 will merge with I-77S at Exit 145 near Richfield. At Exit 136, I-77 and Rte. 21 split. Stay on I-77 South towards Akron. I-76 will merge with I-77S at Exit 129. Stay on I-77S. Exit LEFT at Exit 23B, Rte. 8 North. In 0.2 miles, exit right for Carroll St/Buchtel Ave. Turn left (west) on Buchtel Ave. In 0.2 miles, turn right on Fir Hill Street. Martin University Center is at 105 Fir Hill Street. Parking lot is on the north side of Martin University Center.

Carin A. Helfer is the Assistant Director Science Education Outreach for the Akron Global Polymer Academy in the College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering at The University of Akron and the Director of the Akron Regional Science Olympiad. Carin coordinates the outreach initiatives for the AGPA, which include generating science content for the P-16 section of the AGPA's website and developing various face-to-face activities for students and teachers. She also serves on the Board of the Women's Network of Northeast Ohio and chairs the Judith A. Resnik Scholarship Committee. Carin has received funding awards from the U.S. Department of Education, the Ohio Board of Regents, and Connect a Million Minds Initiative of Time Warner Cable for science education outreach. Carin received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University. After working for 4 years at the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company as a compounder in the Research Division, she earned a Ph.D. in Polymer Science from The University of Akron. Her graduate studies and a post-doctoral research position were completed under the supervision of Prof. Wayne L. Mattice at The University of Akron. Carin resides in Copley with her two daughters. Sarah is a 1st year student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and is majoring in architecture. Emily is a junior at Copley High School.

4:00	Board Meeting at Laszeray
5:00	8-person tours begin
	Dinner buffet at Laszeray will follow tours. Wine and beer will be served.

Members/Guests: $5.00
Students: Free

Reservations should be made by November 11^th with Gary Casterline at 330-240-2543 or gcasterline@gmail.com.

12315 York Delta Drive
North Royalton, OH 44133
 

Directions: Depending upon your location, take either: I-77 South to Royalton Rd (Rte 82) West 5.6 mi. I-71 South to Royalton Rd (Rte 82) East 3.4 mi. Then, turn north on York Road for 0.3 mi. Take the first left onto York Alpha Drive. Take the first right onto York Delta Drive. Laszeray Technology will be on the right.   Click Here or on the map at right to get on-line directions.

Laszeray Technology, Inc., a full service design and manufacturing company, has been operating from their new 39,000 square foot headquarters and manufacturing facility in North Royalton, OH since 2008.
 
Laszeray is a custom molder, mold & tool maker, and does industrial design, pad printing, rapid prototyping and some secondary assembly.
 
Their equipment includes ten Battenfeld molding machines ranging in size from 66 to 562-tons and twelve Haas Automation high-speed computer numerically controlled machines.
 
Laszeray machines and molds 379 parts in a variety of materials for its thirty-plus customers.

Noon to 5:30 p.m.
Reception Follows

Price: $80.00 Attendee
Company Display $100.00

Reservations can be made by noon Friday, October 14, to Mart Holtman at holtman@uakron.edu or 330-972-6008.

Location: Martin University Center, University of Akron 105 Fir Hill Street, Akron, OH     Directions: From Cleveland, take I-77 South. Rte 21 will merge with I-77S at Exit 145 near Richfield. At Exit 136, I-77 and Rte. 21 split. Stay on I-77 South towards Akron. I-76 will merge with I-77S at Exit 129. Stay on I-77S. Exit LEFT at Exit 23B, Rte. 8 North. In 0.2 miles, exit right for Carroll St/Buchtel Ave. Turn left (west) on Buchtel Ave. In 0.2 miles, turn right on Fir Hill Street. Martin University Center is at 105 Fir Hill Street. Parking lot is on the north side of Martin University Center.

About The MINI TECHNICAL CONFERENCE
 
Nanotechnology Developments and Commercialization Activities in Ohio
 
UNIVERSITY of AKRON - MARTIN CENTER
Monday, October 17, 2011
Noon til 5:30 Reception- Table-top Displays and Literature
 
Design Development & Production of Nano-enhanced Composites & Polymers Art Fritts- NanoSperse
 
The Synergistic Effect of Nanoparticles in FR PU Foam
Debra Talentino- Composite Technical Services
 
In Situ Nanophosphor Containing Polymer Films
Stan Prybyla- Breakthrough Technology Development, Inc.
 
Dispersion Processing of Thermoplastic Nanocomposites; Review and Status
Joe Golba- PolyOne
 
Ultrasonic manufacturing of rigid and soft nanocomposites containing various nanofillers
Avraam Isayev- University of Akron
 
Structural-Plus Composites through Use of Carbon Nanofibers.
Carla Leer- Applied Sciences Inc.
 
Nanocomposites in Wind Turbine Blades
Ica Manas Zloczower- Case Western Reserve University
 
Panel Discussion- Panel of Experts in Materials/ Processing and Applications

4:00 Board Meeting
5:30 Cash Bar Opens
6:15 Buffet Dinner
7:00 Meeting Presentation

Members/Guests $25.00

Reservations should be made by September 9^th with Gary Casterline at 330-240-2543 or gcasterline@gmail.com.

For Directions CLICK HERE or on the right map above.

About Our Speaker
 
SPI President Bill Carteaux began his tenure at the association in February 2005. He came to SPI from Demag Plastics Group, where he was named president and chief executive officer of the Americas and co-executive managing director of the global business in 2002. Carteaux previously served as the company's executive vice president. Prior to joining Demag, Carteaux spent eight years with Autojectors, a manufacturer of vertical injection molding machines, including four years as its president. He had been actively involved as an SPI member, taking on numerous leadership roles for more than 15 years. Carteaux has an MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University and a BS from Purdue, where he has received several prestigious awards since graduating. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Council of Manufacturing Associations at the National Association of Manufacturers and is Director General of CIPAD, the Council of International Plastics Association Directors, a global organization representing the plastics industry. Carteaux also serves on the steering committee for the North American Plastics Alliance (NAPA) and on the boards of both the Plastics Academy and the National Plastics Center.