Education
- B.Eng, Chemical Eng, 1985 - McMaster University (Hamilton ON)
- Ph.D, Chemical Eng, 1990 - University of Wisconsin (Madison WI)
- Research Engineer, 1991-1997 - DuPont (Wilmington DE)
- Senior Research Engineer, 1997-2000 - DuPont (Geneva, Switzerland)
- Associate Professor, 2000-2007 - Queen's University (Kingston ON)
- Professor, 2007-current - Queen's University (Kingston ON)
Research Interests
Polymerization Kinetics and Reaction Engineering
The long-term objective of my research is to improve industrial polymerization processes and to contribute to the design of new polymeric materials by developing a deeper understanding of free-radical polymerization kinetics and capturing that knowledge in modelling-based tools. When combined with careful analysis of experimental data, modelling helps to quickly focus attention on what is not known about a process and identifies new development opportunities. I have utilized this strategy successfully throughout my industrial career (1991-2000) at DuPont, applying new experimental and modelling techniques to improve operation of various free-radical and condensation polymerization processes.
The experimental facilities in my laboratories include a 100 Hz Nd:YAG pulsed-laser system for study of free-radical polymerization kinetics, and a 1L semi-batch automated reactor system and other reaction vessels for study of polymer synthesis. Polymerization behaviour and polymer structure is analyzed using GC (for residual monomer), a GPC/LS system (for absolute MWs) and NMR. Various simulation tools are used to model the reaction systems, including Predici(R), and Gaussian.
One of my major projects is the study of high temperature free-radical polymerization of acrylics for use in the automotive coatings industry (partially sponsored by DuPont). In addition to an experimental and modeling investigation of the polymerization process, we are using specialized pulsed-laser polymerization techniques to measure kinetic rate coefficients, and exploring the use of computational chemistry to estimate unknown rate coefficients. In addition, I have a joint project with M. Cunningham investigating the application of living-radical polymerization for the production of coatings resins. A third project investigates the free-radical polymerization kinetics of water soluble monomers, sponsored by BASF.
I currently (2008) supervise or cosupervise 3 MSc students and 5 PhD students, as well as Dr. Salima Boutti, a postdoctoral fellow working with Mike Cunningham and me. In addition, I have supervised numerous undergraduate thesis projects over the years.
If you are interested in any of these projects, send an email telling me why, and find out more details about the admission requirements for graduate studies in the department of Chemical Engineering at Queen's.
Current Funding
NSERC (Discovery Grant; CRD Grant; SRO Grant); DuPont Performance Coatings; BASF; Queen's Chancellor's Award
I am also grateful to past funding from Centre for Automotive Materials and Manufacturing, MMO, Canadian Foundation for Innovation, and Ontario Innovation Trust
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