FEES

The fee structure for the 2013 course includes a variety of possible discounts as described below (note that discounts cannot be combined).  
       
 

 Fees cover registration, a set of notes, five (5) days of continental breakfast, four (4) days luncheon, all breaks, a Pizza Party/Mixer on Monday evening, and a Banquet on Wednesday evening. Checks payable to Lehigh University/ Emulsion Polymers Course should accompany applications OR you may use the downloadable registration forms (links below) to e-mail or Fax your registration in. An invoice can then be sent to you OR you may use a credit card to pay for registration and University housing (Visa, MasterCard or American Express ONLY).  Please use the downloadable registration form if you would like to charge the course registration and University housing fees to a credit card. Refund requests received before April 15, 2013 will be honored in full. A processing charge of $650 will be deducted for cancellations after April 15, 2013.

Click here to download a 2013 Short Course Registration Form in Word (Windows) format

Click here to download a 2013 Short Course Registration Form in Rich Text Format (RTF) (Windows) format

Click here to download a 2013 Short Course Registration Form in Adobe PDF format

PARTICIPANTS

The course is designed for engineers and scientists who are actively involved in emulsion work as well as for those who wish to develop expertise in the area. A basic background in chemistry will be assumed. More advanced and experienced participants may elect to attend only those days in which material of specific interest is being presented. All participants will receive a printed set of course notes as well as a CD containing supplementary course materials in PDF format.

TRANSPORTATION AND LOCALE

Bethlehem is located in the heart of the Lehigh Valley about 50 miles north of Philadelphia and 80 miles west of New York City. It is easily accessible by plane via the Lehigh Valley International Airport (formerly known as the ABE, Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton Airport), by car via the east-west Route 78 (22) and the north-south Northeast Turnpike Extension (I-476) and Routes 309 and 378, or by bus from New York City (Port Authority Terminal). 

ACCOMMODATIONS:

Modern air-conditioned University dormitories are available within several blocks of the conference site.  Linens are provided. Single occupants will share a suite (living room and bathroom) with two (2) other course participants. Each person will have a private bedroom. Please see the following site for a description of the Campus Square dormitories:

http://www4.lehigh.edu/housing/residencehalls/az/campussquare.aspx

 A processing charge of one night will be deducted for housing cancellations after April 15, 2013.

A continental breakfast will be available to course participants at Rauch Business Center each morning. Lunches from Monday to Thursday are also included, as is a Pizza Party on Monday evening and a Banquet on Wednesday evening.

Hotels/motels are for the most part far from campus and will require transportation. Hotel/motel reservations should be made by contacting the hotel/motel directly.

• Comfort Suites (*) 120 West Third Street, Bethlehem, PA; 610-882-9700
• Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites  2201 Cherry Lane, Bethlehem, PA; 610-838-6110
• Holiday Inn Express, Bethlehem Airport - Allentown Area
  3375 High Point Boulevard, Bethlehem, PA
  610-882-2255
• Hampton Inn & Suites at the Gateway Conference Center, 200 Gateway Drive, Bethlehem, PA;  610-868-2442
• Best Western Lehigh Valley Hotel and Conference Center, 300 Gateway Drive, Bethlehem, PA;  610-866-5800
• Historic Hotel Bethlehem, 437 Main Street, Bethlehem, PA; 610-625-5000
• Hyatt Place, 45 West North Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018; 610-625-0500
• Marriott (Residence Inn, Courtyard or Fairfield Inn; Motel Drive, Bethlehem; 800-321-2211
• Hilton Garden Inn at ABE Airport, 1787-B Airport Road, Allentown, PA; 610-443-1400
• Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, 77 Sands Boulevard
  (Please use 901 Daly Ave on GPS devices)
  Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015; 1-877-726-3777

* Only hotel within walking distance of the university.

ABSTRACTS OF COURSE LECTURES:

MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2013

1. Kinetics of Free Radical-Initiated Polymerization--
F. Joseph Schork (Professor Emeritus, School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology )

        A review of the principles of free radical-initiated polymerization, including the four basic reactions of initiation, propagation, termination and transfer, inhibition, molecular weight and molecular weight distribution, effect of temperature and pressure, autoacceleration and diffusion control of termination and propagation, and copolymerization including copolymerization reactivity ratios and copolymer sequence distribution.


2. Emulsion Polymerization Mechanisms and Kinetics--
Gary W. Poehlein (Professor Emeritus of Chemical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology)

        Reaction mechanisms and kinetics of free radical polymerization will be reviewed. The unique features of emulsion polymerization will be outlined and the influence of the colloidal size of the reaction sites discussed. Kinetic theories due to Smith & Ewart, Stockmayer, O'Toole, Roe, Fitch, Ugelstad, and Gilbert will be discussed.

3. The Role of Surfactants in Emulsion Polymerization Processes--
Mohamed S. El-Aasser (Lehigh University)

        Surfactants play major roles during the particle nucleation and growth stages, with direct impact on latex particle size, size distribution, polymerization rate, molecular weight, and particle morphology. Surfactants are also essential during post-polymerization processes: stripping, storage, shipping, and formulation for several applications. The general characteristics of surfactants and their adsorption profiles on latex particles will be reviewed. The specific role of surfactants in determining the particle number according to the various nucleation mechanisms will be described. Three alternatives to conventional surfactants will be reviewed.
 

4. Latexes for Industrial Applications and Methods of Reducing Residual Monomer --
Do Ik Lee (Adjunct Professor Western Michigan University and formerly Senior Scientist in Emulsion Polymers R&D with The Dow Chemical Company)

 
TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013

5. Stabilization Mechanisms in Aqueous and Non-Aqueous Latexes--
Mohamed S. El-Aasser (Lehigh University)

      The basic concepts and terminology of colloid science will be introduced. The principles of electrostatic and steric stabilization mechanisms will then be reviewed. The inverse problem of coagulating and flocculating latexes will also be discussed.
 

6. Sensors and Control of Emulsion Polymerization Reactors--
F. Joseph Schork (Professor Emeritus, School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology)

        Recent developments in the area of on-line sensors, coupled with the availability of high-performance digital control systems, have opened up new opportunities for the efficient operation and control of latex reactors. Available sensors for on-line analysis will be discussed. The use of such measurements in the application of advanced control techniques to batch and continuous polymerization reactors will be reviewed, with special emphasis on controlling the undesirable process dynamics associated with continuous emulsion polymerization, and optimizing controllers for batch polymerization.

7. Glass Transition Evolution of Plasticized Latex Films: An Important Process in the Application of Everyday Latex Paints--
James W. Taylor (BASF Corporation) (co-author: Dr. Timothy Klots, BASF)

        Water-borne latex paints are used in everyday life as decorative and as protective coatings.  The application of these paints is often taken for granted, but the drying process of latex paints involves the evaporation of water, solvents, and the coalescence of latex particles to a polymeric film that contains pigments, dispersants and surfactants. A model has been developed to better under the drying and coalescence of latex films.  The temporary plasticization of latex particles by filming aids and co-solvents is well known. A lowering of the glass-transition (Tg) below the cure temperature is necessary for the interdiffusion of polymer chains between particles. The Tg evolution with time of latex films plasticized with filming aids is modeled using fundamental equations.  Both the wet-stage and dry-stage are modeled.  Fundamental equations for the wet-film stage contain the evaporation rates, the distribution coefficients of solvents, and wet-stage activity coefficients.  The activity coefficients of the solvents during the wet-film evaporation are determined by measuring the minimum filming temperature of the plasticized latex film.  Solvent loss is also modeled during the subsequent dry-stage.  Activity coefficients of solvent loss from latex films can be determined either gravimetrically or by measuring the Tg evolution of the film as a function of time. The influence of temperature, humidity, and air-speed on drying is also incorporated.

The Tg evolution of latexes formulated with Butyl CARBITOL is studied in detail. During the dry-stage, the hardening of the film initially follows an evaporation controlled model for solvent loss, but then switches to a diffusion model as Tg of the film approaches ambient temperature. Although the Tg evolution of a latex film is complex, it will be shown that the initial Tg suppression produced by a solvent or solvents plays an important role in selecting the optimum solvent or solvent combination for corrosion resistance.

       
8. Film Formation and Cohesive Strength Development from Latex Systems--
Andrew Klein (Lehigh University)

      The cohesive properties of polymer films from latexes are dependent on the film formation mechanism. Polymer film formation from latex occurs either when: (a) the molecules from the individual polymer particles interdiffuse and entangle as the particle boundaries gradually disappear; or, when (b) the molecules partially interpenetrate and cross-link, forming interparticle "spotwelds"; or when (c) water-soluble molecules react or interact with functional groups on the particle surface. In the last two cases, the particle boundaries remain distinct. The role of interpenetration depth and the diffusion rate on cohesive strength development will be discussed, using model latex systems.
 

9. Evening Session: Question and Answer Session with Short Course Lecturers and Participants

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2013

10. Advances in Miniemulsion Polymerization--
Mohamed S. El-Aasser (Lehigh University)

      Despite the fact that the first miniemulsion polymerization was carried out at Lehigh University in 1972, the term "miniemulsion" was first coined only in 1981. The number of publications on miniemulsions has been increasing exponentially over the past decade, including a few patents.        

      Miniemulsions are relatively stable oil-in-water emulsions with average droplet diameters ranging from 50 to 500 nm. These are typically prepared using a mixture of a surfactant and a  low molecular weight, highly water-insoluble costabilizer (sometimes referred to as cosurfactant). In miniemulsion polymerization, the submicron monomer droplets are the main sites for particle nucleation and growth via free radical initiation using oil-soluble or water-soluble initiators. The stability behavior of miniemulsions has been explained theoretically based on the well know concepts of Ostwald ripening and thermodynamics. Miniemulsions have been exploited in making new types of polymer colloids (latexes) that were difficult and sometimes impossible to make using conventional emulsification or emulsion polymerization processes. These include preparation of artificial latexes and hybrid latexes, high solids latexes, polymerization of highly water-insoluble monomers and macromonomers, controlled polymer microstructure and morphology, encapsulation of pigments and dyes, and controlled molecular weight via living free radical polymerization. In this lecture both the theory and practice of miniemulsions will be discussed.
 

11. Engineering of Emulsion Polymerization Reactors--
Gary W. Poehlein (Professor Emeritus of Chemical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology)

      The various types of reactors: batch, semi-batch and continuous, used to produce synthetic latexes, will be reviewed. Pros and cons of various types of processes will be discussed and theoretical reactor models will be presented where appropriate. Reactor design and operating factors that influence product properties will also be reviewed.
 

12. Semi-Continuous Emulsion Polymerization and Structured Latexes--
Michael F. Cunningham (Queen's University, Canada)

       Semi-continuous (or semi-batch) polymerizations in which the monomer is added incrementally during the course of reaction are commonly used in industrial processes because they allow control of the polymerization rate, and because they can be used to control the particle morphology. “Structured latexes” are emulsion polymer particles in which the internal morphology and/or composition vary through the particle. Examples include core-shell particles, and particles with radial composition gradients between the particle core and surface. The discussion will describe how semi-continuous processes are run, the unique features of operating an emulsion polymerization in semi-continuous mode, and how structured latexes can be synthesized.

13. Experimental Methods for the Characterization of Latex Particle Size and Particle Size Distribution --
Cesar A. Silebi (Lehigh University)

            The application of fractionation and non-fractionation methods for the determination of  particle size distribution, the range of applicability, and advantages and disadvantages and their on-line measurement capability will be discussed.  Among the methods examined are: classical and dynamic light scattering, sedimentation, disc centrifugation, electrozone sensing, sedimentation field flow fractionation, capillary hydrodynamic fractionation, and recent advances in hybrid methods of analysis.  Comparisons of several of these methods will be used to illustrate problems often encountered in the particle size distribution determination of latexes.  
 

14. Advanced Research Topics in Emulsion Polymerization and Latexes: An Evening Poster Session-- Graduate Students in the Emulsion Polymers Institute, Lehigh University.



THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013
 

15. Living Radical Polymerization and Recent Advances in Emulsion Polymerization--
Michael F. Cunningham (Queen's University, Canada)

      
While significant advances have occurred in emulsion polymerization in recent decades, in both our fundamental understanding and in practice, the basic chemistry of the process has seen little change until recently. Significant for the development of future commercial products are advances being made in polymer chemistry and catalysis that allow synthesis of polymer colloids with control of the polymer microstructure, polymer colloids made using monomers not previously polymerizable in water-based systems, and in the development of polymer colloids from renewable resources including natural polymers. As this chemistry matures, new classes of polymer colloids will emerge, possibly ushering in entirely new fields of application and considerable opportunities for product innovation. For example, "living" (or "controlled") radical polymerizations (LRP/ CRP) provide a novel and potentially inexpensive route to designing polymers with controlled microstucture (e.g. block copolymers) and narrow molecular weight distributions. Earlier studies focused on homogeneous bulk and solution living radical polymerizations, but our ability to conduct LRP in aqueous dispersed phase systems has now progressed to a point where commercial applications are feasible. This presentation introduces the three major living radical polymerization chemistries (nitroxide-mediated radical polymerization (NMRP), atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and reversible-addition-fragmentation-transfer polymerization (RAFT)), and summarizes recent progress of these systems in bulk and emulsion-based systems. The emphasis will be on those aspects of operating in a heterogeneous environment that influence the polymerization rate, the molecular weight distribution and the livingness of the system. The presentation will also highlight recent advances in the use of other non-radical chemistries to make polymer colloids, and in progress to make "green" polymer colloids from renewable feedstocks and natural polymers.