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Photos & Awards of Alumni Day, Sponsor's Day, PPS Hall of Fame - Oct 2005

View the pictures in our Photo Gallery under 'October 2005'

2005 Polymer Processing Hall of Fame Inductee -

Kenneth J. Cleereman

Kenneth Cleereman was born in Escanaba in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in 1922. Following high school, he enrolled in Michigan State University, but his studies in mechanical engineering were interrupted when he enlisted in the Army Air Corps during WWII, serving as a lieutenant in a fighter wing. After the war, he completed his degree in January 1947.

Cleereman joined the Plastics Research Group of The Dow Chemical Company in Midland, Michigan and began a career in plastics, focusing on the manner by which fabrication affects physical properties. His major contributions were the invention of new molding processes where one section of the mold was rotated inducing biaxial orientation and enhanced toughness in molding parts. In some cases, this enabled the crystallization of polymers in injection molding of polymers, which normally crystallized. He also developed with R. E. Ayres and Walter J. Schrenk, the "scrapless forming" molding technology.

During his career, Cleereman authored or co-authored 39 patents in plastics processing. In his last years at Dow, Cleereman turned his attention to applying injection molding technology to the fabrication of magnesium, resulting in the invention of the commercially important process called "Thixo-molding". Several times in his career, his programs were selected as IR-100 Award winners.

Poster Competition

During the October 27-28, 2005 Department of Polymer Engineering Alumni and Sponsor’s Day, a poster competition was held supported by the University of Akron Research Foundation. The awards competition was created to encourage students to recognize the commercial applications of their research conducted at the University and to underscore the importance of poster presentations. After two days of judging, six winners were identified as indicated below. Congratulations to the winners and to all the students who participated in the competition!

Award Winners - Poster Competition

First Place and $200 Prize – Dr. Camilo Cano
“Modeling Particle Inflation from Poly(amic acid) Powdered Precursors”
Advisors: Dr. Thein Kyu, Dr. R. Byron Pipes

Second Place and $100 Prize – Ms. Johanna Baena
“Characterization of Reactive Blends of TPU and PVC”
Advisor: Dr. Kyonsuku Min

Third Place and $50 Prize – Ms. Ayca Ertekin
“Characterization of Epoxy Nanocomposites for Resin Transfer Molding (RTM)
Advisor: Dr. Lloyd Goettler

Honorable Mention – Juan Adames
“Rheology of Highly Filled Polymer/Metal Composites”
Advisor: Dr. Arkady Leonov

Honorable Mention – Dae Ahn
“Enhanced Nanopatterning of PS/PI Block Copolymers Using Excimer Laser”
Advisor: Dr. Erol Sancaktar

Honorable Mention – Mr. Sergey Lapshin
“Continuous Process for Melt Intercalation of PP-Clay Nanocomposites with Aid of Power Ultrasound”
Advisor: Dr. Avraam Isayev

Judges

Alumni:

• Dr. Ajay Adewale, University of North Florida
• Dr. Andrew Guenthner, U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center
• Dr. Domasius Nwabunma, 3M Company
  

University:

• Dr. Alan Gent, Professor Emeritus of Polymer Engineering and Polymer Science
• Dr. Rudy Scavuzzo, Associate Dean Emeritus of the College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering

Community:

• Mr. Sam Deshazior, Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce

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