Plastic materials are everywhere in modern life, making up a $600 billion worldwide industry and finding widespread use in transportation, industrial products, construction, household goods, and many more. Understanding the structure and performance of these materials is an essential component in modern materials science and engineering.
In this special joint Virtual Seminar presented by Q-Lab Corporation and The Madison Group, a complete introduction will be presented of plastic characteristics, failure and degradation modes, and methods for testing and evaluating their performance. Our team will first discuss in-depth the molecular and functional structure of polymers, including functional groups, tacticity, crystallinity, and polarity. Then we’ll cover key failure mechanisms for polymeric materials including thermal oxidation, chain scission, photooxidation, and hydrolysis. Finally, we’ll present key techniques for testing and evaluating for plastic degradation in the laboratory and in natural environments.
Here's what to expect from our technical experts during this webinar:
Spots for this free virtual seminar are limited - register now to save your seat!
This seminar will be presented in English. A recording of the seminar and the slides from the presentation will be made available at the conclusion of the event. Please register for the event to ensure you receive the notification when these materials are available.
About the presenters:
Jeffrey A. Jansen is the Engineering Manager and a Partner at The Madison Group, an independent plastics engineering and consulting firm. Jeff is a proven plastic professional with more than 30 years of experience solving problems and addressing opportunities related to polymeric materials. He specializes in failure analysis, material identification and selection, as well as compatibility, aging, and lifetime prediction studies for thermoplastic materials. Jeff has performed over 5,000 investigations, both for industrial clients and as a part of litigation. He is a regular presenter on the SPE webinar series, covering a wide range of topics related to plastics failure, material performance, testing, and polymer technology. Jeff is a graduate of Carroll College and the Milwaukee School of Engineering.
Dr. Andy Francis is Marketing Director at Q-Lab Corporation in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Andy joined Q-Lab in 2015 and focuses on new product development across all of Q-Lab’s product lines as well as external communication with Q-Lab’s representatives, customers, and the scientific community.
Andy has over 15 years of experience in R&D for new products and applications in diverse fields. Prior to joining Q-Lab, Andy worked for General Electric and as a Senior Research Scientist at GrafTech International. Andy received both his BS and Ph.D in Materials Science and Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University.