SPE Conference to feature forums focusing on sustainability.

Society of Plastics Engineers, Inc Nov 30, 2009

Press Release Summary:

SPE ANTECÃ‚Â® 2010, to take place May 16-20 in Orlando, FL, will explore topics important for improving environmental sustainability of plastics. In addition to technical presentations, event will feature New Technology Forums with experts discussing current topics and their implications for industry professionals. Forum topics include Polymer Applications for a Clean Environment, Successful Case Studies in Bioplastics, and Latest Developments in Non-Halogenated Flame Retardants.

Original Press Release:

New Technology Forums at SPE ANTECÂ® 2010 Will Focus on Topics with Urgent Implications for Sustainability

NEWTOWN, CT, U.S.A., November 20, 2009: Three New Technology Forums at next year's Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) ANTECÂ® conference will explore topics of critical importance for improving the environmental sustainability of plastics, it was announced today by Tom Conklin, director of sales and marketing. ANTEC 2010 will take place May 16-20 in Orlando, FL.

"Along with the hundreds of technical presentations at each year's ANTEC, SPE offers New Technology Forums in which experts discuss topics of intense current interest and their implications for industry professionals," said Conklin. "In 2010, three quite different topics all relate to our industry's need to address the sustainability issue."

The half-day forums will begin at 1:30 pm on three successive days:

Polymer Applications for a Clean Environment. This symposium on plastics as keys to clean air and water will include three presentations on new polymer filter technologies for harvesting gasoline drops and thermal energy from engine exhaust, using electrospun nanofibers of polymer substrates; and three presentations on technological breakthroughs for water purification, including geomembranes, high-flux desalinization using cationic and anionic membranes, and polymeric adsorbents. The moderators will be Sadhan C. Jana, University of Akron; Prithu Mukhopadhyay, IPEX, Inc.; and Vassilios Galiatsatos, LynondellBasell Industries. Monday, May 17.

Successful Case Studies in Bioplastics. Presentations will focus on successful implementations of a wide diversity of commercial bio-content applications, including film, fiber, and molded parts for use in automotive, building and construction, industrial, medical, and packaging markets. An expert panel discussion will follow the presentations. The moderators will be Maggie Baumann, G.H. Associates; and Roger Avakian, PolyOne Corporation. Tuesday, May 18.

Latest Developments in Non-Halogenated Flame Retardants. Even as fire-safety requirements for materials have become more stringent, highly effective brominated flame retardants are under scrutiny because of concerns about the release and possible bioaccumulation of toxic combustion byproducts. This forum will cover recent advances in technology and applications for mineral fillers such as alumina trihydrate, phosphorus compounds, antimony trioxide, borates, intumescent materials, nanocomposites, and other flame retardants. The moderators will be Maggie Baumann, G.H. Associates; and Roger Avakian, PolyOne Corporation. Wednesday, May 19.

More information on the SPE ANTEC Conference is available at www.antec.ws or www.4spe.org, or by calling Lesley Kyle (+1 203-740-5452).

THE SOCIETY OF PLASTICS ENGINEERS (SPE) is the premier source of peer-reviewed technical information for plastics professionals. Founded in 1942, SPE takes action every day to help companies in the plastics industry succeed by spreading knowledge, strengthening skills, and promoting plastics. Employing these vital strategies, SPE has helped the plastics industry thrive for over 60 years. SPE has become the recognized medium of communication among scientists, engineers, and technical personnel engaged in the development, conversion, and application of plastics. For more information, please visit www.4spe.org.