Spring Technical Meeting highlights student speakers

Akron, OH – The Rubber Division ACS, is highlighting the work of several graduate level students from around the world at the Spring Technical Meeting.

On Tuesday, March 4:

EPDM-based Smart Elastomers: All-In-One Approach for Triboelectric Current Generation, Piezoresistive Strain Sensing and Solvent Vapor Identification
• Arpita Kundu is a PhD student at IPF Dresden. She specializes in elastomer research for self-healing applications and designing elastomer-based sensors for strain and solvent detection and potential energy harvesters.

Smart Devulcanization of End-of-Life Tire Enhanced Interface along with Mechanical Properties in NR/SBR Compound
• Marzieh Shabani is a third-year PhD candidate in the School of Polymer Science and Engineering at the University of Akron, specializing in End-of-Life Tire recycling.

Environmentally Friendly Rubber Process Aid
• Marymol Johnson is pursuing her PhD at MIT Anna University in Chennai, India and she is Associate Manager for Apollo Tyres Global R&D, Asia.

Wednesday, March 5

Understanding the Mechanism of Void Formation and Fracture in Elastomeric Nanocomposites at Large Strains
• Harshad Bhapkar is a PhD student at the University of South Florida with interest in the semiconductor and industrial lubricants sectors.

Thursday, March 6

Quantification of 6PPD and its Transformation Product (6PPD-Quinone) Concentration Under the Influence of Ozone and Migration Kinetics Analysis Using Ultraviolet-Visible-Near Infrared Spectrophotometer
• Samara Nishi is a 3rd year PhD student in Dr. Ali Dhinojwala’s Research group at the University of Akron.

Time Temperature Superposition of Rubber Crack Growth Experiments
• Aaron Duncan is a PhD student at Queen Mary University of London, sponsored by SLB. His thesis is on predicting failure of rubber aged in extreme environments.