Catherine A. Byrne

Polyurethanes, epoxy resins, acrylates, cured by light, electron beams, and heat.

Selection of materials, monomers and polymers, formulation, thermal and mechanical testing of elastomers, adhesives, composites, foams and coatings, RIM, RTM, rubber compounding, chemical analysis and characterization, expert witness

Formulation Chemist
Manufacturing Company in MA, 2010-2014
*Formulation of epoxy resin and polyurethane coatings for industrial applications
*Extensive testing of coatings, including mechanical and chemical testing
Consulting Chemist
Belmont Polymer Associates,
Belmont, MA 2006-2010, 2014-present
*Selection and formulation of elastomers, composite resins, adhesives and coatings, especially polyurethanes, epoxies and acrylates,
thermally cured and radiation cured by ultraviolet light and electron beams.
* Selection of characterization techniques and interpretation of results.
* Assist small businesses in writing proposals to the US Government and in performing the research and development required in order to continue the programs through SBIR Phase II contracts and commercial development.
Laboratory and Facilities Manager
Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
Cambridge, MA 02139
Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies 2004 – 2006
* Managed 28,000 square feet of laboratories, led compliance with all government and MIT- mandated safety and environmental requirements and supported a diverse array of research projects.
* Assured that all research facilities are maintained and updated.
* Provided technical expertise to materials science research programs related to  protection of US Army soldiers from ballistic threats, chemical and biological agents, extremes of temperature and other threats.
* Constructed, operated and maintained laboratory equipment for research studies.
* Trained students, postdocs and visiting scientists.
Senior Research Scientist,
Science Research Laboratory,
Somerville, MA 1996-2004
*Small Business Innovation Research principal investigator on projects totaling more than $2M.
*Synthesized organic compounds and formulated adhesives, coatings and composite resins based upon epoxy, acrylate and urethane chemistry, designed composite lay-ups using vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) and cured with heat, UV light or Electron Beam.
* Synthesized and tested organophosphorous flame retardant resins.
*Characterized materials using FTIR and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), Liquid Chromatography (LC) and mechanical testing using ASTM and other standards.
* Prepared and evaluated PEM (proton exchange membranes) for direct methanol fuel cells.
* Compounded and tested inorganic polyphosphazene fluoroelastomers for aircraft hydraulic seal applications.
* Supervised two technicians and a research scientist.
*Maintained telephone and email contact with customers, planned research, wrote reports and proposals.

Adjunct Professor, Department of Chemistry,
Suffolk University, Boston, MA. 1995-1996, 2002.
*Taught Special Topics Course on Polymer Chemistry and Technology.
*Instructor in hands-on laboratory course in organic chemistry, taught synthetic techniques, chromatography, IR and GC.
Team Leader, Properties and Characterization Team,
Army Research Laboratory, Polymer Research Branch,
Watertown, MA. 1989-1995
*Evaluated high performance polyurethanes, shock absorbing polymers, polyvinyl chloride (a plastisol), chemically resistant elastomers and reaction injection molded (RIM) polymers.
*Synthesized and characterized materials using infrared, ultraviolet and fluorescence spectroscopy, HPLC, thermal and mechanical analysis.
*Interpreted the results of research, wrote reports and presented results orally.
*Directed three to eight technical personnel and wrote performance appraisals twice yearly.

Manhattanville College, Purchase, NY B.A. (HONORS) Chemistry. Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT M.A.T. Teaching of Science.

University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT Ph.D. Organic/Polymer Chemistry.

University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA Postdoctoral Research Associate, Polymer Science and Engineering Dept.

American Chemical Society, Polymer, Polymeric Materials Science and Engineering and Rubber Divisions.

1996

Patent: D.L. Goodman and C.A. Byrne, “Phase-Separated Dual-Cure Elastomeric Adhesive Formulations and Methods of Using the Same”, U.S. Patent 5,997,682 (1999).

POLYURETHANES AND OTHER ELASTOMERS
S.W. Wong, K.C. Frisch, C.A. Byrne, D.P. Mack and N.S. Schneider, “Structure – Property Relationships of Transparent Aliphatic Polyurethane Elastomers from the Geometric Isomers of Methylene Bis(4-cyclohexylisocyanate)”, Advances in Urethane Science and Technology 9, 77-101(1984).
C.A. Byrne, D.P. Mack and J.M. Sloan, “A Study of Aliphatic Polyurethane Elastomers Prepared from Diisocyante Isomer Mixtures,” Rubber Chemistry and Technology, 58, 985-997 (1985). (Chemically Resistant Transparent Flexible Lens Materials for Gas Mask Lenses)
C.A. Byrne, “Relationship Between Chemical Composition and Hysteresis in Polyurethane Elastomers”, in “Advances in Elastomers and Rubber Elasticity”, J.L Lal and J.E.Mark, Eds. Plenum Publishing, N.Y. 1986, pp 89-102.
J.W. Dieter and C.A. Byrne, “Aliphatic Polyurethanes With High Performance Properties”, Polymer Engineering and Science 27, (9) 673-683 (1987).
R.E. Singler and C.A. Byrne, Editors, “Elastomers and Rubber Technology, Sagamore Army Materials Research Conference Proceedings”, vol. 32, 586 pages, Government Printing Office, 1987.
C.A. Byrne, J.L. Mead and C.R. Desper, “Structure-Property Relationships of Aliphatic Polyurethane Elastomers Prepared From CHDI,” Advances in Urethane Science and Technology, Technomic Publishers, K.C.Frisch and D.Klempner,eds., 11, 68-109 (1992). (Abrasion Resistant Polyurethanes for tank track pads and solid tires).
C.A. Byrne and W.X. Zukas, “Studies of Polymers for Shock Absorption Applications”, Advances in Urethane Science and Technology, Technomic Publishers, K.C. Frisch and D. Klempner, eds, 12,105-133 (1993). (Custom designed polymers for blast and ballistic protection of ceramic armor)
C.A. Byrne, T.F. Kenney, E.A. McHugh, E. Wilusz, S.-W. Wong and B. Meng, “Elastomers for Chemical Protection – Preparation Using Reactive Polymer Processing”, Proceedings of the 19th Army Science Conference, 20-23 June 1994, Orlando, Florida. (Reaction Injection Molding using polyurethanes and oligomeric diacrylates to form interpenetrating polymer networks.)
Byrne, C.A., Desper, C.R., Schneider, N.S., Li, Y. and Chu, B, “Polyethylene-Based Polyurethane Copolymers and Block Copolymers”, Die Makromolekulare Chemie, Macromolecular Symposia, “Block and Graft Copolymers” 91, 1 (1995). (formulation and testing of new materials for polyurethane elastomers including mechanical testing and thermal analysis)
McHugh, E.A., Wilusz, E., and Byrne, C.A., “Properties of Polyurethane Elastomers Based Upon Hydroxy Terminated Hydrogenated Polyisoprene”, Paper No. 10, Rubber Division, American Chemical Society, presented at the Philiadelphia meeting, May, 1995. (formulation and testing of materials for chemical protection) Byrne, C.A., Desper, C.R., Schneider, N.S., Li, Y. and Chu, B, “Polyethylene-Based Polyurethane Copolymers and Block Copolymers”, Die Makromolekulare Chemie, Macromolecular Symposia, “Block and Graft Copolymers” 91, 1 (1995). (formulation and testing of new
materials for polyurethane elastomers including mechanical testing and thermal analysis)
McHugh, E.A., Wilusz, E., and Byrne, C.A., “Properties of Polyurethane Elastomers Based Upon Hydroxy Terminated Hydrogenated Polyisoprene”, Paper No. 10, Rubber Division, American Chemical Society, presented at the Philiadelphia meeting, May, 1995. (formulation and testing of materials for chemical protection)
Schneider, N.S., Langlois, D.A. and Byrne, C.A., “The Effect of H2O on the Glass Transition Behavior of Hydrophilic Polyurethanes with
Mixed Soft Segments”, American Chemical Society Symposium Volume 248, Hydrophilic Polymers, J.E. Glass, ed, 1996, 195-204(thermal analysis of hydrophilic polymers)
C.A. Byrne, “Hydraulic Seal Replacement”, Contract No. N00421-01-C-3050, Phase I final report, phosphazene elastomer- based fire and fluid resistant hydraulic seals, May 2002 (Czes Covington, contract monitor, NAVCAD/NAVAIRSYSCOMHQ).
COMPOSITES
Goodman, D.L. Byrne, C.A. and Palmese, G.R., “Advanced Electron Beam Curing Systems and Recent Composite Armor Vehicle Results.” Proc. 42nd International SAMPE symposium, 515 (1997). (Composite fabrication using vacuum assisted resin transfer molding- VARTM)
D.L. Goodman, C.A. Byrne, R. Moulton, D. Dixon, A. Yen and R.C. Costen, “Automated Tape Placement With In-situ Electron Beam Cure”, Proc. 44th International SAMPE Symposium and Exhibition, May, 1999. (Composite fabrication using electron beam curable cationic epoxy carbon fiber prepreg tape)
J.P. Fanucci, J.G. Gorman, T. Heimann, D.L. Goodman, C.A. Byrne and R. Matt, “Production and Repair of Composite Sandwich Panels Using UV and E-Beam-Activated Resins”, Proc. 44th International SAMPE Symposium and Exhibition, May, 1999. (UV cured resins and adhesives for pultruded composites)
D.L. Goodman, D. Weidman, C.A. Byrne, A.N. Bykanov, T.W. Pond, W.M. McMahon and M.P. Kovach “Automated Tape Placement With In-situ Electron Beam Cure: A Viable Process,” Proceedings of the 46th International SAMPE Symposium, 2127, May 2001.
A.N. Bykanov, D.L. Goodman, C.A. Byrne, L.G. Bykanova, and T.W. Pond, L.R. Vorobyev, W.M. McMahon and M.P. Kovach, “Automated Tape Placement With In-situ Electron Beam Cure: Process Parameter Optimization,” Proceedings of the 47th International SAMPE Symposium, 902, May 2002.
L.G. Bykanova, C.A. Byrne and G. Palmese, “Electron Beam Cured Resins and Composites: Improved Two-Step Curing Materials for Cryogenic Applications” 49th International SAMPE Symposium, May 2004.
ADHESIVES
D.L. Goodman, C.A. Byrne and G.R. Palmese, “Advanced Electron Beam Curing and Bonding of Ground Vehicles,” Proceedings of the 43rd International SAMPE Symposium, 1691, Anaheim, CA, May, 1998. (bonding of thermoplastic experimental automotive bodies using radiation curing and a combination of radiation and thermal curing)
D.L. Goodman and C.A. Byrne, “Phase-Separated Dual-Cure Elastomeric Adhesive Formulations and Methods of Using the Same”, U.S. Patent 5,997,682 (1999).
C.A. Byrne, D.L. Goodman, G.R. Palmese, J.M. Sands and S. H. McKnight, “Electron Beam Curable Adhesives for Out-of-autoclave Bonding of Large Composite Structures”, Proceedings of the 45rd International SAMPE Symposium, Long Beach, CA, May, 2000 (2187).
L.G. Bykanova, C.A. Byrne, A. Bykanov and D.L. Goodman, “Optimized Electron Beam Curable Aerospace Adhesives,” Proceedings of the 48th International SAMPE Symposium, 1981-1992, May 2003.
COATINGS
C.A Byrne and D.L. Goodman, “Advanced Ultraviolet and Electron Beam Curable Systems for Aircraft Applications”, Contract No. F33615-96-C-5063, Final Report, November 1996, (contract monitor Frederick A. Arnold WL/MLBP). (UV and EB curable coatings for aircraft aluminum formulated and tested)
EPOXY RESINS
Byrne, C.A., Hagnauer, G.L. and Schneider, N.S., “Effects of Variation in Composition and Temperature on the Amine Cure of An Epoxy Resin Model Compound”, Polymer Composites, 4, 206 (1983). (studies of chemical reactions in epoxy resins used in composites for Army applications)
Byrne, C.A., Hagnauer, G.L., Schneider, N.S. and Lenz, R.W., “Model Compound Studies of the Amine Cure of Epoxy Resins”, Polymer Composites, 1 , 71 ( 1980). (use of HPLC, and IR to determine the types and amounts of chemical reactions in formulated epoxy resins)
BIODEGRADATION AND PHOTODEGRADATION OF POLYMERS
S.J. Huang, and C.A. Byrne, “Biodegradable Polymers: Photolysis and Fungal Degradation of Poly(arylene Keto Esters)”,J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 25, 1951-1960 (1980).
S.J. Huang and C.A. Byrne, “Photodegradable Polymers: Poly(arylene Keto Amines)”, J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 27, 2467-2474 (1982).
FUEL CELL MEMBRANES
R. Wycisk, R. Carter, P.N. Pintauro and C. A. Byrne, “Ion-Exchange Membranes from Blends of Sulfonated Polyphosphazene and Kynar Flex PVDF”, Polymer Materials Science and Engineering Proceedings 85, 519-520 (2001).
Daniel L. Goodman and Catherine A. Byrne, “Advanced Direct Methanol Fuel Cells with Electron Beam-Processed Polyphosphazene Membranes”, Final Technical Report, Contract No. DAAD19-00-C-0103,Contract Dates August 11, 2000 to February 10, 2001, Prepared for U.S. Army Research Office, March 15, 2001.

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