Expert Details
Photopolymers, Flexography, UV Cure Coatings, 3D Additive Manufacturing
ID: 727967
Georgia, USA
Expert is also familiar with UV curable inks and coatings used in Screen Printing applications. Expert's earlier career experiences included a yearlong assignment at AT&T Bell Laboratories as a post-doctoral Member of the Technical Staff. There he trained in microlithography, which laid the foundation for his subsequent work in photopolymer chemistry. His initial work helped pave commercialization of AT&T Bell Laboratories’ CAMP-6 Photoresist.
Expert’s educational credentials include a Ph.D. in Polymer Chemistry from the University of Florida. His Ph.D. dissertation in the field of Anionic Polymerization resulted in several peer-reviewed papers in publications such as Macromolecules. During his subsequent stint at W. R. Grace, he designed and developed several novel water-dispersible elastomeric photopolymers using anionic polymerization for a water-developable Flexographic printing plate. This work resulted in several patents. Expert's training in Flexography and particularly, photopolymers allowed him to study in depth the structure-property relationship of various oligomers and monomers after UV curing. Expert also worked in the area of UV curable Screen Printing inks and coatings expanding his knowledge in polymer chemistry, organic polymers and oligomers.
Expert has over 20 years experience in radiation curable chemistries include radiation curable photopolymers, UV cured inks for Screen printing and UV cured coatings for specialty applications.
Radiation Curable Photopolymers: Expert headed a number of critical research initiatives in Digital and In-the-Round (ITR) Flexography, dealing with radiation curable photopolymers. His efforts in photopolymers resulted in 10 US patents and several (5+) commercial products.
Radiation Curable Inks: Expert has developed a line of UV curable Screen printing inks for various substrates and applications. This includes UV curable inks for "difficult-to-adhere" substrates such as polyolefins. Other notable inks include flexible and thermoformable UV curable inks for metal and polyester.
Radiation Curable Coatings: Expert has developed a number of "Smart" UV curable coatings for specialty applications. These include, anti-skid overprint varnish, UV and weather resistant overprint varnish for Digital prints, UV curable overprint varnish having a magnetic surface to stick magnets, UV curable overprint varnish having a dry erase surface, etc.
Expert has developed a number of "Environmentally Friendly" solvent systems for press-side cleaning in Screen Printing and as plate developing solvents for Flexographic printing applications. There were four criteria chosen for a solvent system to be classified as “Environmentally Friendly”:
1) Biodegradability, 2) Sustainability, 3) Non-mutagenic, and 4) Low Toxicity.
All of the cleaning solvent systems are derived from bio-based, renewable resources such as Corn, Vegetable oil such as Palm Kernel & Coconut oils and Bio-mass and not fossil fuel based.
Screen printing cleaning systems are ink degraders and stain removers used for cleaning of screens. Press side cleaning systems called Press Wipes were also designed to clean screens during a print run. “Environmentally Friendly” Flexographic plate development systems were designed to efficiently develop flexo plates after UV exposure. The above solvent systems are non-toxic, have low odor and benign to human health.
Expert has extensive experience in polyurethane systems mainly used for flexographic printing applications. His experience includes developing liquid polyurethane photopolymers used for corrugated, book and stamp printing.
Expert has also developed a series of elastomers used in Direct Laser Engraving of Polyurethanes such as millable polyurethanes, cast polyurethanes, and thermoplastic polyurethanes used in direct laser engravable flexographic printing plates.
Selected Examples of Past Projects:
• Hired as an Expert Consultant in the area of Polymer Chemistry. Rendered expert opinion for specific questions related to (undisclosed project number), especially as it pertained to defining an “elastomeric material” for client’s patent examination with US PTO. 2009
• Hired as an Expert Consultant for Photoresists. Rendered expert opinion for specific questions related to (undisclosed project number) on the esterification of pendant hydroxyl groups of positive photoresists for client’s patent examination with US PTO. 2010
• Expert Consultant and Expert Witness for the Plaintiff 2007.
• Expert Consultant for the Defendant, Ongoing Litigation 2006
• Expert Consultant and Expert Witness for the Plaintiff, Ongoing Litigation, 2007 to Present
Education
Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
---|---|---|---|
Year: 1999 | Degree: MBA | Subject: General Management | Institution: Georgia State University |
Year: 1988 | Degree: PhD | Subject: Organic/Polymer Chemistry | Institution: University of Florida |
Year: 1983 | Degree: B.Sc (Technology) | Subject: Textile/Polymer Chemistry | Institution: Bombay University Department of Chemical Technology (UDCT), Bombay University |
Year: 1978 | Degree: B.Sc. | Subject: Chemistry | Institution: Bombay University |
Work History
Years | Employer | Title | Department |
---|---|---|---|
Years: 2005 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: President | Department: R&D |
Responsibilities:President and Founder of a consulting firm offering research and product development services to corporations. Brings a well-rounded background of corporate experience and educational credentials (Ph.D. in Polymer Chemistry and an MBA) to company with responsibilities including the day-to-day operation of the firm, acting as R&D Director of other corporations and consulting. Has continued commitment to innovation and IP Development by working on projects as diverse as use of microreplication for radiation cure systems, Elastomers for Direct Laser Engraving for relief printing applications, and development of a portfolio of environmentally friendly solvents for the Graphic Arts, which has resulted in several patent applications. |
|||
Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 1995 to 2005 | Employer: Macdermid Printing Solutions | Title: Research Project Manager | Department: Plates Division |
Responsibilities:During his tenure, Expert headed a number of critical research initiatives in Digital and In-the-Round (ITR) Flexography, identifying several key technologies for continued growth of the flexographic market and Macdermid’s market share. This effort resulted in 10 US patents and several (5+) commercial products. He led a team of technicians, associates, and engineers, developing his staff and guiding them in both company and independent research projects. Also served as liaison for the corporation’s patent attorneys for intellectual property protection and development. |
|||
Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 1990 to 1995 | Employer: W. R. Grace & Co | Title: Research Associate | Department: Washington Research Center |
Responsibilities:He designed and developed several novel water-dispersible elastomeric photopolymers using anionic polymerization, which resulted in several patents. He also worked on projects dealing with Reactive Extrusion of an aqueous dispersible Polyurethane for a water-wash Flexo plate. Was primarily responsible for developing and starting company's Digital Flexography efforts. |
|||
Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 1988 to 1990 | Employer: AT&T Bell Laboratories | Title: Post-doctoral Member of the Technical Staff | Department: Microlithography |
Responsibilities:Trained in microlithography, which laid the foundation for his subsequent work in photopolymer chemistry. Initial work helped pave commercialization of AT&T Bell Laboratories’ CAMP-6 Photoresist. Training here set the stage for continued efforts later in career in the field of Radiation Cure and Graphic Arts. |
International Experience
Years | Country / Region | Summary |
---|---|---|
Years: 1998 to 1998 | Country / Region: Mainz, Germany | Summary: Visiting Scientist at Johannes Gutenberg Universitat, Institut fur Physikalische Chemie, Mainz, Germany for a joint NATO project. Performed kinetic studies of anionic polymerization of Trityl Methacrylate using stop-flow techniques for the joint NATO project with undisclosed group. |
Career Accomplishments
Publications and Patents Summary |
---|
Patents: 25 |
Additional Experience
Expert Witness Experience |
---|
Cases/consulting projects: 9 |
Other Relevant Experience |
---|
Develops Intellectual Property, Laser Engravable Flexographic and Non-Attenuating Light Collimating. |
Language Skills
Language | Proficiency |
---|---|
Hindi | Studied in School |
Fields of Expertise
photocuring, radiation-curable polymer, photopolymer, photopolymerization, crosslinking agent, electron-beam polymer curing, ultraviolet-curable polymer, polymer chemistry, organic polymer, homopolymer, monomer, oligomer, radiation-curable coating, radiation-cured printing ink, screen printing, screen printing ink, ultraviolet ink, organic coating material, environmentally safe cleaning agent, screen printing cleaning agent, polyurethane, flexographic printing, flexographic printing plate, microreplication, radiation-cure urethane, ultraviolet stability, radiation ink curing, ink curing, radiation-curable pressure-sensitive adhesive, ablative photodecomposition, flexographic ink, glass transition, actinic radiation, radiation-curable adhesive, polymer structure-property relationship, polymer mechanical property, ultraviolet curing, polymer viscosity, styrenic polymer, environmentally friendly product, engraved-roll coating process, polymer crosslinking, gravure photoresist, copolymer, ultraviolet polymer curing, solvent cleaning, soluble polymer, polymer, polymer coating material, polyacrylate, cleaning solvent, block polymer