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ACS – Akron Section Award – Afternoon Lecture
November 12 @ 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
James M. Egan, Assistant Professor of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering
The University of Akron
Tuesday, Nov. 12
Afternoon Lecture: 3:00 PM, Mary Gladwin Hall 111, University of Akron
Abstract: The catalytic conversion of carbon dioxide into polymers offers a sustainable, low-cost, and low-emission approach for developing high-performance materials without competing for land-use or food resources. This talk will present the catalytic coupling of butadiene with CO2 as a paradigm for accessing a diverse range of monomers which exhibit divergent reactivity. By controlling the chemical pathways, polymers with a range of thermomechanical, degradability, and chemical recyclability have been discovered. Specifically, this talk will present our mechanistic studies into the tandem conjugate and ring-opening polymerization of unsaturated lactones from butadiene/CO2. These products have found use in cleavable thermosets for recyclable carbon fiber composites and as biodegradable elastomers.
Bio: James Eagan is an assistant professor at the University of Akron School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering. He holds a PhD in chemistry from Columbia University and is the recipient of the AAAS Newcomb Cleveland Prize, NSF Faculty Early Career Development Award, and Akron’s 30 for the Future award.
This afternoon lecture is free and open to the public. No reservation is required. Note that the evening lecture and dinner are on the next day (Nov 13) and are listed separately on this website.