Sponsor, Contestants Announced for SPE ACCE poster competition.

Press Release Summary:



Organizing committee for SPE® Automotive Composites Conference & Exhibition (ACCE) announced Invista Engineering Polymers as sponsor of SPE ACCE Graduate Poster Competition, which showcases emerging composites technologies for automotive and ground transportation applications. Contest will feature 30 graduate students, who were also announced and represent 18 universities in USA, Canada, and Republic of Korea. Students and their posters will be ranked according to specific criteria.



Original Press Release:



Invista Engineering Polymers Sponsors Record-Size 2013 SPE® ACCE Poster Competition



TROY (DETROIT), MICH. – The organizing committee for the SPE® Automotive Composites Conference & Exhibition (ACCE) today announced the sponsor of and accepted participants in the event's annual SPE ACCE Graduate Poster Competition. Since 2008, the SPE ACCE has hosted a student poster competition, which showcases emerging composites technologies for automotive and ground-transportation applications. This year’s contest is the largest in the conference's history with 30 graduate students (nearly double last year's 16) representing 18 universities in the U.S., Canada, and the Republic of Korea (nearly double the 10 schools participating in last year's competition). Students of winning posters judged to be in the Top 3 of the show will receive plaques at a formal recognition ceremony during lunch on the second day of the conference, and all students will receive monetary prizes to help defray travel expenses, courtesy of competition sponsor, INVISTA Engineering Polymers.



Explaining why the company decided to support this year's competition, Kurt Burmeister, executive vice-president, INVISTA Engineering Polymers said, “Inspiring future leaders to innovate with passion and find fulfillment in everything they do are core principles at INVISTA. As the auto industry continues to seek innovative solutions to solve today’s challenges, we look forward to seeing the students’ great ideas and creativity throughout this competition.”



Judges made up of media, industry experts, and SPE ACCE committee members will review all posters with student authors on the first day of the conference. Students and their posters will be ranked according to nine criteria:



• Content (student and poster demonstrate clarity of topic, objectives, and background);

• Motivation for research and technical relevance to conference theme;

• Methodology and approach to problem;

• Quality of proposed research results/findings;

• Conclusion are supported by information presented;

• Presentation display aesthetics are pleasing and there is a logical flow between sections;

• Knowledgeable presenter has a good grasp of the subject;

• Understandability (poster is effective even without student being present to explain it); and

• Overall rank vs. other posters and presenters.



The SPE ACCE poster competition has been organized annually by Dr. Uday Vaidya, SPE Composites Division board member and education chair, and professor and director-Engineered Plastics & Composites Group, Department of Materials Science & Engineering at University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). This year he is joined by Dr. Leonardo Simon, professor, Chemical Engineering Department, University of Waterloo and also a co-organizer for both the Nanocomposites and Bio & Natural Fiber Composites sessions at this year's conference; and Dr. David Jack, professor, School of Engineering & Computer Science, Baylor University. Topics, student authors, and schools accepted into this year's competition include:



1. Andrew Anstey, Sudhakar Muniyasamy, Murali Reddy, Manju Misra, & Amar Mohanty, University of Guelph: Processability and Biodegradability Evaluation of Poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) Green Composites with Biofuel Co-Products for Automotive Interior Application



2. Birat KC, Mohini Sain, & Jimi Tjong, University of Toronto: Rapid Prototype Development of Bio-Composite Engine Beauty Cover



3. Mark J. Cieslinski, Kevin J. Meyer, John T. Hofmann, & Donald G. Baird, Virginia Tech: Determining Orientation Model Parameters Independent of Processing Flows for Long, Semi-Flexible Fiber Composites



4. Md. Mahmudur Rahman Chowdhury, Mohammad Washim, & Mohammad Kamal Hossain, Tuskegee University: Interfacial Improvement of Nanophased Jute Fiber Reinforced Green Composites by Surface Modification



5. M. Doody, J. Johrendt, & B. Minaker, University of Windsor: Design and Development of a Composite Automotive Anti-Roll Bar



6. Eugene Enriquez, Singaravelu Vivekanandhan, Amar K. Mohanty, & Manjusri Misra, University of Guelph: Producing a Novel Green Polymer Blend from Poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) and Biobased Polyethylene (BioPE) for the Creation of Lightweight Composite Materials for Automotive Applications



7. Stephanie Fierens, Mahmood Haq, Leonardo da Costa Sousa, & Venkatesh Balan, Michigan State University: Green Composites from Cotton-Gin Waste for Structural Applications



8. Brian M. Greenhoe, Mitchell Woellner, & Jeffrey S. Wiggins, University of Southern Mississippi: Dispersion and Stabilization of MWCNTs in an Epoxy Thermoset Prepolymers using Continuous Reactors



9. Md. Ekramul Islam, Mahesh Hosur, Muhammad M. Rahman, & Alfred Tcherbi-Narteh, Tuskegee University: Elevated Temperature Performance of Epoxy Composites Modified with Reactive Polyol Diluent and Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes



10. Ninad Joshi & Steven Donaldson, University of Dayton: Optimization of the Amount and Position of Unidirectional Carbon Fiber in a Glass Fiber / Carbon Fiber Hybrid Box Beam to Achieve Desired Bending Stiffness



11. ByeongJoo Kim, Biplab Kr Deka, Gu-Hyeok Kang, Hye Gyu Kim, Hyung Wook Park, Young-Bin Park, Aeri Oh, & HeeJune Kim, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST): Processing and Characterization of Continuous Carbon Fiber-Thermoplastic Composites Reinforced with Carbon Nanotubes and Exfoliated Graphite Nanoplatelets



12. Alper Kiziltas, Yousoo Han, & Douglas J. Gardner, University of Maine: Carrier Systems for Cellulose Nanofibrils in Hydrophobic Polymer Composites for the Automotive Applications



13. Esra Erbas Kiziltas, Alper Kiziltas, & Douglas J. Gardner, University of Maine: Optical Applications of Cellulose Nanocomposites for the Automotive Industry



14. Ben Lewis, Carlton Metcalf-Doetsch, & David Jack, Baylor University: Consideration of the Macro Processed Part Performance of Short-Fiber Thermoplastic Composites Due to Selection of Fiber Interaction Model



15. John Michael Lindahl & Gregorio Vélez-Garcia, University of Tennessee & Oak Ridge National Laboratory: Fused Deposition Modeling using Modified Thermoplastics



16. Sam Lukubira, Ozgun Ozdemir, & Amod A. Ogale, Clemson University: Melt Spinning of Soy Flour Filled Polyethylene Fibers



17. Tanjheel Mahdi, Md. Ekramul Islam, & Mahesh Hosur, Tuskegee University: Evaluation of Impact Response of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Composites Modified with Hybrid Nanoparticles



18. Spandan Mishra, Arda Vanli, & Chiwoo Park, FA&M University – Florida State University (FAMU-FSU): Constrained Principle Components Analysis Method for Damage Quantification with Lamb Wave Sensors



19. Marlon Morales & Amod A. Ogale, Clemson University: Rapid UV-Assisted Stabilization of Polyacrylonitrile-Based Carbon Precursors for Carbon Fiber Production



20. Makoto Schreiber , Singaravelu Vivekanandhan, Peter Cooke, Amar K. Mohanty, & Manjusri Misra, University of Guelph & New Mexico State University: Green Sub-Micron Diameter Carbon Fibres from Lignin for Automotive Applications: A Novel Study on Precursor Materials, Treatments, and Carbonization



21. Timothy Polom, Prabhu Rajagopal, Mahmoodul Haq, Krishnan Balasubramanian, & Lalita Udpa, Michigan State University: The Feasibility of Rayleigh Guided Wave Utilization for Remote Inspection



22. Jacob Ripberger, Anton Khomenko, Mahmood Haq, Nick Gianaris, & Gary Cloud, Michigan State University: A Tailorable Fastening System for Dissimilar Material Joining



23. Matthew Smyth, Vida Poursorkhabi, Amar K. Mohanty, Stefano Gregori, & Manjusri Misra, University of Guelph: Piezoelectric Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) Bioplastic Hybrid Microfibre as a Novel Source for Sustainable Green Energy for Potential Automotive Application



24. Michael Snowdon, Amar Mohanty, & Manjusri Misra, University of Guelph: Melt Processing and Characterization of Nano-Bio-Composites made from Poly(butylene succinate) Bioplastic and Nano Carbon Black for Transportation Application



25. Sarah Stair & David A. Jack, Baylor University: Non-Destructive Testing of Carbon Fiber Laminates – Experimental Validation of Manufacturing Induced Curvature Predictions



26. Byron Villacorta & Amod A. Ogale, Clemson University: Carbon Nanoparticle-Based Polyethylene Nanocomposites for Enhanced Electromagnetic Shielding



27. Alexis Wagner, Vida Poursorkhabi, Amar K. Mohanty, & Manjusri Misra, University of Guelph: Novel Porous Electrospun Fibers from Blends of Poly(L-lactic acid)/poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) for Advanced Air Filters in Automotives



28. Benjamin Willis, Matthew Record, & Michael Scott Carpenter, University of Alabama at Birmingham & Bates College: Metal-Composite Hybrids for Automotive Applications



29. Aaron Wright & Gregorio Vélez-Garcia, University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Laboratory: Testing for Fused Deposition Modeling



30. Meng Zhang & Amod A. Ogale, Clemson University: Carbon Fibers Derived from Sustainable Precursors



Participation in the competition provides students with an excellent opportunity to meet and talk with members of the automotive composites community and learn what it is like to work as an engineer or scientist in this field. It also provides OEMs and their suppliers with the opportunity to meet the next generation of automotive composites engineers and scientists and potentially to hire them.



Held annually in suburban Detroit, the ACCE draws over 700 speakers, exhibitors, sponsors, and attendees and provides an environment dedicated solely to discussion and networking about advances in the transportation composites. Its global appeal is evident in the diversity of exhibitors, speakers, and attendees who come to the conference from Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia / Pacific as well as North America. Fully one-third of attendees indicate they work for automotive and light truck, agriculture, truck & bus, heavy truck, or aviation OEM, and another 25% representing tier suppliers. Attendees also represent composite materials, processing equipment, additives, or reinforcement suppliers; trade associations, consultants, university and government labs; media; and investment bankers. The show has been jointly sponsored by the SPE Automotive and Composites Divisions since 2001.



Current supporters of the show include: PREMIER & SPECIAL SPONSORS: Ticona Engineering Polymers* (also lunch and conference bag sponsor), BASF Corp.*, Bayer MaterialScience*, CPI Binani, Inc.*, Dow Automotive Systems*, Dieffenbacher GmbH*, INVISTA Engineering Polymers* (also student poster-competition sponsor), Michigan Economic Development Corp.* (student scholarship sponsor), Momentive Specialty Chemicals Inc.* (also first-reception sponsor), PPG Industries*, Schuler Group*, Autodesk Inc. (second-reception sponsor), Red Spot Paint & Varnish Company, Inc. (lunch sponsor), American Chemistry Council - Plastics Div. (breakfast sponsor), Plasticomp, Inc. (breakfast sponsor); ASSOCIATE & BREAK SPONSORS: A&P Technology*, Abaris Training Resources, Inc.*, Accutek Testing Laboratory*, Acrolab, Ltd.*, Addcomp North America, Inc.*, Adhesives Research, Inc.*, AOC Resins*, Applied Fluid Technologies Division-Graco Inc.*, Asahi Kasei Plastics North America, Inc.*, Ashland Inc.*, Assembly Guidance Systems, Inc.*, BMC Inc.*, Cannon USA*, CHOMARAT*, Core Molding Technologies, Inc.*, CoreTech System Co., Ltd. (Moldex3D)*, Dassault Systèmes*, ESI Group*, e-Xstream engineering*, FibrTec Inc.*, Fraunhofer Project Centre @ Western University*, Gurit Automotive Ltd.*, HBM, Inc. (HBM-nCode)*, Henkel Corp.*, Johns Manville*, LANXESS Corp.*, Lawton Machinery Group*, LayStitch Technologies LLC*, Mitsubishi Rayon Co. Ltd.*, Mitsubishi Rayon Carbon Fiber & Composites*, Mitsui Chemicals America, Inc.*, National Research Council Canada (NRC-CNRC)*, NETZSCH Instruments North America, LLC*, Owens Corning*, Pinette Emidecau Industries*, Plasan Carbon Composites* (also lanyard sponsor), Polyscope Polymers*, Polystrand*, Quantum Composites*, Regloplas Corp.*, RTP Co.*, Siemens*, Single Temperature Controls, Inc.*, Tata Technologies*, TenCate Advanced Composites USA, Inc.*, The Composites Group*, Toho Tenax America, Inc.*, Trexel, Inc.*, Williams, White & Co.*, Zoltek*, Zotefoams, Plc*, Zwick USA*, and Multimatic Engineering (coffee-break sponsor); MEDIA/ASSOCIATION SPONSORS: Automotive Design & Production magazine, Automotive Engineering International magazine, Automotive NewsWire magazine, China Plastics & Rubber Journal, China Plastics & Rubber Journal International, Composites Technology magazine, CompositesWorld Weekly magazine, High-Performance Composites magazine, Industrias Plásticas magazine, JEC Group, Modern Plastics India magazine, Noticiero del Plástico magazine, Plaspec Global Plastics Selector, Plastech.biz, Plastics Engineering magazine, Plastics Technology magazine, Plastics: The Global Application Medium, PrototypeToday.com, Reciclado y Plasticos magazine, Reinforced Plastics magazine, Rubber Fibre Plastics International Magazine, SAE International®, TheMoldingBlog.com, and WardsAuto.com.



* Indicates a sponsor that also is exhibiting.



The mission of SPE is to promote scientific and engineering knowledge relating to plastics. SPE’s Automotive and Composites Divisions work to advance plastics and plastic-based composites technologies worldwide and to educate industry, academia, and the public about these advances. Both divisions are dedicated to educating, promoting, recognizing, and communicating technical accomplishments for all phases of plastics and plastic-based composite developments, including materials, processing, equipment, tooling, design and testing, and application development.



For more information about the SPE Automotive Composites Conference, visit the Automotive Division’s website at http://speautomotive.com/comp.htm, or the Composites’ Division website at http://compositeshelp.com, or contact the group at +1.248.244.8993, or write SPE Automotive Division, 1800 Crooks Road, Suite A, Troy, MI 48084, USA. For more information on the Society of Plastics Engineers or other SPE events, visit the SPE website at www.4spe.org, or call +1.203.775.0471.



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