Events

Dr. Rigoberto Advincula, Professor at Case Western Reserve University, will give a talk entitled "Nanostructured Polymer Materials for Oil & Gas" as part of the Claude R. Hocott Graduate Seminar Series.

Abstract:
The challenges of unconventional oil & gas resources necessitates high performance materials for polymers (non-metallics) and additives. The high temperature, high pressure and acidic brine conditions are manifested in many offshore and onshore deep drilling conditions as well as hydraulic fracturing. Most organic polymer materials have degradation behavior that can be predicted by aging experiments. Nanomaterials and nanostructuring protocols enable unique surface features or morphology that allow stabilty, non-wetting conditions, and high thermo-mechanical integrity. This talk will highlight some of the demanding requirements for materials as well as new methodologies and materials from the Advincula Research Group and PETRO Case.  These includes superhydrophobic films with anti-corrosion and de-icing properties, nanostructured graphene oxide emulsions, and hyperbranched polymer materials.

Bio:
Rigoberto Advincula is Professor at the Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, USA.  He is a Fellow of the American Chemical Society (ACS), Fellow of the Polymer Science and Engineering Division (ACS), Fellow of the Polymer Chemistry Division (ACS). He is also a member of NACE, SPE, ERC, MRS, and AAAS.  He received the distinguished Herman Mark Scholar Award in 2013 from the ACS. He is Editor of Reactive and Functional Polymers and Associate Editor of Polymer Reviews. His group does research in polymer materials, nanocomposites, colloidal science, hybrid materials, and ultrathin films towards applications from smart coatings to biomedical devices. Currently, he is director of PETRO Case a Consortium dealing with the challenging materials problems of the Oil-Gas Industry.