Living In A Materials World

 

John W. Powers

James Madison University - Class of 1984

ConocoPhillips Co.   - Houston, TX

 

October 28, 2005

 

Abstract

 

Materials are everywhere!  Look around what do you see?  In one form or another you see structures, devices and articles fabricated from metals, polymers and ceramics - the three classical disciples of materials science.  From the automobiles we drive, to the airplanes in which we fly, to the tennis racquets we swing, materials have been central to the prosperity and sophistication of humans.  So essential have materials been that we use them to describe ages of mankind: Stone, Bronze, Iron, Plastic and Silicon.  In recent decades there have been significant technical advances in these classical disciplines and in the new interdisciplinary fields of materials electronic materials, biomaterials and composite materials. 

 

This presentation will cover the evolution in the development and applications of engineering materials and real world examples of technical and economic challenges facing the 'materials scientist' will be outlined and discussed.  Specific emphasis will be placed on fiber reinforced composite materials, the polymers from which they are derived and their use in aerospace, automotive, and sporting goods applications.  The presentation will highlight career opportunities for students of chemistry, physics and related disciples within research, development, manufacturing and marketing roles in materials and the industries that utilize them.  A brief history of the speaker's career in polymer chemistry and advanced composite materials will be presented.       

 

John Powers John Powers, originally from Chatham NJ, started at JMU in August of 1980 as a Communications major, but changed to Economics then Geology.  John took Chemistry 131 in the spring of '81 with Dr. Tom DeVore.  By the end of the semester he was Chemistry major for good and earned his BS degree (ACS certified) in May 1984.

 

After graduation, John spent the first 18 years of his professional career working with engineering plastics, thermosetting resins, synthetic fibers and advanced composite materials in the aerospace, automotive and recreational products markets.  He has worked as a New Product Development Chemist, in Market Development of new materials technologies, and in Sales and Marketing Management.  During that time he earned a MS degree in Materials Engineering, from Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ (1988) and 10 years later earned a MBA in Economics (Honors Graduate) from Oklahoma State University, Stillwater.  He holds four U.S. patents in the areas of structural adhesives and high temperature composite materials.    

 

Recently he has been responsible for managing the global marketing efforts, including new product development and intellectual property, of a specialty chemicals business within ConocoPhillips based at its headquarters in Houston, TX.  The marketing efforts are for 'Pipeline Drag Reducers' which are formulated products based on ultra-high MW (upwards of 10 million) polyolefins suspended in aqueous and organic non-solvents.   The injection of ppm levels of product into crude oil and refined products pipelines significantly reduces turbulence and allows for more flow under a given set of operating conditions. 

 

John and his wife Carol (Cresswell, JMU '84, Accounting) recently celebrated their 20^th wedding anniversary.  Their daughter is now 16 and a high school junior in suburban Houston.