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Andy Haishung Tsou is a retired ExxonMobil materials scientist known for developing synchrotron X-ray scattering and atomic force microscopy techniques for polymer research, applying the techniques in service of development and commercialization of new polyolefin materials. [1]
Tsou received the B.S. in Chemical Engineering from National Taiwan University in 1979. He earned the M.S.Chem.Eng. from Penn State University in 1983, and the Ph.D. from Purdue University in 1987 under Nicholas A. Peppas. [2] Tsou distinguished himself by setting a record for completing the fastest PhD in the history of the lab. He completed his doctorate in 2 years, 8 months. [3] In 1997, Tsou completed a 2-year industrial fellowship at the University of Minnesota's CIE (center of interfacial engineering). In 2016, he spent a sabbatical at the Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal. [4]
Tsou began his professional career in 1983 as a photoresist engineer at Signetics. In 1987, he joined the Eastman Kodak Company as a group leader. He joined ExxonMobil Chemical company in 1998 serving at first as a project leader, then section head and finally as a senior research associate. Andy served as a thesis advisor at the Chemistry Department of Stony Brook University from 2007 to 2013, overseeing the graduation of 7 PhDs. Tsou retired from ExxonMobil in 2018. Following his retirement, Tsou joined Daxin Materials Corporation for 2 years. He is currently an adjunct professor at Beijing University of Chemical Technology and at National Taiwan University, where he teaches on Polyolefin Science and Technology.
He was previously an associate editor of the journal Rubber Chemistry and Technology. [5] He served on the University of Akron's Advancement Council, at the request of the dean of the college of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering. [6]
Tsou's most cited works treated the subject of shear flow induced crystallization of polypropylene using x-ray scattering, [7] and his work with atomic force microscopy. [8] Tsou's microscopy work has been featured by commercial AFM manufacturers. [9] [10] He was a co-Principal Investigator on NSF-funded work on additives for novel polymer morphology and performance at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. [11]
Tsou is a prolific inventor with more than 100 patents. His inventions include low permeability nanocomposites, [12] functionalized elastomer nanocomposites, [13] and oriented thermoplastic vulcanizates [14]
Butyl rubber, sometimes just called "butyl", is a synthetic rubber, a copolymer of isobutylene with isoprene. The abbreviation IIR stands for isobutylene isoprene rubber. Polyisobutylene, also known as "PIB" or polyisobutene, (C4H8)n, is the homopolymer of isobutylene, or 2-methyl-1-propene, on which butyl rubber is based. Butyl rubber is produced by polymerization of about 98% of isobutylene with about 2% of isoprene. Structurally, polyisobutylene resembles polypropylene, but has two methyl groups substituted on every other carbon atom, rather than one. Polyisobutylene is a colorless to light yellow viscoelastic material. It is generally odorless and tasteless, though it may exhibit a slight characteristic odor.
Kraton is the trade name given to a number of high-performance elastomers manufactured by Kraton Polymers, and used as synthetic replacements for rubber. Kraton polymers offer many of the properties of natural rubber, such as flexibility, high traction, and sealing abilities, but with increased resistance to heat, weathering, and chemicals.
James Carl Stevens, a chemist, was the first Distinguished Fellow, at the Dow Chemical Company, retiring in January 2015. His area of expertise is organometallic chemistry and his primary field of research is in the area of polyolefin catalysis, particularly in the area of polyethylene, polypropylene, ethylene/styrene copolymers, and the combinatorial discovery of organometallic single-site catalysts. Stevens major contributions have come in the discovery and commercial implementation of single-site polyolefin catalysts. He invented and led the commercialization of constrained geometry catalyst for the polymerization of olefins. These have been commercialized by Dow as a number of polymers, elastomers and plostomers.
William Joseph Sparks was a chemist at Exxon. As an inventor, his most important contribution was the development of butyl rubber.
Benjamin S. Hsiao is an American materials scientist and educator. He served as the vice-president for research and chief research officer at Stony Brook University from May 2012 to December 2013.
The Charles Goodyear Medal is the highest honor conferred by the American Chemical Society, Rubber Division. Established in 1941, the award is named after Charles Goodyear, the discoverer of vulcanization, and consists of a gold medal, a framed certificate and prize money. The medal honors individuals for "outstanding invention, innovation, or development which has resulted in a significant change or contribution to the nature of the rubber industry". Awardees give a lecture at an ACS Rubber Division meeting, and publish a review of their work in the society's scientific journal Rubber Chemistry and Technology.
The Melvin Mooney Distinguished Technology Award is a professional award conferred by the ACS Rubber Division. Established in 1983, the award is named after Melvin Mooney, developer of the Mooney viscometer and of the Mooney-Rivlin hyperelastic law. The award consists of an engraved plaque and prize money. The medal honors individuals "who have exhibited exceptional technical competency by making significant and repeated contributions to rubber science and technology".
Edward N. Kresge is a retired Exxon scientist, noted for his development of ethylene-propylene viscosity index modifiers, polyolefin thermoplastic elastomers, and tailored molecular weight density EPDM elastomers.
The purpose of the Sparks–Thomas Award, given by the ACS Rubber Division, is to recognize and encourage outstanding contributions and innovations in the field of elastomers by younger scientists, technologists, and engineers. The award is named for Exxon scientists William J. Sparks and Robert M. Thomas, co-inventors of Butyl rubber.
Francis Paul Baldwin was a former Exxon Chief Scientist noted for his work on chemical modifications of low functionality elastomers.
Gurpreet Singh is a professor of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering at [Kansas State University]. He is endowed by the Harold O. and Jane C. Massey Neff Professorship in Mechanical Engineering. Singh was born in Ludhiana, India; he currently resides in the United States.
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Walter H. Waddell is a retired ExxonMobil Chemical senior research associate and consultant to the tire and rubber industry with expertise in silica technology, rubber compounding, butyl polymer applications and tire aging. Since 2015 he has served on the technical committee of the International Tire Exhibition & Conference (ITEC) for Tire Manufacturing.
Albert M. Gessler was an ExxonMobil research chemist known for the development of elastomeric thermoplastics.
Margaret May-som Shaw Wu is a Taiwanese–American industrial chemist and inventor. As a research chemist at ExxonMobil, Wu developed new lubricants for car engines. She was elected Fellow of the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2020.
Maria D. Ellul is a retired ExxonMobil materials scientist known for her contributions to and development of commercial polyolefin and polyamide specialty thermoplastic elastomers, and recognized as one of the first prominent women scientists in the rubber industry.
Anthony J. Dias is a retired ExxonMobil materials scientist known for scientific contributions in polyolefins and elastomers which led to commercialized products.
Howard A. Colvin is an organic chemist and consultant to the tire and rubber industries noted for developments in rubber chemicals and polymers, and for his DOE-funded work on using guayule rubber in tires.
For the Australian former rowing coxswain, see Megan Robertson.
David John Lohse is a retired ExxonMobil materials scientist known for contributions on thermodynamics of mixing, nanocomposites for controlling permeability, neutron scattering of polymers, rheology of polymers.