MEMBER NEWS
EVENT REVIEW Seeking silicone knowledge
The site visit to KCC Basildon was all about silicones. Technology manager at its Abingdon site, Michael Southon gave SCI members and guests an introductory presentation about silicones, silicone emulsions, antifoams and their uses. The company sells silicones of
different chemical functionalities and formulations made from these using many manufacturing techniques. Product uses include foam control – fermentation, food, pharmaceuticals, agrichemicals; surface modification – personal care, coatings, textiles, household products; water repellency; and lubrication. We visited the personal care plant and
the antifoam plant. Products are usually silicone-based emulsions, suspensions or solutions, which are processed in purpose made stainless vessels, varying in capacity from 0.5 to 32t. Each product type uses optimised process vessels with paddle stirrers, heating and cooling. Each is
SCI NEWS Winners of US medals NEIL EISBERG
The SCI Americas Gordon E Moore Medal was awarded to Melinda Keefe, left, senior R&D manager for architectural coatings, Dow Coating Materials, at a luncheon ceremony, part of the SCI Americas Innovation Day held in September at the Chemical Heritage Foundation in Philadelphia, US. The medal is the premier
recognition for early career success in innovation, as reflected both in market impact and improvement to the quality of life. By highlighting extraordinary individuals and their work, SCI aims to promote public understanding of R&D in the modern chemical industries; enhance the interest of students in applied chemistry by providing role models; and emphasising the role of creative research in the
global economy. Dr Keefe has combined her
passion for art and chemistry into an exceptional career in coating science. She and her co-workers were responsible for the development of the Evoque pre-composite polymer platform, which facilitates higher performing and more sustainable coatings. Over the last 10 years, she has also
led a technical collaboration between Dow and the art conservation science community. In their skill-based voluntary involvement, Dr Keefe and her colleagues have successfully leveraged Dow’s coatings capabilities in meeting specific challenges in art conservation. This includes a collaboration with the Tate Modern in London, UK, resulting in the successful restoration of Mark Rothko’s painting Black on Maroon 1958, which had been damaged by a graffiti artist. ‘Dr Keefe’s influence on the
world of paint is remarkable,’ said Christopher Pappas, president and CEO of Trinseo and chair of SCI
America. ‘She is in the unique position to not only have a positive ecological influence on the commercial paint market but her developments in the field of art conservation are equally impactful. I can’t think of another scientist whose skills translate in such a singular and specific way.’ Sarah Eckersley, global R&D
director, Dow Coating Materials, said: ‘Dr Keefe is a scientist with a passion. In a short period of time, she has pursued and achieved a career’s worth of accomplishments. ‘On behalf of Dow, we join SCI
in celebrating Dr Keefe for her contributions to coatings innovation, to the conservation of art and to science.’
Also as part of the Innovation
Day, at the evening dinner, the SCI Perkin Medal was presented to Ann E Weber, senior VP, drug discovery, at New York-based biotech concern Kallyope, where she is responsible for translating biology from the company’s technology platform into drug discovery and development programmes (C&I, 2017, 6, 49)
further equipped to allow processing of the formulation to give the required suspension or emulsion type and particle size. Completed batches are either packed
into containers for sale, for example, 25, 200, 1,000 kg or road tanker, or transferred to bulk storage vessels for later packing or further processing. A reverse osmosis system supplies the water. Vessels are automated and controlled via a touch-screen. Staff on shifts oversee 24-hour operation. Technical section leader, Dr Lyndsey
Mooring showed us the development and quality control laboratories. Analytical equipment included FT-IR, viscometers and particle size testing equipment. There is also application-specific testing equipment such as the Contifoam for testing antifoams under customers’ actual conditions. The ‘salon’ is used for personal
care testing. Visual and tactile tests are performed on tresses of human hair manually or with test equipment,
such as Dia-Stron for combing, and spectrophotometer and image software to quantify colour and hair appearance, respectively. Different silicone functionalities give specific effects on hair and skin. Further analytical and test equipment is available at Basildon and at KCC’s parent company site in South Korea. Mooring gave a presentation concerning
technical aspects of foam control and introduced Basildon’s Foam-Clear antifoams. Mooring also discussed the increasing interest shown within personal care for emulsions where silicones and natural oils, such as Argan oil, are emulsified together. This imparts a different effect to formulations that only contain silicone or the natural oil. The London Regional Group Committee
would like to express its gratitude to Michael Southon and Lyndsey Mooring for organising
this excellent visit. For the full article please see:
http://bit.ly/2hbPtE0
08 | 2017 49
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