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Did Six Sigma Really Kill Innovation at 3M?

August 22, 2013 By Jeffrey Gotro 1 Comment

I just recently came across yet another article on how Six Sigma “killed” innovation at 3M (1).  A prominent business magazine ran a cover story on the same topic.  But guess what?  Sensational headlines grab readers attention, but what really “killed” innovation (even that’s debatable, 3M seems to be doing pretty well these days) was the inappropriate application of Six Sigma ... [Click to Continue...]

The Winding Road to Renewable Thermoset Polymers Part 5: Epoxies

August 15, 2013 By Jeffrey Gotro 2 Comments

Guest Post by Dr. Robert Humphreys Readers who perform DIY repairs and projects around their homes will readily recognize a two-part epoxy adhesive dispenser. Epoxies are thermoset polymers that cure (crosslink) when a di- or multi-functional epoxy monomer reacts with a hardener. Many types of hardeners are used, depending on the desired properties of the cured epoxy, the ... [Click to Continue...]

3D Printing of Medical Implants Is on the Way

August 6, 2013 By Jeffrey Gotro 5 Comments

Guest Post by Steve Erickson Recently, an elderly woman was the recipient of the first 3D-printed body part: a lower jaw replacement. Soon after, an American man made headlines for being one of the first recipients of a 3D-printed medical implant, with 75% of his skull replaced with a custom-made, printed implant. These stories hint at what is to come. With 3D printing of ... [Click to Continue...]

The Winding Road to Renewable Thermoset Polymers Part 4: Phenolic Resins

July 29, 2013 By Jeffrey Gotro 1 Comment

Guest Post by Dr. Robert Humphreys Depending on your age, chances are your parents, grandparents or great-grandparents made most of their telephone calls with a rotary-dial phone manufactured with Bakelite. It was heavy, came in black only, and was almost indestructible. If you have children or grandchildren under the age of 20, show them the image. Unless they watch “Leave it ... [Click to Continue...]

Compostable Cups at Angels Stadium

July 23, 2013 By Jeffrey Gotro 3 Comments

I was at Angels Stadium in Anaheim, CA on Sunday when the Angels were playing the Oakland Athletics.  My “adult beverage” came in a polylactic acid (PLA) cup.  I needed the adult beverage since Bartolo Colon (the 40 year old pitcher for the Oakland A’s) was pitching “lights out” on his way to a complete game shutout (6-0) of the Angels.  His nasty sinker stymied the Angels ... [Click to Continue...]

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Polymer Innovation Blog

I’m Dr. Jeff Gotro and welcome to the Polymer Innovation Blog. Over the last 40 years I have been involved in polymer research, along with product and process development. I acquired invaluable experience working for IBM, AlliedSignal, Honeywell, Ablestik Labs (now Henkel) and in multiple consulting projects. In this blog, I (along with some guest contributors) will share our experiences, tips, and “tricks of the trade” to get more out of your innovation efforts and discuss new trends and technical advances in the polymer industry.
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Polymers in Electronic Packaging

polymers in electronic packaging Are you confused about what is electronic packaging? Have you ever wondered what type of polymers and polymer-based composites are used in electronics? Learn More...

Practical Tips for Curing Thermosets

practical tips for curing thermosets Have you ever had a question about the degree of cure or is your part fully cured after processing? Confused about what is gelation or how does vitrification impact thermoset curing? Learn More...

Rheology of Thermosets

rheology of thermosets Have you ever had a question about measuring the rheological properties of thermosets Didn’t know what is the right experimental approach to get the right rheological information? Learn More...

Dielectric Cure Monitoring of Thermosets

Dielectric Cure Monitoring of Thermosets Do you have a need for an in-situ cure monitor for a thermoset process but don’t know where to start? Are you confused about the terminology used in dielectric spectroscopy? Learn More...

Introduction to Biopolymers and Bioplastics

Introduction to Biopolymers and Bioplastics Would you like to know how sustainable are bio-based polymers? Or what is the market size and growth rate for bioplastics? Or have questions about the biomass supply chain? Learn More...

Thermoset Characterization

Thermoset Characterization Have you ever had a question about how to measure a physical property of a thermoset? Confused about what is gelation or how does vitrification impact thermoset curing profiles? Or wondered how to measure the glass transition temperature of an epoxy or polyester composite? Learn More...

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