Conor is currently an applications scientist a Lubrizol and works in performance coatings, using dispersals in paints which improve the colour strength, gloss and reduce the haze of the product. In particular he tests new hyper-dispersal technology and generates promotional data packages to present to customers at events such as trade fairs. During his talk he also spoke more broadly on the topics of product development, project management and sustainability.
In regards to product development there are both a technical and business case for the project, marrying both the technical and commercial factors. The technical case is the performance, application and regulation of the product and business case is the market research, value of the product and market competition. Project management sees the idea from initial generation through multiple screens, product ideas, the business case, product development and scale up prior to launch.
Sustainability is a large factor in the polymer industry with most origins of plastics originating in the petrochemical industry and not biodegradable products. Current food pouches contain as many as 8 polymer layers and are not recyclable, trends in sustainability are to use a polyethylene coat onto a paper surface as seen in the current ‘Eco-friendly’ cups. These are compostable in industry, however are not biodegradable so companies such as Lubrizol attempting to develop biodegradable and bio-based polymers to solve this and other sustainability issues facing the industry.
Science and Industry External Speakers Blog 