February 2008

President’s Message

Light the lights! It’s time for the South Texas “really big show”.

The Polyolefins Conference will take place February 25-27, at the Wyndham Greenspoint. But this year, it will be expanded with the addition of FlexPackCon (the Flexible Packaging Divisions’s Conference) and PolyTech (a slate of SPE classroom-style seminars.) And, best of all, it’s within driving distance for South Texas members, minimizing the cost to attend—no airfare nor hotel bill!

Plenary speakers will include Gary Adams, President, CMAI, presenting the global market perspective for polyolefins, and Ken Sinclair, STAResearch, presenting the best-of-the-best new process technologies and technology advances. Ram Singhal, Vice President, Flexible Packaging Association, will address the state of Flexible Packaging, trends and drivers. Mark Peterson, Director of External Developments, Proctor and Gamble, will discuss their techniques for selecting and expediting new developments.

The Flexible Packaging Division brings a new opportunity for South Texas members to catch up on the latest in converting technologies. Randy Jester, Topas, and his committee have assembled four sessions dedicated to the flexible packaging industry. Topics include nanocomposite/TiO2 interactions in thin films, advances in retort applications, including the use of COC and SBC, Converting technology talks address reclosure in large packages as well as advances in H/FFS, HS Pouching, Stand-Up Pouches, and Stick Packaging. Sustainability, a key topic to both the resin and packaging industries, is featured in a Wednesday session. Talks address ripening inhibition, compostability, economic impact of sustainability, and the link between freshness, barrier, and sustainability.

A few years ago, the PO conference program began incorporating olefinic elastomers, and the area has been the target of much new technology. The conference will include several talks on new block copolymers, new blend and alloy technologies, comparisons with more traditional styrenic copolymers, new markets, and the global competition.

The Polyolefins Conference is a traditional “annual update for new additives”, and this year’s program offers two sessions on additives. There are talks on artificial turf and PP fiber stabilization, with many perspectives on new clarifier improvements.

The PolyTech seminar series offers formal training in:
• Blow Molding – Concept to Customer
• Fundamentals of Plastic Materials & Processing
• Crystallization & Mechanical Behavior of Polymers
• Plastic Parts Failure Analysis & Product Liability
• Computer Simulation & On-line Verification of Film Blowing
• Extrusion of Engineering Plastics
• Die Design Principles for Extrusion of Polymers
• Fundamentals of Extrusion
• Blown Film Technology & Troubleshooting
• Twin Screw Extrusion Technology
• Profile Extrusion Design & Advanced Processing
• Co-Extrusion: Principles & Practices
• Principles of Polymer Blending & Alloying
• Highlights of Thermoplastic Formulation & Compounding
• PVC Melt Rheology & Practical Applications
• Snap-Fits, Press-Fits and Welding of Plastics
• Thermoforming Tooling
• Thermoforming Design-Not Just for Designers
• Advanced Heavy Gage Thermoforming

All in all, this year’s combination of Polyolefins, Flexible Packaging, and SPE Seminars, offers an unprecedented opportunity for South Texas Section members to update their technical basis through conferencing, formal training, and networking. Don’t miss it! Register at www.spe-stx.org and www.4spe.org.

We’ll see you there!

Sincerely,

Donna S. Davis
SPE – South Texas Section President 2007-2008

Plastics Information: Check it Out

Since the Houston Public Library on McKinney St is essentially closed for remodeling, you cannot go there to browse for books on plastics/polymers. However, go to their catalog at www.hpl.lib.tx.us and arrange to pick up books at a branch library.

The Fondren Library at Rice University has the most complete collection of books on plastics and polymers. This is also a prime resource for patent and trademark information, as well as other US Government documents. You cannot check out books there unless you join Fondren Library [$50], but you can arrange for books to be sent to your library by inter-library loan. Use their catalog at www.rice.edu/fondren/.

The next best place to browse is at the MD Anderson Library at the University of Houston central campus. South Texas Section has donated many plastics books to this library. If you plan ahead, you can get a TexShare library card from a library where you are a member, which will allow you to check out books from any U of H library. Their catalog is at www.library.uh.edu/.

Bozzelli Provides “Significant Emotional Event”

John Bozzelli of Midland, Michigan, has been bringing his unique perspective to the plastics industry for the last three decades. His insistence upon questioning the “how’s” and “why’s” of plastics processing has provided our industry critical insights in the manner in which plastics behave. He also readily shares his opinions of how we can improve the way do our jobs (just keep in mind that, for most of us, our jobs are to make money and be competitive in the global marketplace.)

John has been lecturing his philosophy of Scientific Injection Molding for many years. He is well known by injection molders as one of the key individuals in our industry responsible for the evolution of plastics processing from, at times, a black art to a scientifically understood process. Many processors feel he is the individual most responsible for the current understanding of “the right way” to perform modern injection molding process development and optimization.

Last month, John brought his philosophy to South Texas and the members of the South Texas section of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE). The SPE, with the assistance of Moldflow and Houston Community College (HCC), arranged for John to give a one-day seminar on the HCC campus. Dr. Jimmy Vu of Houston Community College prepared facilities to be used for the seminar.

The South Texas SPE, with the assistance of Houston Community College, prepared a special facility for John to use. Dr. Kurt Hayden of the SPE and Dr. Vu modified existing facilities at HCC and completed the new installation of a 77 Ton Arburg Allrounder. The Allrounder was received by HCC in 2004, but had been sitting idle as funds and resources were not available to complete its installation and commissioning. Dr. Vu arranged for a wall to be removed to provide a room large enough for the expected audience. Stadium seating was also installed to create a true lecture hall setting. But what a unique lecture hall! To have a 77 ton injection molding machine in front of the class!

Jeff Applegate of the SPE and Blackwell Plastics arranged the donation of two decommissioned injection molds from Blackwell Plastics. The mold specifically used for the seminar was a family mold, making a five-sided box and a lid. The mold was refurbished, including the grinding of the parting line, by Kurt Hayden and Shahid Chouhdry of Greene Tweed & Co. A Regloplas mold temperature controller was added to the injection molding cell to provide mold coolant temperature control.

Attendance at the seminar was greater than anticipated. Seating was quickly arranged for forty-six attendees. While the seating was tight, the seminar was exciting, engaging and informative. John kept the group riveted and engaged by combinations of animated conversations, insightful and revealing comments, clear and illuminating videos, as well as demonstrations of Scientific Injection Molding Practices. Using the Arburg Allrounder, John demonstrated the process of establishing the “correct” injection velocity using a relative viscosity curve. He also demonstrated how to determine the pressure required to actuate the injection valve on a molding machine, also known as the delta-p.

At the end of the seminar, attendee surveys revealed that all had enjoyed the seminar. The attendees represented 22 different companies and three areas schools. Many of the attendees had not been to a South Texas event before, indicating that our section had successfully reached out to and provided a service for new members. John was asked for his seminar schedule, which can be found on his website: www.scientificmolding.com.

During his introduction, John had warned that not everyone might like him. He cautioned that his comments might make some feel defensive. He promised that this was intentional. He had opined that the only way to know the answer, is to ask the question, and some questions make you feel uncomfortable. But he promised that this direct method of questioning would provide “significant emotional events”. At the end of the seminar, most attendees agreed that they had witnessed a series of emotional events that day.

Survey comments included:

“[The] most valuable seminar I have seen an SPE chapter host, and I serve many regions...”

“John is preaching the word of plastics as an evangelist.”

“Best seminar I have attended in the 40 years since I graduated.”

“Best value and excellent seminar for the money and time.”

And

“Thank you for conducting this seminar in Houston.”

Contact Info:
John Bozzelli
Injection Molding Solutions
1019 Balfour Street
Midland, MI 48640
Phone (989)832-2424
FAX (989)832-8743
john@scientificmolding.com

High-Speed Injection Molding of Thin-Wall Polycarbonate Tubes

Robert T. Alvarez, Jorge Gutierrez, and Mac Russelburg

Demands for low cost, light weight, and miniaturization, along with restrictive engineering parameters, have forced many medical device designs into product envelopes that push the limits of moldability. For example, in endoscopic surgery, thinner-wall cannulae (tubes) are now being required. Such designs can tax the flow characteristics of the polycarbonates typically specified. When we decided to develop a 100mm-long tube with ribs and 0.68-mm-thick walls, mold-flow analysis predicted a cycle with injection pressure of 23,000 psi and melt temperatures of 323°C. Previous work indicated that molding polycarbonate tubes at these conditions results in degradation of the molecular weight of the polymer. Although in that case the molecular-weight damage was not enough to significantly reduce the polymer’s mechanical properties, it was demonstrated that processing polycarbonate at 323°C significantly limits allowable residence time of the polymer in the barrel and narrows the permissible processing condition window.

Molding thin-wall polycarbonate tubes on conventional injection molding machines with maximum injection pressures of 138–158 MPa results in molecular-weight degradation of the polymer because of the requirement for excessive melt temperatures. In light of this fact, we began to investigate the effects of high injection speed and pressure on our ability to fill a 100-mm, 0.68-mm wall cannula while protecting the polycarbonate construction material from loss of molecular weight.

Experimental Conditions, Results and Discussion

Procedural details and results are discussed below for both preliminary experiments and follow-up studies. Analysis of these findings led us to formulate final conclusions and thus determine a successful manufacturing strategy. Injection molding trials were conducted on various injection molding presses with accumulator-assisted injection control. Each machine is described more fully within the discussion of the experiment in which it was used. The melt temperatures listed were actually measured with a pyrometer on polymer melt extruded from the nozzle under low-shear conditions. In all the following experimental work the polycarbonate material used was Dow 2081-15 (melt index =15 g/10 min).

Preliminary Experiment. First, to study the effects of injection speed on the ability to fill a 100-mm cannula with a thicker wall (0.76 mm), injection speeds were gradually increased while a constant melt temperature of 296°C was maintained on a Sumitomo SG 125, a 125-tn, 122-g machine. At speeds between 200 and 300 mm/sec, a completely filled, stress-free tube could not be manufactured. It was found that in the 300–375-mm/sec range, an acceptable tube could be molded. At a speed of 375 mm/sec, injection pressure was 83 MPa. Measurement of molecular weight of the material in the molded tubes showed that no degradation during molding had occurred.

Based on these results, it was theorized that high-speed shear is more effective in reversibly decreasing the viscosity of polycarbonate than is elevated melt temperature.

The results corroborated information reported by polycarbonate suppliers claiming that polycarbonate viscosity is dramatically affected by shear rates.^1,2 As stated in one report, “The combination of injection speed and gate size allowed us to achieve the desired span of shear rates.”¹

Initial Thin-Wall Cannula Molding. A new cannula design mandated that the wall thickness of the tube be reduced to 0.63 mm. The most challenging design feature for the production of this cannula was the requirement for ribs on the outer diameter. The rib design featured a height of 0.25 mm, with a 0.05-mm radius at the tip.

In designing the molding tool and selecting the injection molding equipment for this project, two items were of prime importance. The injection molding equipment needed to be capable of achieving injection speeds up to 500 mm/sec, and venting of the tool was perceived to be critical.

The Nestal Series N 150-tn clamp injection molding press was at first selected for this job. This machine features a 225-g barrel with injection speeds up to 500 mm/sec and injection pressures up to 214 MPa. Tooling was designed with inserts in the sleeve area to provide for facile modifications. Because the optimum gate size was an unknown, an intermediate-size, 1.27-mm gate was chosen.

With an H-13 steel insert, a melt temperature of 315°C, and the machine operating at its maximum pressure, the cannulae molded were clear, the cobalt blue tint characteristic of the resin having disappeared. The rib section of the part was not filled or packed out completely. Attempts using vacuum assist did not improve the process, and it was concluded that any further work with H-13 inserts would be futile.

The H-13 inserts were then replaced with Porcerax II porous steel inserts in the sleeve area of the cavity. Satisfactory cannulae could then be produced at melt temperatures of 304°C, with an injection speed of 500 mm/sec and a resultant injection pressure of 158 MPa. The porous steel supplemented the venting, and both part quality and rib definition were significantly improved.

At this point, it was decided that the Nestal N series injection molding press was not capable of achieving the injection rates and pressures necessary to optimize the processing conditions, and a Nestal Synergy 150-tn injection molding press was subsequently selected for further work in this program. Fitted with a 85-g barrel, this press was capable of speeds up to 1000 mm/sec and pressures up to 207 MPa.

High-Speed Injection Experiment. In the next experiment a different five-stage injection profile was devised by trial and error for each polymer melt temperature at 5.5°C intervals between 287 and 315°C, inclusive. Each stage of each profile was set for a 0.1-second duration. Minimum injection speeds at each stage that were capable of producing visually acceptable parts were selected for the profiles. The stages of the profiles were scaled down from high speed to low speed to maximize the rheological effects of the high-speed injection while minimizing jetting of the melt in the cavity. The injection profiles that resulted from this exercise are shown in Table I.

Under the conditions of the experiment, the injection pressure peaked at 220 MPa for 0.05 seconds and then subsequently dropped to approximately 138 MPa or slightly less for the higher temperatures tested, 304° to 315°C.

When molecular-weight studies were conducted on the molded cannulae, no molecular-weight degradation could be found for product molded at any of the melt temperatures. This result was especially significant in light of earlier studies on cannulae with 0.89-mm. walls and no ribs, molded at conventional injection speeds of 100 to 150 mm/sec through a 2.3-mm gate. These parts had displayed significant molecular-weight degradation probably due to the use of excessively high melt temperatures—approaching 337°C—to achieve fill.

Gate Effects. Subsequently the effect of gate size on the molding process was examined. When the 1.27-mm gate, used in the work described above, was increased to 1.52 mm, the required level of shear thinning of the polymer did not occur. With the larger gate, higher melt temperatures were required to fill the cannulae at each injection speed than with the 1.27-mm gate. When gate size was reduced to 1.02 mm, gate freeze-off occurred and prevented assessment of the effect of this orifice size on the polymer flow characteristics.

It has been stated that “thermoplastics are non-Newtonian in nature, which means that their viscosity will change dependent on their velocity; i.e., the amount of shear experienced. This non-Newtonian nature is key in thin-wall molding.”² So is the short-lived temperature increase in the polymer, which is believed to occur due to shear heating during the high-speed injection step. Together these effects provide the low polymer viscosity needed for full, stress-free parts to be produced. The results of the current study support the concept that polycarbonate can be injection molded at high speeds and shear rates if properly controlled. Material flow characteristics, gate position and size, and venting must all be balanced to obtain a structurally sound part.

For polycarbonates, the standard assumption that injection speeds should be below 250 mm/sec has been discredited. Rather, an intelligent application of shear effects can open up the possibility of molding long, thin walls without very high melt temperatures and the accompanying polymer degradation. To achieve success in such processing, the type of injection molding equipment is critical. The injection molding machine should be capable of minimum injection speeds of 500 mm/sec, and injection pressure must be greater than 207 MPa. Tooling should be designed for maximum venting, and gating should be in the direction of flow. Gates should be small enough to promote shear thinning and transitory heating of the polymer but not so small as to cause premature freeze-off.

Conclusion

The results of the numerous experiments described above support the belief that injection molding of thin-wall polycarbonate parts under high-shear-rate cavity filling and moderate (287°– 315°C) melt temperature conditions provide superior parts with less molded-in stresses and polymer degradation than parts formed under conditions of lower shear and higher melt temperature. The shear regimen during filling of the cavity is conveniently controlled by injection speed and gate diameter. The ability to fill the part well under these conditions results from extreme thinning of the polymer, probably due to both its pseudoplastic nature and the short-lived temperature rise it experiences because of the shear energy imparted to it. While the short-lived elevated temperature of the polymer produced by the shear energy as the polymer passes rapidly through the restricted flow channels is effective in helping to thin the material, it is much less damaging to it than a high temperature (315°–343°C) experienced by a resin throughout its residence interval in the barrel. High-speed, high-shear, moderate-melt-temperature injection regimes are recommended for the production of high-quality polycarbonate medical device parts.

References

1. Serrano M, Little J, and Chilcoat T, “Critical Shear Rate for the Injection Molding of Polycarbonate, Polystyrene, and Styrene Acrylonitrile,” in Society of Plastics Engineers, Inc., Technical Papers, vol XLI (ANTEC 95), Brookfield, CT, SPE, pp 357–365, 1995.
2. Fassett J, “Thin-Wall Molding: Differences in Processing over Standard Injection Molding,” in Society of Plastics Engineers, Inc., Technical Papers, vol XLI (ANTEC 95), Brookfield, CT, SPE, pp 430–433, 1995.

Robert T. Alvarez is a plastics consulting engineer for Ethicon Endo-Surgery, a Johnson & Johnson Co. (Cincinnati). He holds a degree in plastics engineering from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, and has more than 30 years’ experience in polymer processing and design. Jorge Gutierrez, also at Ethicon Endo-Surgery, is a staff development engineer with 16 years’ experience in the biomedical field. He holds a degree in mechanical engineering from Georgia Tech University, and has worked in various roles in manufacturing and product development. Mac Russelburg is project manager at Tech Group Tempe (Tempe, AZ). He has been involved in injection mold making for plastics for approximately 18 years and also has extensive experience in processing technology.

Bulletin Board

Upcoming Topical Conferences (TopCons)

FlexPackCon^®
February 24-27
Houston, Texas, USA

International Polyolefins Conference 2008
February 24-27
Houston, Texas, USA

Polymer Nanocomposites
March 3-5, 2008
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania USA

Thermoset TopCon
March 6-7, 2008
Allerton Hotel
Chicago, Illinois USA

GPEC^® Global Plastics Environmental Conference 2008
March 10 -12, 2008
Orlando, Florida, USA

Automotive Injection Molding TopCon
March 24-26, 2008
Marriott Hotel
Greenville, South Carolina USA

6th European Thermoforming Conference
April 3-5, 2008
Maritim Hotel Berlin
Berlin, Germany

Decorating & Assembly TopCon
June 9-11, 2008
Marriott Conference Center
Ypsilanti, Michigan USA

FOAMS™ 2008
September 9-11, 2008
Charlotte, North Carolina USA

CAD RETEC^® – Coloring into the Next Decade
September 21-23, 2008
Hyatt Regency Hotel
Dearborn, Michigan USA

Thermoforming Conference^® 2008
September 20-23, 2008
Minneapolis Convention Center & Hilton Hotel
Minneapolis, Minnesota USA

Engineering Properties & Structure Division TopCon
October 13-14, 2008
Holiday Inn Select
Wimington, Deleware USA

Vinyltec – Vinyl Raw Material Overview and Update
October 13-15, 2008
Crowne Plaza Chicago O'Hare
Rosemont, Illinois USA

SPE Co-Extrusion TopCon
October 20-21, 2008
Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza Hotel
Cincinnati, Ohio USA

SPE 2008 New Technology Symposium
November 4-5, 2008
Renaissance Philadelphia Hotel Airport
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA

TopCon FAQ

Q: What is the difference between a RETEC and a TopCon?
A: RETEC is an acronym and term that SPE has largely abandoned in favor of TopCon. TopCon, or Topical Conference, has since replaced RETEC, which stood for Regional Technical Conference. This change in terminology reflects our focus on and commitment to delivering content as opposed to an event's geographical location.

Q: What is the difference between a TopCon and a seminar?
A: TopCons generally consist of programming lasting 2-3 days in duration where multiple speakers present papers/presentations on different topics relating to a theme, material, process or industry. Some TopCons offer a tradeshow component.
       Seminars, on the other hand, are 1- or 2-day programs devoted to one subject and are usually led by a single instructor who is a leader in his/her field. Seminars do not offer a tradeshow component.

Q: What is a “Minitec”?
A: Minitecs are regional “miniature” conferences addressing a topic and may include a tradeshow component. Program duration is usually limited to one day and is organized by one of SPE’s Technical Divisions.

Q: Are TopCons held only in the United States?
A: While TopCons are indeed held throughout the U.S. and Canada, our programs have now expanded into Europe and Asia as well.

Q: Must I be a member of SPE in order to attend or present a paper at an SPE Conference?
A: Yes and no: Members and non-members alike are welcome at TopCons and ANTEC, SPE’s Annual Technical Conference (held during the first or second week of May). Member status requirements relative to presenting a paper at a TopCon vary and are at the discretion of the host conference committee. In order to present a paper or moderate a session at ANTEC, all participants must be members of the Society.

Q: How do I announce an event in Plastics Engineering Magazine?
A: Publicizing SPE Events in Plastics Engineering Magazine - Send your SPE Section, Division, or SIG meeting/event information to Alyson Tabot at abtabot@4spe.org. Please include the date of the event, location, subject, and contact person. If you have questions, contact Alyson at 203-740-5421.
       NOTE: You must submit your information at least two months prior to the date of the issue in which the event is to be publicized.

SPE-STX Board Meeting

Location: Via Teleconference
Date: January 14, 2008

1. Call to order, Safety, Antitrust, Agenda Overview – Donna Davis

• The meeting was called to order at 4:35 PM.
• Donna recommended safety to those participating in the meeting.
• Donna referenced the SPE anti-trust policy.
• The agenda was reviewed and additions solicited

2. Roll Call – Kurt Hayden

• 7 voting members were in attendance.
• Donna appointed the 4 non-voting members as proxies.
• Quorum was met.

3. Minutes of last meeting – Kurt Hayden

• Kurt Hayden moved to accept the minutes of December’s director’s meeting as submitted by Harish Sangani.
• Don Witenhafer seconded the motion.
• None opposed – Motion carried.

4. Treasurer's Report – Glenn Rasberry – as of 12/31/07

• Financial update – Spreadsheet submitted by e-mail.
  • Section account balance:  $10,367.36
  • Polyolefins account balance:  $2,613.89
  • Money Market balance:  $109,089.48
  • Total balance:  $122,070.73
• Polyolefin’s account was closed 1-10-08 and the balance of $2613.89 was transferred into the general account.
• Balance as of today is $138,420.11
• Check to UH should be made to student chapter. Was made to the instructor. Glen requested the board to stop payment on the initial check.
  • Motion by Don Witenhafer
  • Seconded by Kurt Hayden
• Mark Demark moved to accept the Treasurer’s report.
  • Kurt Hayden seconded the motion.
  • None opposed – Motion carried.

5. Polyolefins 2008 Update – Bill Diecks

• People are now registering
• Contribution from the Flexible Packaging people has been disappointing.
• Don Witenhafer has volunteered to be General Chair for 2009.
• Brandon Cleary has done a great job pulling in exhibitors.
• Suzanne suggested change the entire section website management to another firm, including the conference.
• Bill asked everyone to help distribute the advertising post cards.

6. Education Committee Update – Kelly Harrison

• Plastivan: Difficult pulling together a list at last minute MLK day is usually the start day.
  • No response for the museum of natural history.
• Activities at Children’s Museum are on hold – if anything occurs with the Museum, funds are suggested to go directly to the individual involved.
• Bring to schools only for 5 days/$7500. (will try for 1 free day for Children’s museum)
• Extra money will go back into educational funds.

7. Technical Program – Jeff Applegate

• Seminar Survey – Responses were very positive
  • All attendees reported enjoying the seminar
  • “Best value and excellent seminar for the money & time”
  • “Best seminar I have attended in the 40 years since I graduated.”
  • “Most valuable seminar I have seen a SPE chapter host, and I serve many regions”
  • However, vegetarian dishes should be available at future events.
• Donna commended Kurt and Jeff for an exceptional job in developing and organizing the event, including the use of the HCC facilities with modifications to the room and startup/commissioning of the injection molding equipment.
  
• The seminar was an excellent training event for the local membership, and it developed framework on which a continuing program may be built at HCC
• Suzanne suggested making sure we have a dinner following any seminars to provide networking for members not attending the seminar.

8. Nominations – Jeff Applegate

• Officers
  • President – Jeff Applegate
  • President Elect / Program Chair – Brandon Cleary
  • Vice-President / Newsletter – Kurt Hayden
  • Treasurer – Glenn Rasberry
  • Secretary – Harish
  • Councilor – Donna Davis
• Motion to approve Officers as presented Don Witenhafer
  • Seconded by Suzanne
  • None opposed – Motion carried.
• List of Chairs is incomplete...but is not due until July when voted upon. A list of the chairs will be provided when nominations are complete.
• One board position will be open at the end of this year. Others will be alternates.

9. Preview of policy manual update – Marty Husti

• Revised copy submitted to Donna with revision marks included.
• Donna has forwarded with meeting announcement.
• There is conflict in appointing a new councilor when Rick leaves. Marty will insert options to remove these conflicts, for the board to review.
• Changes to the manual were reviewed for each position.
• Discussion: addition of section coordinator to the manual, decision not to include separately, but the position is mentioned where appropriate.
• A sub committee will be created to finalize the manual consisting of Donna, Jeff and Marty.
• Marty/Jeff/Donna will consolidate the input from the Board before a March vote.
• Feedback from all section members (especially Directors and Officers) is solicited and to be gathered by Marty.

10. Other Business

• ANTEC 2009 Location will be in Chicago with NPE.

11. Adjournment

• Don Witenhafer moved to adjourn the meeting and Glen Rasberry seconded.
• None opposed – Motion carried.
• With no opposing votes, the meeting was adjourned at 5:53 PM.

Eight Great New Titles for 2008

	Member $84 Nonmember $102 Handbook of Analytical Instruments
	Member $168 Nonmember $201 Polymer Reaction Engineering
	Member $102 Nonmember $151 Polyolefin Blends
	Member $20 Nonmember $25 Influencer: The Power to Change Anything
	Member $191 Nonmember $230 Selection of Polymeric Materials
	Member $213 Nonmember $252 Handbook of Chemical Analysis of Plastic
	Member $102 Nonmember $151 Polyolefin Composites
	Member $166 Nonmember $199 Fluorinated Ionomers

Councilor’s Report

The SPE Council met January 25 and 26, 2008, in Savannah, GA. The traditional big agenda item for the winter meeting is the election of officers for the coming year which officially begins at ANTEC. The following officers were elected:

President-Elect: Paul Andersen
Senior Vice President: Ken Braney
Vice President: Jon Ratzlaff

The Council also elects a Chairperson for the Committee of the Whole deliberations (informal meeting of Council). For 2008/2009, the CCOW will be chaired by Brent Strong.

Another important item on the agenda was the first reading of a bylaw change to eliminate the International Committee. The IC has fostered the growth of non-North American sections and divisions, but now the globalization of SPE is becoming “main stream”. SPE Europe has been operating as an oversight committee for European activities, and a similar committee will be established for the Asia Pacific region. A new Strategic Growth committee will also be staffed to evaluate new opportunities for both sections and divisions.

From the operations perspective, the January meeting came a bit early to have final year-end financial data, but enough data was available to assess performance. As with all organizations, there was both good and bad news.

ANTEC will be moved for 2009 to co-locate with the NPE in Chicago. SPI (the NPE organizer) and SPE will jointly work to negate the hotel contract losses by moving other meetings to San Antonio. It is hoped that the NPE traffic will boost SPE membership through increased visibility and marketing. Discussion has begun around bringing the SPE Foundation back under the SPE operations. This will reduce some redundancy in operating costs (dual audits, extra overhead, etc.) while retaining the mission of the Foundation to administer grants, scholarships, and other activities to advance the societal understanding of plastics and polymers.

Rick Wagner has served the South Texas Section well, but ChevronPhillips Chemical has reassigned him to a sales territory in Chicago. Consequently, the Board appointed Donna Davis to complete his term. If you have any questions or suggestions for the SPE Council (the governing body), please contact her at donna.s.davis@exxonmobil.com.

Endowment Letters

from UT

from Texas Tech