Polymers & Coatings at Eastern Michigan University.

Eastern Michigan University's (EMU) College of Technology program in Polymers and Coatings undergraduate and graduate study continues to be a leader in the nation in graduating the greatest number of students for the coatings industries.

The University's Polymers & Coatings Technology programs provide quality educational opportunities and research. Faculty members with extensive research and industrial experience are employed to teach in the program and provide a solid content base for the program. Strong instructional programs are offered at the undergraduate and graduate levels and research efforts are guided by effective industrial input through industrial advisory committees.

The Polymers & Coatings Technology programs focus on three principal goals: (1) to educate and prepare graduates to join coatings industry oriented companies and become productive on the day they begin their employment; (2) to establish and propagate a strong cooperative educational program to help students financially and allow them to gain valuable industrial experience; and (3) To provide a research experience through the Coatings Research Institute (CRI) for undergraduate and graduate students in the program.

The CRI's mission is to be a leading academic organization that develops relevant scientific knowledge for understanding and expanding the science and technology of paints, coatings and nano-based materials. Two consequences of the mission statement are to enlarge the pool of scientists and technologists proficient in coatings technology, and provide continuing education opportunities to the coatings and allied industry personnel. The CRI was founded in 1985. In 1986, the Institute was designated as a research center of excellence for the University and a new building, the Coatings Research Center, was constructed. In 1990, EMU obtained a National Science Foundation grant to establish a new Industry/University Research Center (I/UCRC) in Coatings. In 1993, the Surface Science Research Center was established. In 2000, the Polymer Physics Center was added to the Institute.

Faculty

Dr. Theodore Provder, director, Coatings Research Institute in the College of Technology, is also the Director of the National Science Foundation Industry/University Research Center in Coatings. He has more than 36 years industrial experience in coatings, polymers, plastics and composites of which 29 years was with ICI Paints (The Glidden Company) as Principal Scientist. He has over 120 publications and three patents which encompass his research interests in polymer and coatings characterization, cure chemistry and physics, film formation, and structure-morphology/property-end use relationships, waterborne and powder coatings. Dr. Provder has been awarded the ACS Polymeric Materials Science and Engineering Division's Distinguished Service Award for 2003.

Professor Frank Jones continues an active research program. Current interests include synthesis and applications of nanoparticle latexes with particle diameters of about 15 nm, the physics of marring of coatings and design of coatings for mar resistance, barrier coatings, solventless coatings, very low VOC high solids coatings, acrylic latexes for artists' paints and coatings durability.

Professor Jamil Baghdachi continues as coordinator for graduate studies and continues an active research program. Current interests include novel waterborne coatings from renewable sources, automotive and special purpose coatings, powder coatings, adhesion science and technology, durability and performance of coatings, coatings for corrosion prevention and color science, and pigment dispersion technology.

Professor John Texter joined the Polymers and Coatings department in August 2002 as a full professor. He brings over 20 years experience in industrial small particle and coating technologies at Eastman Kodak Co. He also was a managing consultant for the Strider Research Corporation. His research interests include particle synthesis, nanoparticle science and technology, microemulsion polymerization, coatings and emulsions based on renewable resources, color science, and various coating processes.

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Professor Vijay Mannari joined the department in August 2002 as an assistant professor and coordinator for undergraduate studies. He brings 10 years experience in teaching courses in polymers and coatings as well as six years of experience in the coatings industry. Research interests include polymer synthesis, coatings based on renewable resources, water-borne and high-solids coatings, coatings for corrosion control and prevention, novel crosslinking chemistry, and UV-cure systems.

Dr. Weidian Shen is professor of physics and director, Surface Science Research Lab in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and an active research member in the Coatings Research Institute. His research interests include the study of surface morphology at the micro and nano-scale level using scanning tunneling microscopy and atomic force microscopy instrumentation, micro/nano-mechanics at surfaces, and micro/nano-tribology. Recently, he has developed a new technique to characterize mar/scratch resistance and identify mar/scratch mechanisms of surface coatings quantitatively.

Dr. Sai Kumar is an adjunct professor in the CRI and directs the Polymer Physics Lab. His research interests span three areas: polymer physics--probing molecular structure and dynamics with microscopic, spectroscopic and scattering techniques; polymer processing--characterization of morphology by rheooptical techniques; and nano-composite science and technology.

A Ph.D. program in Polymer and Coatings in the College of Technology at EMU is expected to commence in Fall of 2004.

This year, the Coatings Research Institute plans to offer short courses again for the coatings and related industries. Specifically, one- to three-day courses will be offered in Color Design and Technology, Coatings and Paint Technology, Improving Durability and Performance of Coatings, Waterborne Coatings, Dispersion of Pigments and Resins in Fluid Media, Additives in Coatings, Polymers for Coatings Technologists, Synthesis, Processing and Properties of Metal Oxide Nanopowders, Mixing for Uniform Batches: Improving Product Quality and Productivity, Automotive Paint, Optimizing application Parameters, Statistical Methods for Coatings R & D, Management and Leadership Skills within the Polymers and Coatings Industry, and Performance Appraisal and Development.

Contacts

Coatings Research Institute Director NSF I/UCRC in Coatings Director Dr. Theodore Provder, 734.487.2203 Email: [e-mail]

Coatings Research Institute Short Courses Sandra Tanner, 734.487.2203 Email: [e-mail]

Undergraduate Studies Coordinator Dr. Vijay Mannari, 734.487.1235 Email: [e-mail]

Graduate Studies Coordinator Dr. Jamil Baghdachi, 734.487.3192 Email: [e-mail]