MN Local Section of ACS

MN ACS Meeting, Tues Jan 10, 2012

Location:  Century College

Meeting Announcement:

Title:  “The Cutting Edge of Ceramics”

Speakers:  Dr Mark Schwabel and Dr Scott Culler, 3M Abrasive Systems Division

Since the 1980’s, sol-gel technologies have used microstructure control to manipulate the hardness, toughness and fracture properties of ceramic materials.  Recently, when developing technology that allows the mass production of precisely shaped ceramic articles, 3M inventors found that several paradigms about the origin of these material properties came crashing down.  The MN ACS kicks off the 2012 Seminar Series with speakers from 3M Abrasive Systems Division.  They will discuss materials used for grinding applications to illustrate exciting new ceramic properties and capabilities.

3M’s patented sol-gel technology for abrasive grains has been cited in the 1995 Industry, Trade and Technology Review by the National Critical Technologies Panel and US Council on Competitiveness.  CubitronTM II abrasive products containing precisely shaped ceramic grains have been recognized in Minnesota with the 2010 Tekne Award and nationally with the 2010 R&D100 Award , and the 2011 Tech America American Technology Award for Manufacturing.

Meeting schedule:

5:00 PM Executive committee meeting, room E 2555 (off cafeteria)

6:00 PM dinner

7:00 PM Speakers (no cost for speakers only) - Lincoln Mall (2nd floor central area with flags)

Menu: Chicken Parmesan Buffet
Tossed Caesar Salad with Garlic Croutons,
Parmesan Crusted Breast of Chicken with Marinara Sauce and Mozzarella Cheese over Linguine,
Chef ’s Choice Vegetable
Freshly Baked Breadsticks
Dessert Bars,
Coffee, Pop, and water.

Dinner price:

Pay in advance $18.00
Pay at the door $21.00
Student $9.00

RSVP by January 5, 2012

Dr Mark Schwabel

In his 34 year career in the 3M Abrasives Division Laboratory Mark Schwabel has studied the formation and behavior of aluminum oxide sols and gels, physical and chemical properties of abrasive grains and the processes of grinding as both a researcher and in technical management. He has been involved with the technical and business aspects of developing new abrasive products and starting new abrasive businesses within 3M. Mark has a BS in Ceramic Engineering and a Ph.D. in Ceramics, from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University.

Dr Scott Culler

Scott Culler has worked at 3M Company for the past 28 years.  He has researched and developed light cure dental restoratives and primers.  For the past 20 years, he has researched and developed precisely shaped coated abrasives sold under the Trizact TM brand; this work won the American Chemical Society Award for Team Innovation in 2008.   Most recently, Scott helped develop a new precisely shaped ceramic mineral for industrial abrasive applications.  Scott has a BA in Chemistry from the College of Wooster and PhD in Macromolecular Science from Case Western Reserve University in Ohio.