Polymerization Pilot Plant
One hurdle to successful commercialization has been the inability to produce prototype quantities of new polymers for evaluation by potential customers. UA's pilot plant is designed specifically for the production of sample quantities of new polymers.
The University of Akron's polymerization pilot plant consists of a 1 liter, a 15 liter and a 50 liter reactor. There are two sets of reactors, one glass-lined and one Teflon-coated stainless steel. This enables polymerization at high temperatures under most chemical conditions. Furthermore, with temperature control from over 250 deg. C to -80 deg C., cationic, anionic, free radical, and condensation polymerizations can be carried out. These vessels are rated from vacuum to 150 PSI. Augmenting the pilot plant is state of the art analytical capability. Determination of physical, mechanical and chemical properties of polymers by all conventional and state of the art techniques are also available. The analytical resources extend to evaluation of polymer processing such as injection molding, extrusion, and thermoforming. The experienced team below of Parley Lane and Harlan Jewett supports the operation of the pilot plant.
University of Akron Research Foundation
UA’s Office of Technology Transfer
Phone: 330-972-7840
Fax: 330-972-2368
Email: uarf@uakron.edu
Goodyear Polymer Center, Suite 312
Akron, Ohio 44325-2103
Parley Lane spent 36 years with BF Goodrich where he was the Senior R&D Associate and developed several patents. Most of his career, Lane worked the interface between the R&D laboratory - bench chemist, new product development and scale-up of pilot plant processes, manufacturing plant support and tolling operations. He was also the pilot plant supervisor for the last 20 years at BF Goodrich Research Center in Brecksville. Retiring in April of 2000, Parley became a research consultant for Cymetech for a year and a half before becoming a consultant for the University of Akron Research Foundation in July of 2001.
Lane has a BS in Chemistry and a MS in Polymer Science from The University of Akron.
Harlan Jewitt, Health & Environmental Safety Consultant
Harlan Jewett has been a pilot plant consultant for The University of Akron for six years. Before that, Jewett was employed at GenCorp from 1981 where he was Corporate Director of Manufacturing, Manufacturing Manager and Facilities and Operations Manger for the Corporate Technology Center. At GenCorp, Harlan was responsible for managing the technology facility, purchasing, environmental, health, safety, maintenance, capital budget, and new facilities installation. He also managed the world's largest emulsion polymer plant and was responsible for the operations of five separate manufacturing plants, both union and non-union with a total budget of over $350 million.
Jewett has a BS in Chemistry, a BS in Chemical Engineering, an MS in International Business and an MS in Environmental.
For additional information, contact Susan Dollinger, sed@uakron.edu at 330-972-2681.
The University of Akron
Akron, OH 44325
Phone: 330-972-7111
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