Wednesday, March 11, 2026

8:00 AM to 8:30
• Compatibilization of Amorphous PHA and PLA for Blown Film Applications
• Design and R&D: Maximizing the Human Benefit
• From Molecules to Margins
• Innovations in Extrusion for Hybrid Mechanochemical Recycling
• Novel FR Technology for Composites in Building & Construction
• Right Rheometry for Polymer Characterization and Processing
• Synchrotron X-Ray Mapping on Flow-Induced Crystallized Polymers
• Validation of Injection Molding Simulation Accuracy Using Experimental Benchmarks

8:30 AM to 9:00 AM
• A New Metering Section That Mixes
• Combustion Response of Fiber-reinforced Polymers to a Radiant Heat Flux
• Integrating Weld Line Effects from Molding Processes into Structural FEA
• Microstructural Analysis of Polyolefins Using Raman Microscopy
• Single-Step Thermoformable PLA-Based Formulation for Compostable Hot Beverage Lids
• Sustainability Considerations in the Plastic Product Design Process
• Sustainable Solutions for Factory and Refinish Automotive Clearcoats
• Tuning the Performance Properties of Foams with High Recycled Content Enabled by Dynamic Crosslinking

9:00 AM to 9:30 AM
• Characterization and Understanding of Mechano-Chemical Degradation of PP and cPVC in Semiconductor Wastewater Environments
• Characterizing High Performance Polymers for Sealing Applications
• Designing with Color: Strategies for Consistent and Impactful Color in Plastics
• From Waste to High-Quality Packaging: Tackling Smell in Post-Consumer Polyethylene Recyclates
• Impact of Filler Aspect Ratio on Anisotropic Properties and Shrinkage Predictions in Injection Molding
• Nanostructured Silica-Enhanced Morphological Control in PEBA Foams: From Batch Foaming to Industrial-Scale Injection Molding
• Processing of Biodegradable Plastics and their Bio-Composites for Single-use Plastic Alternatives and 3D printed Products
• Short Chain Branch (SCB) Effects: A Study of Two Comonomer Bimodal HDPE

9:30 AM to 9:45
• Coffee Break

9:45 AM to 10:15 AM
• A Well-Defined Holistic Study on Structure-Process-Property Relationships in High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Foams
• Case Studies on the Failure of PEX and PP-R Pipes in Municipal Water Applications
• Coolant Flow Solver for Injection Molding Cooling Channels
• Crystallization kinetics of ethylene-methacrylic acid ionomers neutralized with zinc, and sodium
• From Material Characterization To Biodegradability: Correlating Biopolymers Physicochemical Properties With Their Biodegradability Under Industrial Composting Conditions
• Nanolayer Coextrusion of Amorphous and Semi-Crystalline Polymers for Enhanced Thermal and Mechanical Properties
• Smart Surfaces: Thin, Functional, Beautiful

• Valorization of Selected Polymers and Incompatible Blends Using Not-So-Common Processing Methods

10:15 AM to 10:45 AM
• A New Method for Designing Extrusion Profile Dies
• Computational Studies of Thermoset Vitrimerization
• Degradation Behavior of Injection-Molded PLA: Crystallinity Dependence in Marine vs. Lab-Accelerated Composting
• Development of Welding Processes for Plastic Pipes in Hydrogen Applications
• High Throughput Foam Structure Analysis
• Innovations in Polymer and Composite Joining for Product Manufacturing
• Measured vs. Simulated Shrinkage and Warpage of an Injection-Molded Part Using STAMP-Characterized Olefins
• Processing and Characterization of Threaded Caps for Use in US Army Environments

10:45 AM to 11:15 AM
• Compact Extrusion Method for In-Situ Fibrillation of TLCPs in Thermoplastic Matrix Composites
• Experimental Characterization and Numerical Simulation of HDPE Microcellular Foams Produced by MuCell® Injection with Supercritical Nitrogen
• From Starch to Structure: Thermal Analysis Unlocks Reliable Bio-Based Plastics
• How MFI and Capillary Rheometers Fail in Characterizing How a Polymer Will Injection Mold
• Open Molding of Thermoplastic Composite Pipes Using Recycled Carbon Fiber Tapes
• Polymeric Foams Based on Biopolymers: Optimization of Formulations, Production Technology and Processing Conditions
• Renewable Plant Based Graphene for Structural Composites
• Thermal Management for Next Generation Electronics

1:30 AM to 1:30 PM
• SPE Honors & Awards Luncheon

1:30 PM to 2:00 PM
• A Cleaner Future: Restoring the Environment with Ammonia-Free Natural Rubber Latex
• Antibacterial Filter Media from Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate and Reclaimed Facemasks
• Dynamics of Natural Fiber Polymer Composite Production from Agricultural Waste: A Comprehensive Study
• Frontiers of Reactive Extrusion: A Practitioner’s Perspective on Innovation, Wide Variety of Examples, and Impactful Applications
• Highly stiff and strong fiber reinforced core-shell composites for 3D printing
• LNP™ Non-PTFE Lubricated Material Solutions for Reduced Wear and Friction
• Translating Machine Learning into Manufacturing Expertise – Actionable Interpretability and Stability for Precision Injection Molding
• Viscoelastic Constitutive Modeling for Flow Simulation in Injection and Compression Molding Based on Log-Conformation Methods

2:00 PM to 2:30 PM
• Could Reactive Extrusion Replace Your Next Batch Reactor?
• Delamination Recycling of Multilayer Plastic Films
• Development and Application of an AI-Assisted System for Enhancing the Efficiency of Plastic Mold Design
• Enhancing Mechanical Properties of PHBH by Incorporating Crosslinked PHBH Particles
• Evaluation Of UV Aging Effect on Thermoplastic Matrix-Based Composites Through an Accelerated Fatigue Method
• Halogen Free Flame Retardant Masterbatch Concentrates for GF PP
• Machine Learning-Driven Real-Time Quality Control of Blown Film of Recycled Plastics
• Shear-Induced Crystallization for Immiscible Blends of Isotactic Polypropylene

2:30 PM to 3:00 PM
• A New Paradigm: Artificial Intelligence in Injection Molding Simulation and Part Design
• Advancing Reactive Extrusion Through AI-Enabled Process Monitoring and Control
• Enhancing Sustainability: Utilizing Recycled Carbon Fiber in Plastic Materials to Complete with Glass-Filled Plastics [Phase II]
• Impact of Trace Contaminants on Mechanically Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate
• Improvement of Fracture Toughness in Biomass Composites Using a Vent-Type Injection Molding Machine
• Interconnectivity of Microcellular Foams Produced via High Internal Phase Emulsion Templating
• Rheological tools to determine the effect of mechanical reprocessing on the degradation of PA 11 and PA 11-LDPE blends
• Synergistic Impact Modification of TPOs Using Styrenic Block Copolymers and Polyolefin Elastomers

3:00 PM to 3:15 PM
• Coffee Break

3:15 PM to 3:45 PM
• Comparative Study of ABS Fabrication: Hot Compression Molding Versus 3D Printing With Nanocomposite Reinforcement for Mechanical Improvement
• Customized Injection Molding Simulations in the Era of Vibe Coding
• High Performance Thermoplastic Polyurethane Foam Made Via Super Critical Injection Method
• If You Can’t Get Rid of It, Use It!
• Repairing and Restoring Recycled Plastics Using Reactive Masterbatches
• Rheological Properties and Behavior of Coal Tar Pitch: The Effect of Thermal Treatment on Softening Point
• SABIC’s LNP™ ELCRES™ LNP Copolymers: World’s First UL Certified Non-PFAS Flame-Retardant Polycarbonate Resins
• Stress Whitening in Natural fiber Polypropylene Composites

3:45 PM to 4:15 PM
• An Affordable Cost-Competitive Innovation in Rigid Packaging: Home Compostable and Soil Biodegradable Thermoformed Packaging as Alternative to Polystyrene Tray
• Carbon Rescue Tool – A Rescue Ladder Made Entirely of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic
• How to Apply Rheology for Troubleshooting Polymer Processing and Performance
• Hybrid Reinforcement Learning for Adaptive Quality Control in Injection Molding: Investigating the Influence of Process Parameters
• Novel Thermoplastic Polyurethane with Enhanced Biostability
• Recycling of Single-Use Multilayer Plastics for Biomanufacturing with Solvent-Targeted Recovery and Precipitation
• Silane Grafting of Polyethylene – Influence of Process and Reaction Conditions on Material Properties
• Ultra Low Moisture Carbon Black

4:15 PM to 4:45 PM
• A Chemist’s View of Reactive Extrusion: Laboratory Glassware to 316 Stainless Steel
• A Systematic Study of Temporal Evolution of Rheological and Crystallization Characteristics of Polylactic Acid under Different Shear Rates
• Application of AI Optimization in Mold Flow Analysis
• Design Strategies to Improve Thermo-mechanical Performance of TPUs
• Intelligent Composites for Structural Health Monitoring
• Multifunctional Biomimetic Nanocoatings
• Recycling and rheology of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) to make foams using supercritical fluid Part 1: Effect of 1D and 3D foaming
• Sustainable Toughening of Polypropylene Using Core-Shell Lignin Additives
• Drip Suppressants in Halogen Free Flame Retardant Systems
• Enhancing Open Hole Tension Strength in Carbon Fiber Composites with Thermoplastic Veil Interlayers
• Maintaining Dynamic Networks in Vitrimerization
• Nonlinear Viscoelastic Behaviors of Thermoplastic Polyester Elastomer (TPEE) for Various Strain and Temperature Conditions
• Reactive Extrusion Panel Discussion
• Recycling and rheology of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) to make foams using supercritical fluid Part 2: Effect of temperature and pressure

5:30 PM to 8:00 PM
• Injection Molding Division Reception

Click to view the Thursday Agenda

Click to view Monday, March 9, 2026 Agenda

Click to view Tuesday, March 10, 2026 Agenda

Click to view Wednesday, March 11, 2026 Agenda