Events

Description:

Symposium on Polymer Characterization

March 13 and 14, 2017

Organized by:

Golden Gate Polymer Forum

Overview

Announcing a two-day day symposium presented by recognized experts in their respective fields speaking on important polymer characterization techniques. Attendees will gain a better understanding of basic principles as well as practical applications. The symposium will conclude with case studies where a variety of characterization techniques were utilized to solve real problems. The combination of excellent speakers, a convenient location in the Bay Area, an affordable price, and focus on practical applications makes this an exceptional opportunity

Topics Covered

March 13 (8:30 am - 5:00 pm)
• Multidimensional Mass Spectrometry Methods for the Characterization of Synthetic Polymers and Advanced Materials – Chrys Wesdemiotis, University of Akron
• To Absolute Molar Mass and Beyond: Essential Polymer Characterization with Multi-Angle Light Scattering – Jeffrey Ahlgren, Wyatt Technology, Inc.
• Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) of Polymers: Spectroscopy, Relaxometry, Diffusometry and Tomography – Haskell Beckham, Exponent, Inc.
• Advanced Techniques in Thermal Analysis – Lawrence Judovits, Arkema, Inc.
• Extensional Rheology: An Invaluable Tool for Material Characterization – Martin Sentmanat, Xpansion Instruments, LLC and Polymer Consulting Group, LTD Co.
• Wine and Cheese Reception and Instrument Display

March 14 (8:30 am to 4:30 pm)
• Vibrational Spectroscopy of Polymer Microstructures – Shaw Ling Hsu, University of Massachusetts
• AFM-based Infrared Spectroscopy – Nanoscale Chemical Analysis with Monolayer Sensitivity – Eoghan Dillon, Anasys Instruments
• Measuring Conversion in Photopolymerizing Systems Using Raman Spectroscopy and Determining Its Impact on Polymer Properties – Julie Jessop, University of Iowa
• Putting It All Together, Thermoset Case Studies – Jeffrey Gotro, InnoCentrix, Inc.
----- thermal analysis, rheology
----- thermal and UV cure studies
----- characterizing gelation and vitrification during cure
----- key learnings to optimize curing
• Putting It All Together, Thermoplastic Case Studies – James Rancourt, Polymer Solutions, Inc.
----- failure of manufactured products
----- identity of polymer components
----- comparison of different suppliers for medical products
----- value of integrated analytical approach

Abstracts and Speaker Backgrounds

Multidimensional Mass Spectrometry Methods for the Characterization of Synthetic Polymers and Advanced Materials – Chrys Wesdemiotis, University of Akron
ABSTRACT
Multidimensional mass spectrometry interfaces a suitable ionization technique and mass analysis (MS) with tandem mass spectrometry (MS2) fragmentation and an orthogonal online separation method. Separation choices include liquid chromatography (LC) and ion mobility spectrometry (IMS), which disperse pre-ionization in the solution state or post-ionization in the gas phase, respectively. The MS step provides elemental composition information, while MS2 exploits differences in the bond stabilities of a polymer, yielding connectivity, and sequence information. LC conditions can be tuned to separate by polarity, end group functionality or hydrodynamic volume, whereas IMS adds selectivity by macromolecular shape and architecture. This lecture will discuss how select combinations of the MS, MS2, LC and IMS dimensions can be applied, together with the appropriate ionization method, to determine the constituents, structures, end groups, sequences, and architectures of a wide variety of homo- and copolymeric materials, including multicomponent blends, supramolecular assemblies, novel hybrid materials and large cross-linked or non-ionizable polymers.
BIO
Chrys Wesdemiotis completed his Ph.D. at Technische Universität Berlin with Helmut Schwarz (1979). After a postdoctoral fellowship with Fred W. McLafferty at Cornell University (1980) and military service in Greece (1981-1983), he returned to Cornell as senior research associate (1983-1989). In 1989, he joined the University of Akron, where he currently is Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, Polymer Science, and Integrated Bioscience. Research in the Wesdemiotis group focuses on the development and applications of mass spectrometry methods for the characterization of new synthetic polymers, advanced materials, and polymer-biomolecule conjugates and interfaces; this work has resulted in >300 peer-reviewed publications. Wesdemiotis served as a Member-at-Large for Education in the Board of Directors of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry (ASMS) and is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). He is an Editor of the European Journal of Mass Spectrometry and a member of the Editorial Boards of the Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry, International Journal of Mass Spectrometry, and Mass Spectrometry Reviews.

To Absolute Molar Mass and Beyond: Essential Polymer Characterization with Multi-Angle Light Scattering – Jeffrey Ahlgren, Wyatt Technology, Inc.
ABSTRACT
Characterization techniques based on multi-angle light scattering with size-exclusion chromatography (SEC-MALS) address many of the key analytical challenges in the modern polymer laboratory, including the absolute determination of molecular weight distributions and moments, branching ratios and copolymer composition/molecular weight distributions. This seminar will review light scattering technology, instrumentation and applications to polymer research and development. Select examples will illustrate how SEC-MALS overcomes the limitations of single-detector GPC, facilitating rapid and effective characterization of a wide variety of polymers including polyacrylamides, acrylic copolymers, nylons, styrenes and more. Advanced applications include high-molar-mass branched polymers and fluorescent polymers. Case studies will be presented to illustrate failures of standard SEC-MALS and their solutions via field-flow fractionation (FFF-MALS) and long-wavelength MALS with fluorescence blocking filters. The supplemental roles of Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and Viscometry will also be explored.
BIO
Jeffrey A. Ahlgren, PhD, is a senior applications scientist at Wyatt Technology Corporation. He obtained his B.S. in Biological Sciences from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, and his Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. His thesis subject involved comparative aspects of the physiology and biochemistry of antifreeze glycopeptides from Antarctic fish. Dr. Ahlgren completed two years of post-doctoral research in the Department of Biochemistry at Duke University studying mammalian glycosyl transferase enzymes in the lab of Dr. Robert Hill. He spent 13 years as a Research Chemist for the Agricultural Research service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, located at the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research in the Biopolymer and Fermentation Biotechnology Research Units in Peoria, Illinois. His research interests include microbial polysaccharides and enzymatic methods for the modification of polysaccharides. Dr. Ahlgren joined Wyatt Technology in 2002 as an Applications Scientist and is an instructor for "Light Scattering University" and a member of the Customer Service and Support Department.

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) of Polymers: Spectroscopy, Relaxometry, Diffusometry and Tomography – Haskell W. Beckham, Exponent, Inc.
ABSTRACT
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is the basis of a suite of analytical methods that provide information on molecular structure, dynamics, and morphology across broad time and length scales. NMR methods are particularly powerful for characterizing polymeric materials and composites, for which the derived knowledge is critical for understanding structure-processing-property relationships. Spectroscopy is well-known for its application in molecular structure determination; for polymers this method is especially important for quantifying copolymer composition and tacticity. Relaxometry is useful for examining molecular dynamics in solution and in the solid state, important for establishing insight into such properties as gas permeation through polymeric membranes and food packaging. Diffusometry can be used to measure self-diffusion coefficients, helpful for investigating emulsions and reactions of small molecules with macromolecules. Tomography, better known as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and for its medical applications, allows measurements of spatial distributions of fluids in porous media, and through various contrast parameters, imaging of stress distributions in elastomers. In this talk, I will describe the various NMR methods with a focus on the information they provide, and then demonstrate their application with numerous examples, from textiles and nanocomposites to plastic bottles and salad dressing.
BIO
Haskell W. Beckham is a Principal Scientist at Exponent, a scientific and engineering consulting firm, and an adjunct Professor in the School of Materials Science and Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech). He earned a B.S. in textile chemistry from Auburn University and a Ph.D. in chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). After graduating from MIT, Dr. Beckham was an NSF and then Humboldt postdoctoral fellow at the Max-Planck-Institute for Polymer Research in Mainz, Germany. He joined the faculty at Georgia Tech in 1993 and spearheaded the establishment of the Georgia Tech NMR Center. He has been awarded lecture fellowships from the Fiber Society and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. Current research interests include evaluation of polymers and textiles in consumer and industrial products for failure analysis; patent litigation support; product design, regulatory and development support.

Advanced Techniques in Thermal Analysis – Lawrence Judovits, Arkema, Inc.
ABSTRACT
Conventional DSC and TGA handle most, but not all, of the thermal analysis in an industrial lab. Other specialty thermal analysis techniques are necessary for those analyses for which conventional techniques do not provide answers. This talk will cover the use of modulated temperature DSC (MTDSC), quasi-isothermal DSC (QiDSC), fast scan DSC, and high resolution TGA. In an MTDSC experiment the temperature modulation is overlaid on the linear heating or cooling rate, allowing reversing and nonreversing effects to be separated which is especially useful in the analysis of thermosets. QiDSC is a subset of MTDSC where one modulates around a specific temperature and can further separate a glass transition from an overlapping melting peak. Fast scan allows one to inhibit structural changes during a DSC scan so that the properties of the original material can be measured. An example is a semi-crystalline polymer that reorganizes during heating, resulting in the melting of the now annealed resin if one heats the sample at slow to moderate rates but not for high heating rates. Finally, high resolution TGA allows one to determine the optimum isothermal temperature for mass loss determination.
BIO
Larry Judovits, PhD, is a Principal Scientist for Arkema, and has worked for Arkema and its predecessor companies (Pennwalt, Atochem, Elf Atochem, and Atofina) for over 30 years. He has been president of the North American Thermal Analysis Society (2002) and the chairman of ASTM Committee E37 on Thermal Measurements. He is also a fellow of both ASTM and NATAS. Dr. Judovits has over 25 publications, edited 2 books on Thermal Analysis and was a principle author in the book Thermal Analysis of Polymers: Fundamentals and Applications. Besides responsibilities for Arkema’s King of Prussia Thermal Analysis lab he has been involved with Arkema’s Piezotech subsidiary in developing and producing fluoropolymer sensor and actuator materials.

Extensional Rheology: An Invaluable Tool for Material Characterization – Martin Sentmanat, Xpansion Instruments, LLC and Polymer Consulting Group, LTD Co.
ABSTRACT
Extensional flow refers to a type of deformation that involves the stretching of viscoelastic media. It is the dominant type of deformation in converging and squeezing flows that occur in typical polymer processing operations such as in injection molding, extrusion, blow molding, film blowing and calendering. Uniaxial extensional flow measurement is particularly useful in polymer characterization because it is the 'strongest' flow field one can generate with respect to both polymer chain stretch and molecular alignment. Consequently, uniaxial extensional flow characterization is very sensitive to the molecular structure/architecture of the polymeric system being tested. Although such experiments were difficult to perform in the past, due to recent advancements in the field of experimental extensional flow rheology, extensional flow characterizations can now be easily performed in the laboratory utilizing commercially available fixtures hosted on torsional rotational rheometers. In addition to elucidating macrostructural features such as molecular weight, molecular weight distribution, and polymer long-chain branching, when coupled with in-situ supplemental experimental techniques such as flow birefringence and light, x-ray or neutron beam scattering, extensional rheology can be used to gain valuable fundamental insight into flow induced crystallization of polymers during extension flows as well as localized flow phenomena at large and high rates of deformation - issues that are pivotal in understanding, modeling, and predicting polymer processing and polymer product behaviors. Experimental results demonstrating these various testing techniques will be presented for a number of polymeric materials.
BIO
Dr. Martin Sentmanat received his B.S. (1990) in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University in College Station, TX, and then headed north to Montreal, Canada where he received his M.Eng. (1992) and Ph.D. (1995) in Chemical Engineering from McGill University under the supervision of Prof. John M. Dealy. Dr. Sentmanat began working as a Senior Research Physicist at The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company at Corporate Research in Akron, OH in 1995, and after authoring more than two dozen worldwide patents left Goodyear at the end of 2003 to found Xpansion Instruments, exclusive manufacturer of his invention, the SER Universal Testing Platform, which has served to redefine the paradigm in experimental extensional rheology and miniature-scale materials testing. Based now in the Austin, TX area, Dr. Sentmanat also serves as the President of Polymer Consulting Group, a firm that has catered to the polymer, biomedical, oil & gas, and scientific legal communities since 2003.

Vibrational Spectroscopy of Polymer Microstructures – Shaw Ling Hsu, University of Massachusetts
ABSTRACT
Vibrational spectroscopies (infrared and Raman) are used to characterize the structures and structural changes of polymers. The merits of these spectroscopic techniques are simple sample preparation, modest cost instrumentation, but most importantly, extremely useful composition and structural information can be obtained that complement other characterization techniques well. This is particularly true with the robust computation capability commonly available. Unlike techniques such as X-ray diffraction, where long range structural coherence is required, optical activity governing vibrational transitions is characteristic of localized morphological features. Therefore, detailed information such as functional group composition can be analyzed extremely accurately. Polymers obviously are formed when strong covalent bonds connect the monomers. Therefore, the infrared and Raman spectra often exhibit additional features that are different from monomers directly reflecting the connectivity along the backbone. As previous studies have shown, the perturbing effects of this connectivity are also seen in many polymer systems with various secondary forces “connecting” the monomers of different chains. In this presentation, I shall highlight the merits of using vibrational spectroscopy in determining the crucial structural element that gives polymers various physical properties. Both thermoplastics and thermosets will be covered. Analysis of crystallization behavior, the size of crystallites formed and their stability will be discussed. The analysis of structural evolution of thermosets, particularly the onset of gelation, will be correlated to macroscopic behavior such as thermal stability and internal stress generated. We have developed specific relationship between the crosslinking density and segmental dynamics directly measured using low field NMR. These relationships are particularly useful for the production of robust crosslinks that are useful for high temperature applications.
BIO
Shaw Ling Hsu is Professor of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Massachusetts (Amherst). He received his Ph.D. in physics from the University of Michigan and was employed by Allied-Signal Corporation as a research chemist before joining the UMass faculty. He has been a visiting professor at the California Institute of Technology, University of California at Berkeley, University of Freiburg, Kyoto University, University of Pisa, Chengdu University of Science and Technology, Science University of Tokyo, and Advisor to the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chair of the Nanotechnology Advisory Committee of Taiwan Industrial Technology Research Institute. Shaw has served as Associate Director of the NSF Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC), and Co-Principal Investigator of the Center for University of Massachusetts Industrial Cooperative Research Program (CUMIRP). He was Director of the NSF Materials Research Laboratory for Polymer Research (MRL) at the University of Massachusetts from 1984-1991. His honors and awards include Danforth Foundation Fellow, Sigma Xi Honorary Research Society, National Science Foundation Creativity Award, University Outstanding Faculty Leadership Award, USDA National Panel Manager, Bioenergy Production and Byproducts, Chair, Advanced Materials Platform Panel, Taiwan, and International Award, Society of Polymer Science, Japan. He is a member and fellow of the American Physical Society High Polymer Physics Division and a member of the American Chemical Society Polymer Division. His research activities include the development of environmentally appropriate materials, development of new polymer morphologies for controlled drug delivery, development of multiphase reactive blends, structural characterization of polymer structure at surfaces/interfaces, deformation behavior of polymers, aging behavior of polymers, residual stress in coatings, and highly crosslinked systems.

AFM-based Infrared Spectroscopy—Nanoscale Chemical Analysis with Monolayer Sensitivity –
Eoghan Dillon, Anasys Instruments, Inc.
ABSTRACT
Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) has been a widely utilized tool in both industry and academia for imaging the surface of a material with nanoscale resolution. Today’s polymer blends and composites are more complex than ever, leading to challenges in characterizing the chemical distribution of different components within the materials due to their nanoscale composition. Historically, one of the biggest challenges for AFM has been characterizing the material directly underneath the tip. In recent years several advances have been made allowing for the probing of various material properties, including thermal, mechanical and chemical. The biggest breakthrough in chemical characterization by AFM came from the combination of AFM and infrared spectroscopy in the AFM-IR technique. AFM-IR breaks the diffraction limit (~ 3 µm) associated with conventional IR spectroscopy by using the AFM probe to locally detect IR absorption at spatial resolutions of sub 20 nm. AFM-IR can provide the high resolution topographic maps commonly associated with AFM with the addition of high spatial resolution IR spectroscopy and IR imaging. Nanoscale thermal analysis (nanoTA) of the sample can be achieved by using a specialized probe that has a resistive heating element embedded at the tip. As the voltage applied to the tip increases, the material in contact with it will expand and the deflection of the AFM tip would increase until reaching its softening point. This is defined as the transition temperature, which can be measured at sub 100 nm spatial resolutions, and is correlated favorably with bulk thermal analytical techniques. In this talk we will focus on the application of AFM-IR and nanoTA to the characterization of polymeric materials with nanoscale spatial resolution.
BIO
Eoghan Dillon received his undergraduate degree in physics and physics technology at Dublin Institute of Technology, Kevin Street in 2005. He was awarded a place on the FAS Science Challenge program which placed him on a six month internship at Rice University in Houston, Texas. Staying at Rice University after the internship he earned his PhD in Chemistry in 2012, with research focused on the efficient capture of CO2 using polyethyleneimine functionalized nanocarbons. During this time he published multiple scientific papers in peer reviewed journals. He has spoken at most of the major conferences in the U.S. including ACS, MRS, AVS, ISPAC and BPS. Eoghan is currently an applications scientist at Anasys Instruments, a nanoscale analysis company based in Santa Barbara, California. There he specializes in AFM based techniques such as nanoscale infra-red spectroscopy and nanoscale thermal analysis.

Measuring Conversion in Photopolymerizing Systems Using Raman Spectroscopy and Determining Its Impact on Polymer Properties – Julie Jessop, University of Iowa
ABSTRACT
Conversion plays a critical role in polymer property development. The glass transition temperature of a polymer is directly related to its conversion. Low conversions can result in tacky surfaces or monomer that may elute during use. Non-uniform conversion or phase separation during polymerization may result in heterogeneous polymer networks. Determining conversion in photopolymerizing systems can be challenging. The reactions proceed very quickly compared to thermal polymerizations, and analytical techniques must be modified to accommodate the initiating light source. Photo-differential scanning calorimetry enables real-time conversion measurements, as long as the heat of polymerization and functionality of the monomer(s) are known. However, Raman spectroscopy provides more flexibility for conversion measurements. Photopolymerizations may be monitored in situ and in real time, and the conversion of each type of functional group can be determined separately from the same data set. In addition, conversion may be determined after illumination, and using Raman confocal microscopy, conversion can be measured in 3-D space without destroying the polymer sample. With both techniques, conversion profiles can be transformed into polymerization rate profiles, providing further details on the kinetics of the reactions. Using this kinetic information paired with physical property information (such as glass transition temperature, crosslinking density, and modulus from dynamic mechanical analysis), a better understanding of the network structure and polymer performance can be obtained.
BIO
Dr. Julie L. P. Jessop is an Associate Professor of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering at the University of Iowa. She received her B.S. in 1994 and her Ph.D. in 1999, both in Chemical Engineering from Michigan State University. Dr. Jessop’s research interests include spectroscopy, cationic and free-radical photopolymerizations, dental resins, electron-beam polymerizations, and polymers from renewable resources. A main thrust of her research is the development of structure-processing-property relationships for polymers produced via radiation curing. Recent contributions include prediction of dose rate effects in electron-beam polymerizations based on monomer structure; production of thick, heavily pigmented photopolymers through new developments in processing conditions; and control of photopolymer physical properties by tailoring the distribution of propagation vs. chain transfer reactions. She has received a National Science Foundation CAREER award and the UI College of Engineering Faculty Excellence Awards for Service and for Teaching. She is active in the American Chemical Society Division of Polymeric Materials: Science & Engineering as a Past Chair and Current Councilor, in RadTech as a standing member of the Technical Conference Review Committee, in the Fundamentals & Applications of Photopolymerizations Industry/University Cooperative Research Center as a research faculty member, and for Project Lead the Way as an Affiliate Professor.

Putting It All Together, Thermoset Case Studies – Jeffrey Gotro, InnoCentrix, Inc.
ABSTRACT
This session will provide practical tips for characterizing thermoset cure using case studies. There are two important concepts in thermoset curing that must be understood to ensure proper curing; gelation and vitrification. The case studies will demonstrate how to characterize gelation and vitrification and demonstrate the importance of both of these concepts in thermoset processing. The use of thermal analysis (DSC, DMA, TMA, and TGA) and rheological methods will be highlighted in the case studies. The first case study will cover the role of cure temperature on the conversion of an epoxy-amine system. The conversion is dependent on the relationship between the cure temperature and the ultimate glass transition temperature (Tg). A second case study will highlight the advantages and disadvantages of room temperature curing. This case study demonstrates the role of vitrification during room temperature curing. The third case study will cover the use of UV light in the curing of thermosetting resins. UV curing provides some unique advantages in terms of cure speed and processing. The talk will conclude with a summary of how polymer characterization provides insights into developing efficient thermoset processes.
BIO
Jeff Gotro, PhD, is the President and Founder of InnoCentrix, LLC. InnoCentrix proves a wide range of consulting services to the polymer industry. Jeff helps his clients “turn polymers into profits” with a focus on improving financial performance by reducing the time to market for new products, process optimization, developing new business opportunities and managing Intellectual Property. Jeff has over thirty two years’ of experience in polymers having held scientific and leadership positions at IBM, AlliedSignal, Honeywell International, National Starch Electronic Materials as VP of R&D (Ablestik Laboratories and Emerson and Cumming), and InnoCentrix. Jeff brings to his clients a solid proficiency in managing the research, development and commercialization of new products. He has consulting experience with over 40 clients ranging from early-stage start-ups to Fortune 50 companies. His unique combination of deep technical knowledge and business experience allow him to drive projects to commercial success. Jeff holds 15 issued US Patents and has 4 patent applications currently filed and pending in the United States Patent and Trademark Office. He has published four book chapters including Thermosets with Dr. R Bruce Prime in Encyclopedia of Polymer Science & Technology, John Wiley & Sons, 2016. Jeff has published over 50 papers in technical journals and conference proceedings. He has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science from Marquette University and a Ph.D. in Materials Science from Northwestern University with a specialty in polymer science (polymer chemistry, physics, and characterization).

Putting It All Together, Thermoplastic Case Studies – James Rancourt, Polymer Solutions, Inc.
ABSTRACT
Four case studies will be presented to demonstrate the value of an integrated analytical approach using a variety of analytical methods to solve problems involving the failure of manufactured products, to determine the characteristics of competitor products, and to understand polymer structure, processing, and property relationships. Assuring reliability and safety, conformance to regulations, and understanding the behavior of complex products usually requires complementary critical data. A sufficiently complete analysis of a product benefits from the use of diverse analytical methods that objectively document key attributes of the product. The case studies will include a pair of plastic strapping projects one of which is related to a significant personal injury, a packaging product, and an analysis of fiber used to produce medical products.
One goal of this presentation is to highlight specific methods, data sets, and conclusions that were applied to the each specific project. An additional goal is to offer the rationale for the techniques selected to offer a relevant approach to several material analysis scenarios. The projects will also be evaluated retrospectively to consider the analytical methods that were used (shown in the table below), and in hindsight to highlight the methods that were most critical to provide the required level of understanding.

BIO
James Rancourt, PhD (Jim) is a Massachusetts native who received his B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Lowell. After gaining industry experience, he relocated to Blacksburg, Virginia where he earned his Ph.D. in Polymer Chemistry from Virginia Tech. Jim finished his Ph.D. while simultaneously starting Polymer Solutions Incorporated (PSI) in 1987. PSI excels at combining great science and creative thinking to solve the toughest of materials challenges for a global client base, especially high-consequence clients for which failure is not an option.
Jim is recognized as an authority in the field of materials science, has completed thousands of analytical projects for industrial clients, and is frequently called on to provide expert testimony for a myriad of litigated matters involving manufacturing defects, design defects, misappropriation of trade secrets, and patent infringement. He has given over 65 presentations, has been published over 60 times, and holds 7 United States patents.

Practical Details

• The location of the course will be Michaels at Shoreline, 2960 N Shoreline Blvd, Mountain View, CA 94043, (650) 962-1014
Directions
Map

• Additional instructions will be provided by March 9 to those who register for the event.
• Continental breakfast and lunch provided on site each day.
• Speakers will be available at the end of each day to discuss specific issues.
• Hardcopy lecture notes from each day will be provided to all attendees.

Payment Information

Early Registration (on or before February 17) - $650
Late Registration (February 18 to March 3) - $750

• No registration possible after March 3
• Advance Registration and payment required. No drop-ins will be allowed.
• No reservation will be considered complete until payment is received.

Accommodation

For attendees who require hotel reservations, numerous hotels are nearby in Mountain View and Palo Alto that are close to Michael's at Shoreline. (Search Google Maps for Hotels near Mountain View) The closest airports in order of distance (closest to farthest) are San Jose, San Francisco, and Oakland.

Registration Details

(1) Begin the registration process by going to the main web page, www.GGPF.org, clicking on "Symposium on Polymer Characterization". On the page that appears next, you will see all the course information. To register, scroll down to the bottom of the page.

There is only one option available for registration. Simply fill in all your personal details, including name, affiliation, email address, etc. The early registration discount will automatically apply if appropriate.

After you have completed all the required information, click "Submit" at the bottom of the page. This will take you to a page where you can review your information.

Click "Confirm Registration" at this time. This will take you to a page where you can choose to pay via Credit Card (via PayPal) or Check. We are requesting that all short course registrations choose the Credit Card option.

Click on the "PayPal" option. This will redirect you to the PayPal website where you can submit your credit card information and complete the payment process.

If you choose to pay by check, click on the box labelled "Cash or Check Payment" and then on the "Complete your Registration" icon. You will need to provide payment by mailing a check made out to “GGPF” in the appropriate amount. Contact Eveleen Tang for further instructions at etang@amaranthmedical.com. Your registration is not complete until a check is received.

If a registration appears incomplete, we will contact you for further clarification.

If your company requires it, the GGPF Tax ID# will be provided to you by e-mailing a request to Eveleen Tang at etang@amaranthmedical.com . Please note that the conference registration fee covers the short course expenses and is not a tax deductible donation.

(2) Your registration will not be complete until payment is received by either credit card (highly preferred) or check. For purposes of registration dates, or for first-come first-served issues, we will use either your date of registration by credit card or the post office date on the envelope, which contains the check.

(3) An automated e-mail receipt will be provided as soon as you register and is usually sufficient for corporate reimbursement. You will also be given a receipt when you arrive for the class on the first day.

(4) Reservations will be accepted in the order received until the class size limit is reached. We expect to accommodate 60 attendees on each day. Early reservations are encouraged. No reservations after are possible after March 3.

(5) If someone other than the intended attendee is performing the registration process, please ensure that it is the intended attendee whose name appears in the appropriate field in the registration.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations by you: allowed until February 18 - you will receive a refund minus a fixed $50 administrative cancellation fee. You must cancel in writing or e-mail and have a verifiable acknowledgment from us that you have cancelled in time. No cancellations allowed after February 18. Registrants who fail to attend and who did not cancel in time will not receive a refund. If you personally cannot attend, another attendee from your organization may substitute (by arrangement only; contact Mikki Larner, Len Radzilowski, or Lothar Kleiner; see "Contact Information" below).

Cancellations by us: in the unlikely event that not enough registrations are obtained, the class will be cancelled. If this happens, you will be notified by February 22 and you will receive a full refund.

Thinking about Sponsoring this Event?

The Golden Gate Polymer Forum (GGPF) is a successful 30-year non-profit educational organization dedicated to the study of polymeric materials and devices. We sponsor well attended monthly polymer forums, annual symposiums and short-courses.
The GGPF attracts scientist, engineers, academics as well as sales professionals from start-ups to fortune 100 companies that are interested in the study of and advances in polymers. The forum, in addition to providing cutting edge research and industry practices, allows for collaborative networking. The majority of our attendees are from the Bay Area, yet we attract people from out of state as well as international guests, thanks to our reputation in the industry as a premier educational forum.
The advantages of sponsorship include:
• Introduction of your services/products to influential scientists and engineers responsible for developing next generation products
• Gaining access to decision makers
• Networking with high technology professionals
• Increasing your company visibility
• Making new contacts
• Two sponsorship package options to choose from

LEVEL 1 Logo Sponsor: $200
• Company name on event advertising
• One full page printed company advertisement in the conference proceedings
• Verbal introduction and noted appreciation announced by conference organizer/chair

LEVEL 2 Tabletop Sponsor: $695
• All Level 1 benefits, plus
• A reserved tabletop with sponsor’s advertising materials and/or instruments displayed during event
• Inclusion in all breaks and networking activities
• Access to lectures and meals
• Copy of proceedings
• A list of attendees and their affiliations, by request

Contact Information

For course content details only, contact Bruce Prime or Jennifer Hoffman (rbprime@sbcglobal.net or JHoffman@airxpanders.com).
For registration difficulties, contact webmaster@ggpf.org.
To sponsor, contact Claudia Allison claudia.allison@loparex.com or Mikki Larner (mlarner@dschnur.com.)
If you can’t reach the webmaster, contact Clayton Henderson (Clayton.Henderson@HitachiGST.com), Len Radzilowski (lradzilo@te.com), or Bruce Prime, (rbprime@sbcglobal.net).