Technical Sessions

Scope of 2021 Technical Program Sessions

Technical Program Co-Chairs:

• Dr. Norm Kakarala, SPE Fellow
• Dr. Alper Kiziltas, Ford Motor Company
• David Helmer, General Motors Company

Materials Development Session

Co-Chairs:

• Catherine Wilson, Ford Motor Company
• Mark Jablonka, The Dow Chemical Company
• Peter Glenister, LyondellBasell

Session Scope:

• New developments in polyolefin resin, talc, mineral and other filler/reinforcement materials.
• Innovations and new applications for high rigidity polyolefin compounds or composites with either
  fibrous or non-fibrous reinforcement.
• New developments and innovations in impact modification.
• Advancements in both traditional and novel additives and stabilizers to improve product performance.

Surface Enhancements Session

Co-Chairs:

• Dr. Rose Ryntz, Ryntz & Associates, LLC
• Jeff B. Crist, Ford Motor Company
• Jim Keller, Mankiewicz Coatings, LLC

Session Scope:

• Visual Surface Enhancements (Colorability, TPO grades developed for improved aesthetics).
• Haptic Surface Enhancements.
• Surface Performance Enhancements (Scratch and mar improvements, measurement of surface
  quality or durability).
• Surface Modifications (Pre-treatments, TPO grades developed for improved paint adhesion, Process
  developments for surface finish improvements.
• Coatings for TPO (New paint systems, Metallic paints, Clearcoats, Primers, Films).

Interior Applications & Laminating Adhesives Session

Co-Chairs:

• Dr. Pravin Sitaram, Haartz Corporation
• Austin Wagenhals, Ford Motor Company
• Hoa Pham, Freudenberg LP

Session Scope:

• Interiors for the Future
  TPO/SEBS Skins.
• TPO/TPE Coated Fabrics.
• TPE/TPV Body/Glazing Seals.
• TPO Airbags doors, Chutes and Ramps.
• Polyolefin Foams.
• Natural Fiber reinforced panels.
• Foams/Core Back/Two Shot Molding methods.
• Evolution of Trim Panels in Automotive Interiors.
• Headliners.
• Acoustic Opportunities for TPO and TPE.
• Soft Touch/Two Shot TPE.
• Role for graphene/conductive materials in interiors.
• Flexible smart surfaces for automotive interiors.
• Next generation coatings for TPO substrates.
• Anti-microbial Surfaces.
• Laminating Adhesives for Automotive Interiors.

Lightweighting of Polyolefin Parts Session

Co-Chairs:

• Michael Shoemaker, Borealis
• Nadeem A. Bokhari, Ph.D., Sumitomo Chemical Group
• Normand Miron, Audia

Session Scope:

•  Lightweighting Developments for TPO’s.
• Molding Process Options resulting in Lightweighting of parts.
• TPO Success Stories – Replacement with weight reduction of Metal & Other Plastics to TPO.
• Actual case study/Project – Design, tooling, process and material perspectives.
• Reinforcement ingredient strategies to Lightweight parts.
• Formulation/property/process optimization studies leading to lightweighting of TPO parts.
• Enabling molding/processing Technologies for lightweighting with TPO formulations.

Process Developments & Simulations Session

Co-Chairs:

• Mike Cuneo, Washington Penn Plastic Company
• Dr. Suresh Shah, SPE Fellow
• Matt Sprouse, Washington Penn Plastic Company

Session Scope:

• Weight Savings Technologies.
• Process optimization approaches to stay competitive.
• Part molding techniques for optimizing efficiency.
• Tooling approaches for optimal surface appearance.
• Part forming innovations by injection and blow molding, extrusion, compounding and thermoforming.
• Effect of predictive modeling and process simulation tools such as moldflow/CAE/FEA on program
  timing and cost.
• Material Modeling, testing, and characterization of TPO.
• Performance Simulation for Stiffness and Strength, Durability and Fatigue, Crash Safety, and joints.

Applications for Biobased Materials

Co-Chairs

•  Dr. Alper Kiziltas, Ford Motor Company
• Akshay Trivedi, Lear Corporation
• Drew Geda, Hyundai Motor Group

Session Scope:

• Quality and reliability of bio-based materials.
• Applications using of bio-based materials.
• Processability of bio-based materials.
• Challenges for increased use of bio-based materials.
• Advances in bio-based materials.
• VOC, odor reduction strategies and antimicrobial solutions for bio-based materials.

Enablers for Plastics Recovery & Reuse

Co-Chairs

•  Mike Balow, Auxin Consulting
• Dr. Suresh Shah, SPE Fellow
• Susan Kozora, IAC Group

Session Scope:

• Quality and reliability of bio-based materials.
• Design for Recycling with focus on Disassembly, Separation, rejuvenation
• Infrastructure Developments
• Success Case Studies
• Perspectives from Recyclers

Innovations in Plastics for Future Mobility

Co-Chairs

•  David Helmer, General Motors Corporation
• Andrew Sanders, Borealis Compounds
• Frank Schumann, Trinseo, LLC

Session Scope:

• Developments in materials for attenuation of signals with RADAR or LIDAR
  for Autonomous Vehicles
• Specific Material Needs for Electric Vehicles
• Cleanability considerations and anti-microbial interiors for Ride Sharing
  Vehicles