Technical Papers and Presentations

Aspen's Science Outreach Program is designed to help our current and future clients gain a better understanding of the science behind their products and services.  Part of our outreach program includes writing papers and giving presentations. 

Aspen Associates attend as many technical conferences possible, as presenters and attendees.  We encourage you to attend one of the  presentations given by an associates (see our schedule page for planned presentations).  If you are interested in an Aspen Associate giving one of the papers listed below at a conference, or at a company meeting (or training session), please send a request to Answers@AspenResearch.com.  In your request please provide the title of the paper you are requesting, the location where the presentation is to be held, and possible dates.  With appropriate planning, we are also able to host presentations at our site in White Bear Lake Minnesota.  If there is a paper you would like to see written, you may also make those suggestions by sending an e-mail to Answers@AspenResearch.com.

We have made many of our presentations available through three formats, PDF files, YouTube videos and files on disc.  The PDF and YouTube links for each presentation is provided below.  If you visit our Aspen YouTube channel you will see all the video presentations we have currently available for distribution.  We have discs with a higher resolution of the videos than our YouTube channel.  You may request a disc by e-mailing us at Answers@AspenResearch.com. Each disc is dedicated to one presentation and contains the slides and a video (the discs are 4.75G discs often called DVD's, but the video is in a movie clip format.  Movies in DVD formats are available upon special request).


Characterization of ‘As-Received’ Nickel – Titanium Alloy Wire by Cyclic Potentiodynamic Polarization, as presented at MPMD

As presented by Dr. Russell.Pylkki at MPMD August 11, 2009

ABSTRACT
It is well understood that the surface finish of nickel-titanium alloy wire control its resistance to corrosion during cyclic potentiodynamic polarization (CPP). In phosphate buffered saline solutions, differences in breakdown potentials differ by over 800 mV . Nickel-titanium wire is commercially available in a variety of surface finishes ranging from “Black' to ‘Bright.' This study was carried out to determine what affect commercially available surface finishes have on the corrosion resistance of the 'as-received' wire. Wire with varying levels of oxide coatings (‘Black Oxide,' ‘Dark Oxide,' and ‘Light Oxide') as well as “Bright” finishes available from the same source, were chosen for this investigation using the protocol described in ASTM F2129 . Differences in the corrosion appearance and performance of the wire with respect to the rest potential (Er), breakdown potential (Eb) and protection potential (Ep) are reported.

PDF of White Paper given at MPMD



Extractables & Leachables, What to Do and Why to Do It

As presented by Dr. Roger Pearson at ANTEC May 18, 2010

ABSTRACT
Studies of leachables and extractables have become increasingly important to both product manufactures and government authorities. These studies are key to understanding what chemical compounds can migrate from packaging and devices into drug and food products that will eventually reach humans. Some of these chemical compounds are by-products and impurities introduced during the manufacturing process of the packaging and devices. Other compounds may have been intentionally added as processing aides and stabilizers to the materials, but not intended to become part of the food or drug.

A well-structured and comprehensive approach is required to understand what can be extracted from these articles, and under what conditions it can occur. Leachables are compounds that can migrate when two materials come into contact with each other under typical storage conditions. Extractables are those compounds that may migrate under elevated temperatures, in the presence of atypical conditions or over extended periods of time.

This paper will discuss the regulations that must be complied with; the design of methods to satisfy those requirements; the unique challenges faced by manufacturers as they incorporate these new constraints into their product development methodologies; and strategies to minimize their impact. 

Note: This paper received the "Best Technical Paper" award at ANTEC in 2010.

PDF of White Paper given at ANTEC May 18, 2010

PDF of Slides from the presentation given at ANTEC and on Aspen's YouTube Channel

You Tube Video

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3



Equivalency

As presented by Dr. Roger Pearson

ABSTRACT
Bio-compatibility studies are important to understand how materials and products will influence biological systems and are required by many governments depending on the applications.  Bio-compatibility studies are expensive, time consuming and usually end with the study animals being sacrificed to get the data necessary for understanding how they responded to the material. 

Periodically materials are discontinued or may be in short supply.  Assuming one can find a similar replacement to the now unavailable material, one must answer the question "does another bio-compatibility study need to be performed?"  This presentation provides a possible method for creating data to be used in answering that question.

PDF of Slides from presentation



Interface Determination of Two Shear Thinning Thermoplastic Composite Materials in the Extrusion Process

As presented by Dr. Runyuan Bai at ANTEC May 18, 2010

ABSTRACT
When two thermoplastic composite materials are extruded in a two dimensional die channel, their dimensions (interface and thickness) will be arranged based on viscosities and flow rates.  Mathematical equations have been created to determine the interfacial dimension of two shear thinning materials with power law shear thinning.  These equations have been applied to two dimensional extrusion die channels and the method will benefit optimal die design and the control of extrusion processes.  

PDF of White Paper given at ANTEC May 18, 2010


 

Significant Acceleration of a UV-Cured Coating

As presented by Dr. John Spevacek at ANTEC May 18, 2010

ABSTRACT
Except for rare cases, increased cure speed of a UV-cured coating is greatly desirable.  Our client approached us with a thiol-ene floor coating plagued with an excessively slow curing rate (9 cm/sec) and desired a 10x improvement.  A wide range of process and reactant changes were explored but to little avail.  Success was ultimately achieved when an alternate ene monomer was chosen despite literature references that indicated the monomer would instead decrease the reaction rate.

PDF of White Paper given at ANTEC 2010

PDF of Slides from the presentation given at ANTEC and on Aspen's YouTube Channel


YouTube Video

Part 1

Part 2



Thermal Analysis 101

As presented by Cheryl Holmes

ABSTRACT
Thermal analysis is very important when designing a new product, or as a tool for analyzing a material. This presentation reviews the types of thermal analysis typically performed and how to better understand the data from these types of analysis.

PDF of Slides from Thermal Analysis 101 presentation

YouTube Video

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

More will be published soon, so please visit this page often.

 

home page partner links media resources contact us