The College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering
The University of Akron’s College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering is the world’s first, and the nation’s largest, academic program devoted to the study of polymers. With 34 faculty members, five endowed professorships and chairs, and 300 graduate and post-doctoral students, the college's distinguished faculty and student body represent one of the world’s largest concentrations of polymer expertise. The College opened its fifth campus facility, the 43,00-square-foot National Polymer Innovation Center, in 2010.
About The University of Akron
The University of Akron is the public research university for Northeast Ohio. The Princeton Review listed UA among the “Best in the Midwest” in its 2010 edition of Best Colleges: Region-by-Region. Approximately 29,300 students are enrolled in UA’s 300 associate, bachelor’s, master’s, doctorate and law degree programs and 100 certificate programs at sites in Summit, Wayne, Medina and Holmes counties.
The Bridgestone Americas Center for Research and Technology (BART) located in Akron provided close to $500,000 in scientific-use X-ray equipment to The University of Akron College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering in exchange for $1 from UA's senior vice president, provost and chief operating officer Dr. Michael Sherman. The state-of-the art X-ray generator, difffractometer and small-angle X-ray scattering equipment broaden the college’s capabilities to further enhance basic and applied research activities.
Dr. Stephen Z.D. Cheng
“The X-ray equipment is key to our polymer materials structures and morphological research,” says Dr. Stephen Z.D. Cheng, dean of the UA College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering. “It enables us to determine ordered structure phases, crystallinity, crystal orientation and crystal lamellar thicknesses. These parameters are critical to link with materials properties.”
Cheng adds that the equipment enhances the state-of-the-art structural characterization laboratory. The donated equipment is available to all faculty members and students for their polymer research.
“Our donation of this equipment to The University of Akron reflects our commitment to this community and the cooperative and close relationship between UA and Bridgestone Americas," says BART Vice President of Research Bob Handlos.
See also:
- College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering
- Bridgestone Americas Center for Research and Technology
Media contact: Denise Henry, 330-972-6477 or henryd@uakron.edu.