Polyurethanes Expo 2003 held.

Polyurethanes Expo 2003, sponsored by the Alliance for the Polyurethanes Industry, will be held September 30--October 3 at the Gaylord Palms Hotel in Orlando, FL.

This year's exposition will feature 82 technical papers. More than 80 companies plan to exhibit. Nine educational/training courses will be offered during the professional development program.

The technical program for Polyurethanes Expo 2003 is as follows:

Wednesday, October 1--Session A: Environment, health and safety: "Regulations, regulations--not more regulations," Dennis E. Miller, Miller Environmental & Safety Services; "Combining ISO 14001 and Responsible Care for the U.S. chemical industry," Wendy Finnerty, BASF; "Hydrolytic stability of TDI and PMDI based polyurea: Environmental considerations," Vahid Sendijarevic, Aisa Sendijarevic and Ibrahim Sendijarevic. Troy Polymers; Robert E. Bailey, Bailey and Associates; and Kurt A. Reimann, BASF; "Application of EPA air contamination models to occupational exposures: Assessment of MDI concentration associated with rooftop spray foam applications," Paulette Middleton, Panorama Pathways; Chris Cleet, API; and Fran Lichtenberg, consultant; "Exposure of workers spraying housing insulation containing methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI)," Jacques Lesage and Jennifer Stanley, IRSST; and William Karoly, Huntsman Polyurethanes; and "API product stewardship communication tools help you help yourself," William Robert, BASF, and Theresa Maene, Dow Chemical.

Wednesday, October 1--Session B: Construction: "Development of an HFC 245fa Class I* rigid foam system for discontinuous metal panels," Michael A. Dobransky, Bayer Polymers LLC; "Novel flame retardants for hydrocarbon blown polyisocyanurate foam," Stephen Falloon, Aaron Atkinson and Randy Roark, Great Lakes Chemical; "Meeting the insulation requirements of the building envelope with polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foam," Mary Bogdan, Frank Moore and Jason Hoerter, Honeywell; "Cure kinetics of rigid polyisocyanurate foams," R.V. Gummaraju and J.T. Lyon, BASF; "Supercritical or subcritical C[O.sub.2] assisted water-blown spray foams," Yoshiyuki Ohnuma and Junichiro Mori, Achilles; and "PM utilization of powdered polyurethane foam scrap as filler in producing polyurethane foam: Thermal properties," Salwa Raafat Mostafa, Cairo University.

Wednesday, October 1--Session C: Coatings, sealants and adhesives: "Two component polyurethane adhesive," Gordon Z. Erdelean and Steve Hicks, BASF; "Impacting performance and costs of urethane sealants," Edwin Hortelano, Derek Crawford and Dinesh Pethiyagoda, Bayer Polymers LLC; "Hot stuff: There is another hurdle to take for polyurea: From coatings and sealants to micro cellular foams," Kai Klockemann, Nitroil Performance Chemicals, and Michael Bader, Institute for Polyurethane Technology; "New inroads into weather stable spray elastomers," D.P. Zielinski, J.W. Rosthauser and J.H. Perry, Bayer Polymers LLC, "Novel PUDs for use in coating applications," Dwight Latham, Mark Adams, Alejandra Chavez and Bedri Erdem, Dow Chemical: and "Blocked isocyanates and their usage in plastic coatings applications," Kyli Martin, Bayer Polymers LLC.

Wednesday, October 1--Session D: Combustibility: "Combustion toxicity of polyurethanes," Gordon Nelson, Florida Institute of Technology; "Validating smoke toxicity tests," Richard G. Gann, NIST; "Review of API inerlaboratory study for the development of a furniture fire test," K.A. Reimann, BASF; A. Grand, Grand Fire Consulting; and N. Ullman, consultant; "Risk watch in the Nash-Rocky Mount North Carolina School District: First year report and future opportunities," Richard Skorpenske, Bayer, and Mari-K Appey, NFPA; "An overview of the European risk assessments on halogenated phosphate ester flame retardants," Sander Kroon, Akzo Nobel; "European trends and developments in flammability for rigid foams for construction," Diane Daems, Huntsman Polyurethanes.

Thursday, October 2--Session E: Processing innovations: "Mechanical recycling of scrap from headliner rigid foam and prefabricated PU headliner production and from post consumer headliners," Werner Rasshofer and Don Schomer, Bayer Polymers; "Innovative filler injection system lot powdered recycled urethane," Piero Corradi and Barry Pile, Cannon; "Large scale polyurethane recycling," Gunter Bauer and Michael Kugler, Regra Ecosystems GmbH: "Remote monitoring of polyurethane lines and other manufacturing processes," Julie Stout and Theron Sherman, Linden Industries; and "Hennecke conveyor and mold carrier systems offer production flexibility for the just-in-time manufacturing environment," Barry P. Metzler, Bayer Polymers, and Manfred Bulik and Gero Willmeroth, Hennecke GmbH.

Thursday, October 2--Session F: Automotive I: Innovative solutions for automotive interior applications: "MDI-based HR foam system for weight reduction by thin foam design," Kazunori Saiki, Naoya Yoshii and Manabu Sugawara, Nippon Polyurethane Industry Ltd.; "Test of dynamic properties in different environmental conditions and with different occupant weights," James T. McEvoy, Ryoko Yarnasaki, Dawn E. Belding and Terry M. McRoberts, Johnson Controls; "Comparison of load-building technologies for conventional and thin-foam automotive seating," Bryan D. Kaushiva, Bayer Polymers; "HE high efficiency EA PUR foam for head impact application," George Ng and Herbert Schmidt, Woodbridge Foam; "Low density foam for acoustic materials with excellent sound absorption performance in low frequency band," Tomoki Tsutsui, Koichi Sano, Hiroyuki Utsumi and Kazuhiko Ohkubo, Mitsui Takeda Chemicals; and "The effect of temperature on the dynamic impact characteristics of energy absorbing materials," David J. Lovell, Foamex International; Richard C. Allen and John W. Liddle, Bayer Polymers LLC; and Michael L. Kerman, J. Michaels Associates.

Thursday, October 2--Session G: Elastomers and TPU: "Foam-in-place gasketing," Bob Pierce and Max Stolco, Cannon; "Novel co-polymer polycarbonate diols for polyurethane elastomer applications," Ralph Moore, Urethane Consultants International; Kazuaki Okabe and Toshio Obara, Hodogaya Chemical; Toshihide Kabayashi and Norimi Kishida, Nippon Polyurethane Industry and Nippoly America; and Aisa Sendijarevic, Troy Polymers; "Elastomers with improved physical properties based on caprolactone prepolymers," Thomas Upshaw, Gerhard Mueller and Rui Xie, Dow Chemical; "Improved processability and performance in MDI elastomers based on ultra-low monol polyols," Bruce D. Lawry and Nigel Barksby, Bayer Polymers LLC; and "The evaluation of novel titanium-based catalysts in polyurethane elastomers," Bruno Stengel, Synetix.

Thursday, October 2--Session H: Catalysis: "Effects of the catalyst content on properties and the simulation of flow behavior in the foaming processes of rigid PU," Kee Yoon Lee and Kyung Gu Nam, Chungnam National University, and Sung Kwan Park and Seon Koo Chee, Samsung Electronics; "Development of amine catalysts for the next generation of blowing agents," Hiroyuki Kiso, Katsumi Tokumoto, Yutaka Tamano and Hiroyuki Yoshimura, Tosoh; "The replacement of tin catalyst in conventional polyether slabstock foams," Ken Gay, Roger Van Maris, Hiroyuki Kometani, Yutaka Tamano and Hiroyuki Yoshimura, Tosoh; "Developments in low emission catalyst to meet the needs of the flexible foam industry--a critical review of the balance required between kinetic behavior, low emission characteristics and physical properties, especially their deterioration after humid aging," Pierre Chaffanjon, Robert Grigsby, Jr., Robert Zimmerman and Ernie Rister, Hunstman.

Thursday, October 2--Session J: Furnishings: "MDI-based viscoelastic foam with excellent physical properties, flame resistance and slab processing flexibility suitable for the furnishings market," Ray Neff, Todd Green and Wassana Apichatachutapan, BASF; "Polyurethane carpet cushion in the workplace: New research, new opportunities," Michael Norton, Norton Performance Consulting; "Impact of silicone surfactants on the flammability of flexible slabstock foam-comparison of California TB 117/draft 2002 with established flammability tests," Tammo Boinowitz, Rob Borgogelli and Bill Gower, Degussa; "Performance of HS-HR flexible foams in small open flame combustibility tests," S. Hager, R. Skorpenske, M. Blaszkiewicz and M. Masciantonio, Bayer Polymers; "Strategies for passing burn requirements of molded flexible foam," Steven Hicks, BASF; and "Flame resistant barriers for open-flame resistant home furnishings," Alan C. Handermann, Basofil Fibers LLC.

Thursday, October 2--Session K: Automotive II: Reduced VOC emissions for the automotive industry: "Next generation reduced emanations additives for TDI flexible molded polyurethane foams," Jane G. Kniss, Reza Fard-Aghaie, Allen R. Arnold and Stephan Wendel, Air Products & Chemicals; "Non-fugitive catalysis and physical characteristics of automotive polyurethane molded foams," F.M. Casati, J. Godoy, J-M. Sonney and A. Fanget, Dow Europe, and R. Prange, Dow Chemical; "Don't smell the sound improvement," Dr. Keimling and Werner Klockemann, Nitroil Performance Chemicals, and M. Bader, Input Institute for PU Technology; "Non-fugitive gelling and blowing catalysts to improve cure in emission-free HR molded systems," Hiroyuki Yoshimura, Katsumi Tokumoto, Yutaka Tamano, Takahiro Masuda, Yoshihiro Takahashi, Kenneth M. Gay and Roger Van Marls, Tosoh; and "Improvement research for low odor and fogging automotive seat," Heon Hee Park, Hyun Sung Kim and Hiroshi Ueda, Kumho Mitsui Chemical.

Thursday, October 2--Session L: Footwear: "Discussion on the global footwear marketplace," Steve Lee, Steve Lee & Associates; "Novel polyether systems and new processing advancements based on high and low pressure equipment for footwear applications," Geert Dries, Klaus Freese, Nai Wen Lin, Daniel Rosenvasser and Mar-co Schaefer, Huntsman Polyurethanes; "Improved abrasion resistance of poly-urethane footwear," Drago C. Todoros-ki and Steven Hicks, BASF; "Demands on materials for the sports shoe industry in the future--which role plays PUR?" Klaus Knoerr, Adidas-Salomon AG; "Polyurethane systems for comfortable shoe soles--theoretical designing of viscoelastic properties," Takeshi Narushima, Ryuzo Horiguchi, Tomohi-ro Onda, Kazuo Maki, Minoru Sawai and Kenichi Miyamoto, Kao; and "Polyurethane systems for comfortable shoe soles--molecular design and perfor-mance evaluation," Kenichi Miyamoto, Ryuzo Horguchi and Minoru Sawai, Kao.

Thursday, October 2--Session M: Blowing agents: "Global blowing agent selection--the Foam Technical Options Committee's latest trend assessment," Paul Ashford, Caleb Management Services; "Enovate 3000 blowing agent blend technology for the global polyurethane spray foam industry," Jason Hoerter and Mary Bogdan, Honeywell; "Trans-1,2-dichloroethylene for improving fire performance of urethane foam," Kinhuang Wu and Chris Bertelo, Atofina Chemicals; "An analysis of localized blending vs. batch blending of HFC 245f and other alternate blowing agents," G. Jeffrey Haworth, Maytag, and Julie Stout, Linden Industries: "Attenuation of alternative blowing agents in landfills," Charlotte Scheutz, Anders Fredenslund and Peter Kjeldsen, Technical University of Denmark; and "U.S. EPA regulation relevant to the foam industry," Anhar Karimjee and Suzie Kocchi, U.S. EPA.

Friday, October 3--Session N: Appliance: "Advances in HFC-245f formulations and processing," Jack Feighan and Kristof Dedecker, Huntsman Polyurethanes; "Approaches to lower cost HFC 245fa blown appliance foam insulation," Edward E. Ball and Kevin J. Elsken, Bayer Polymers LLC; "Novel products to reduce HFC-245fa concentration in rigid polyurethane foams," John W. Miller and Robert F. Hoffman, Air Products & Chemicals; "The effect of blowing agent choice on energy and environmental impact of a refrigerator in Europe," Robert Johnson, RWJ Consulting; "Polyurethane foam technologies for the water heater industry," Peter Keller, Dow Deutschland, and Todd Volz, Dow Chemical; and "Optimization of computer-aided refrigerator production processes," David R. Hanna, Bayer Polymers, and Ralf Konopka, Hennecke AG.

Friday, October 3--Session O: Polyols and fundamentals: "New developments of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadienes," Herbert S. Chao, Nan Tian and John R. Murphy, Sartomer, and Jindrich Pytela, Kaucuk, a.s.; "Boltorn, dendritic polymer polyols as load builders in HR PU foams," Anders Magnusson, Birger Midelf and Bo Haggerman, Perstorp Specialty Chemicals AG; "Free volume determination of polyurethane gels using Positron annihilation technique and the correlation of this volume to physical properties," Victor Sanchez Mendieta, UAEM University, and Suresh N. Panchal and Armando Alvarez Mondragon, Polioles S.A. de C.V.; "Novel application of ultimate high solid contents polymerpolyols for slabstock foams," Hiroki Moil, Hiroyuki Watanabe and Hidefumi Ohta, Sanyo Chemical Ltd.; "Hydraulic resistance of the rigid polyurethane foam," Pravakar Mondal and Devang V. Khakhar, Indian Institute of Technology; and "Aggregation structure and mechanical properties of polyurethane elastomers prepared with poly(oxytetramethylene) glyocol with side methyl groups," Ken Koji and M. Furukawa, Nagasaki University.

Further information is available from Lisa Smith [phone].