Rubber City Girl – the Path to the Goodyear Medal

. The Rubber World trade journal listed me among the 125 inventors that influenced rubber technology in a profound way, mentioning my work in developing a potential halogen-free halobutyl rubber and advanced elastomers for healthcare. The halogen-free halobutyl technology is currently being commercialized in China. I will talk about my research into natural rubber biosynthesis and my adventure of a field experiment at a Brazilian Hevea plantation to verify our laboratory discovery that the rubber content of Hevea latex can be increased by 20-50% using a special method of tapping. I will also talk about my goal of creating safer & stronger breast implants with cancer-fighting and healing properties. This work was one of the five winners selected by the GE Healthymagination Cancer Challenge program www.healthymagination.com. Her team at The University of Akron is developing new materials as silicone rubber alternatives for breast reconstruction which will transform tissue expanders and implants into cancer-fighting and healing devices.

My students and I are very interested in “green” technologies. We developed a “green” synthesis of disulfide polymers and gels. The Thiokol process uses toxic halogenated compounds and sulfide salts to make similar polymers. The Puskas technology uses aqueous hydrogen peroxide and dithiols with a recyclable catalyst. This polymerization is living, involving cycles!

During my industrial years at LANXESS (formerly the Rubber Division of Bayer) I solved long-standing (10 year) major manufacturing problems related to Taktene-55 and developed on-line and off-line process control tools that are still in operation. I also developed new technologies (bimodal butyl, one-step halobutyl, branched butyl, liquid carbon dioxide process) that resulted in patents. I mentored younger colleagues, including 10 interns from Canadian universities. After transferring to academe I continued the development of new polyisobutylene-based materials. I have held the Bayer (LANXESS) Industrial Research Chair for 12 years, working closely with the rubber industry.

 I have also trained two generations of young people for the rubber industry, designed and taught rubber technology courses and my new textbook, published in 2014, aims to get students interested in rubber chemistry and technology.

I have served the Rubber Division in various capacities: organized symposia, including the “Advanced Materials for Health Care” in 2011, 2013 and 2015. I set up the “International Center for Advanced Elastomers for Health Care” and a Student Chapter of the ACS Rubber Division at the University of Akron.

I thank my family, Professor Joseph Kennedy and Dr. Adel Halasa for their mentorship and support.