Covestro Experts Address Industry Regulations at 2019 Polyurethanes Technical Conference

At the 2019 Polyurethanes Technical Conference on Oct. 7-9 in Orlando, Florida, Covestro will discuss the strides it is taking to support a circular economy, the challenges that remain and the path forward.

Company experts will also address polyurethane industry regulations and standards, advancements and more.

Covestro has 10 subject matter experts giving technical presentations, participating in panels and teaching educational courses.

Additionally, six company representatives are organizing and moderating sessions.

Below is an overview of the presentations and courses that Covestro experts will deliver during the conference.

Sunday, October 6
Covestro will kick off the conference with Nigel Barksby and Mike Jeffries, who will teach a professional development course titled “PU 101: Polyurethane Chemistry” from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Perfect for those who are new to the industry, this course will take a deep dive into the background of polyurethane technology, chemistry, formulating components, end-use applications and more.

Monday, October 7
The Environment, Health & Safety Issues Session will highlight key regulatory issues and ongoing advocacy in the aromatic (TDI and MDI) isocyanate industry. The following Covestro experts will share their insights:

• At 2:05 p.m., Tim Feeley will discuss regulatory and legislative advocacy topics during “American Chemistry Council’s Diisocyanates Issues Update.” He will also examine the potential for migration of TDI and MDI from finished polyurethane products as part of “TDI and MDI Migration Testing from Foam Using EPA Guidance” at 2:30 p.m.;
• Scott Ecoff will review the EPA’s TRI program and long-term trends of TDI and MDI data during “EPA’s Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Data Reporting Trends for Diisocyanates” at 4 p.m.;
• From 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Steven Reinstadtler will teach a course titled “PU 104B: Polyurethane Coatings and Elastomers.” The course will provide an overview of polyurethane technology and examine different types of polyurethane elastomers and coatings, application methods and more;
• During the Fundamentals & Modeling Session at 2:05 p.m., John Sebroski will present “Flame Retardant Sorption onto Airborne Particles: Chamber Testing and Modeling Comparison.” The paper describes the development of a chamber test model to determine flame retardant sorption on airborne particles.

• At 9:05 a.m., Sebroski will present “A Roadmap toward the Harmonization of Global VOC Specifications” within the session;
• As part of the Rigid Construction Session, George Combs will discuss how formula optimization can improve long-term, low-temperature insulation performance during “Surfactant Effect on Temperature-Dependent R-value (TDRV) Performance of Polyiso Insulation” at 9:30 a.m.;
• During the Circular Economy: A Sustainability Concept Session, Richard Skorpenske will present “The Growing Movement Toward a Circular Economy for the Plastics Industry” at 2:05 p.m. Skorpenske will highlight the ways in which Covestro is supporting the shift from a linear to a more circular economy through new technologies and collaborative efforts, and how it is working to overcome current challenges;
• As part of the Environmental Health and Safety Workshop at 2 p.m., Brian Karlovich will present the section on “Evaluation and Exposure Control.” He will discuss topics such as industrial hygiene sampling for isocyanates, ventilation and personal protective equipment.

• At 10 a.m., Brian Neal will present “Molded Flexible Foam Durability Testing Optimization” during the Automotive 2: Improved Methodology in Hardness/Durability Testing Session. He will discuss how durability testing for molded polyurethane foam used in automotive seating can be improved to provide a twofold increase in test throughput.