The Waterborne Symposium 2025: Full Schedule

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7:00am CST

Short Course Registration Open

Tuesday February 25, 2025 7:00am - 8:00am CST

Check In, Registration and Continental Breakfast

Tuesday February 25, 2025 7:00am - 8:00am CST

Registration, Short Courses

7:45am CST

Reformulating to Waterborne Coatings

Tuesday February 25, 2025 7:45am - 5:00pm CST

Astor Crowne Plaza - 2nd Floor Mezzanine

The mezzanine level is accessible by elevator only.

Dr. Robson F. Storey
Bennett Distinguished Professor of Polymer Science
Course Purpose: To provide chemists in the coatings industry an understanding of the principles involved in reformulating systems to a waterborne system.
Course Description: Reformulating to Waterborne Coatings is an intensive, two-day course providing an introduction to the technology of waterborne coatings with an emphasis on the challenges encountered in converting existing solvent-borne coating systems to water. It consists of a series of lectures organized around various popular coating types including acrylic latex, polyester/alkyd, two-component polyurethane, polyurethane dispersion, epoxy, and silicone. Additional topics include the use of additives, pigments and pigment dispersion, and application methods for waterborne coatings.
Who should attend: The course is designed for coating chemists and formulators and for persons interested in new applications for waterborne coatings.

Short Course Instructors

Charles Shearer

Field Technical Service Representative, Industrial and Automotive Coatings, Covestro

Chuck is currently a Field Technical Service Representative in the Industrial Coatings group at Covestro, where he has been for 26 years. He holds a BA degree in Chemistry/Biology from Annhurst College and has completed advanced Chemistry courses at Northeastern University in... Read More →

Cheng-Le Zhao

Retired, BASF

Professional Background- 35 years of industrial experience serving the coatings, construction, adhesives, paper coating and fiber bonding industries- Held various R&D positions as Sr. Scientist, Sr. Technical Manager and Technology Director in Canada, Germany, China and USA within... Read More →

Don Liles

Retired - Emulsions Development Group, Dow Corning Corporation

BiographyOn May 1st of this year, Don will have attained 50 years of continuous R&D experience in industrial chemistry. Don joined Dow Corning Corporation as a chemist in 1974, after having completed an MS degree in organic chemistry from Georgia Tech and a BS degree in chemistry... Read More →

Jeffery Arendt

Group Leader, Arkema Coating Resins

Abstract: The value proposition of alkyds resins in coating markets remains strong. With sustainability initiatives affecting the industry at all levels there is a need to convert higher VOC formulations to more sustainable low VOC formulations. This lecture will review the chemistry... Read More →

Jim Reader

Senior Technical Manager -Automotive Coatings, Americas, Evonik Corporation

Jim Reader graduated from Warwick University (UK) in 1988 with a Ph.D. in Chemistry. He joined Air Products in 1988 in Manchester as an Application Development Chemist for Epoxy hardeners. He became Technical Manager for the Specialty Additives business in 1996 and worked in Europe... Read More →

Keith Moody

Retired, Consultant

SolventsSolvent type, classification, characteristics, solvency, evaporation rate, odor, flash point, VOC, HAP, MIR, formulation considerationsBiogrpahyKeith received his BS in Chemistry from Kentucky Wesleyan College and his MS in Polymer Chemistry from the University of Cincinnati... Read More →

Mike Jeffries

Business Development Manager – Industrial Coatings, Covestro

High Performance Waterborne Two-Component PolyurethanesThis talk with discuss the chemistry of both components in a two-component PUD. It will review water dispersible polyisocyanate crosslinkers and isocyanate reactive waterborne polymers. In addition methods of formulating these... Read More →

Partha Majumdar

Principle Research Scientist, Dow

Bio:Partha Majumdar is currently Principal Research Scientist in Coatings R&D at Dow. His research areas involve formulations, applications of high-throughput methodology, DOE, statistical data analysis, data modeling, and building structure-property relationships. Partha received... Read More →

Robson Storey

Bennett Distinguished Professor of Polymer Science and Engineering, Emeritus Chairman, The Waterborne Symposium, The University of Southern Mississippi

Robson F. StoreyBennett Distinguished Professor of Polymer Science and Engineering, EmeritusChairman, The Waterborne SymposiumBuilding: Polymer Science, Room 305Phone: 601.266.4879118 College Dr. #5050, Hattiesburg, MS 39406Abstract Title: “Alternative Polyurethane Polymers Cured... Read More →

Romesh Kumar

Consultant, Heubach Group

Short Course AbstractPigment Selection for Architectural CoatingsCompetition and environmental regulations require the architectural coatings manufacturers to develop innovative formulations to improve traditional colorant systems. This includes improved hiding, reduced VOC (almost... Read More →

Sam Morell

President, samMorell.com

Short CourseRheology of Waterborne CoatingsThis presentation on rheology reviews the basic principles of rheology including its definition and its influencers - chemical structure, morphology, and environmental conditions. The impact by various deformation forces including compression... Read More →

Shiying Zheng

Applied Technology Director, Evonik Corporation

Short CourseFormulating Two-Package, Ambient-Cure Waterborne Epoxy Coatings This talk will introduce the concept and applications of waterborne epoxy systems. It will describe the chemistry, design principles, and types of epoxy resin and amine curing agents used in such systems... Read More →

Tuesday February 25, 2025 7:45am - 5:00pm CST
Astor Crowne Plaza - 2nd Floor Mezzanine

Short Courses, Reformulating SC

7:45am CST

Formulating Science Mobile Laboratory

Tuesday February 25, 2025 7:45am - 5:15pm CST

Astor Crowne Plaza - 2nd Floor Mezzanine

The mezzanine level is accessible by elevator only.

Dr. James W. Rawlins
Professor of Polymer Science and Engineering

Course Purpose:
Provide an understanding and overview of surface coating formulation principles for chemists in the coatings industry with hands-on formulation practice and lectures focused on reinforcing structure-property-performance relationships with a ‘begin with the end in mind’ focus.
Course Description:
Coating manufacture is challenging. Often protective and decorative coatings formulations require an iterative series of ladder studies. Formulating requires raw materials knowledge, processing and preparation skills for production, math for calculations, and physics to discern hiding, loading, ratios of raw materials used with each substrate, cure profile, and environmental conditions. The short course will reinforce formulation building through mobile laboratories and lectures.
The Science of Formulating Short Courses is organized to provide 6 hands-on laboratory experiments and 6 lectures in two days delivered by 6 speakers.

Who should attend:
This short course is a general course covering major paint and coating types presented at a fundamental technical level and is designed for entry-level chemists to the coatings industry that desire total immersion for paint and coatings production, selection, design, and development.

Short Course Instructors

Cheng-Le Zhao

Retired, BASF

Chris Howard

Technical Manager, Lintech International

Additive Technology – Principles and FormulationDefoaming and deaeration, surface control, substrate wetting, adhesion, pigment wetting and stabilization, rheology control, moisture scavengers, catalysts and carboxylates, specialty additives, optimization of additives, coatings... Read More →

Christopher Scanlon

Specialist, Westlake Epoxy

Christopher Scanlon is a Specialist at Westlake Epoxy in Stafford, Texas. Where he focuses on the development of analytical technics, plant support, and innovative research and development. A proud alumnus of The University of Southern Mississippi, Christopher did his doctoral research... Read More →

Daniel Calimente

Technical Manager, Wacker Chemical Corporation

Silicone Chemistry and their Utility in Coatings ApplicationsOne of the chemistries which can prove to be useful with increased demands for performance in coatings is the silicone chemistry. We will be looking at different forms that silicones can be used in coatings, different types... Read More →

James Rawlins

Professor, The University of Southern Mississippi

Fundamentals of Coatings:Introduction to CoatingsAbstract ComingStructure-Property Relationships in PolymersThe Science of Formulating:Advanced Structure-Property Relationships in PolymersMolecular weight, critical entanglement molecular weight, crosslink density, crystallinity, hydroplasticization... Read More →

Jim Macdonald

Business Line Manager, BYK-Gardner USA

Bio:Jim has been employed by BYK-Gardner USA for 25 years. He has been the territory sales manager in the Midwest US and is now the business line manager for Industrial paint and coatings applications in the U.S. and Canada

Keith Moody

Retired, Consultant

Michael Blanton

Team Leader, The University of Southern Mississippi

The Fundamentals of Coatings:Abbreviations and Acronyms in the World of Polymers and CoatingsAbstract ComingPolymers Utilized in CoatingsAbstract ComingThe Science of Formulating: Coatings CharacterizationScanning Electron Microscopy, Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy, Confocal... Read More →

Michael Praw

TS&D Manager, Indorama Ventures

Born and raised in Montreal, Mike now lives in the Houston area. He has 36 years of coatings formulation experience, 18 years with coatings companies and 18 years with raw material suppliers. He is currently Technical Service and Development Manager, for Indorama Ventures: Integrated... Read More →

Mike Jeffries

Business Development Manager – Industrial Coatings, Covestro

Rajeev Gorowara

Technical Service Principal Scientist, Chemours

Rajeev Gorowara supports users of titanium dioxide pigments in coatings. He has worked in the chemical industry for over 25 years, specializing in applications and synthesis of engineered particles. Prior to joining Chemours, Rajeev worked for DuPont in multiple roles, including... Read More →

Tuesday February 25, 2025 7:45am - 5:15pm CST
Astor Crowne Plaza - 2nd Floor Mezzanine

Short Courses, Formulating SC

12:00pm CST

Exhibitor Move In

Tuesday February 25, 2025 12:00pm - 3:00pm CST

Grand Ballroom D

Tuesday February 25, 2025 12:00pm - 3:00pm CST
Grand Ballroom D

Technology Showcase Exhibit Hall

12:00pm CST

General Symposium and Exhibitor Registration Opens

Tuesday February 25, 2025 12:00pm - 7:00pm CST

Astor Grand Foyer - Level 2

Tuesday February 25, 2025 12:00pm - 7:00pm CST
Astor Grand Foyer - Level 2

Registration, General Symposium

4:00pm CST

Technology Showcase Exhibit Hall Open

Tuesday February 25, 2025 4:00pm - 7:00pm CST

Grand Ballroom D

Please visit our exhibitors in the exhibit hall - Grand Ballroom D.

Tuesday February 25, 2025 4:00pm - 7:00pm CST
Grand Ballroom D

Technology Showcase Exhibit Hall

5:00pm CST

Tuesday Evening Welcome Reception

Tuesday February 25, 2025 5:00pm - 7:00pm CST

Grand Ballroom D

The 2024 Waterborne Symposium kicks off with a dynamic opening reception in the technology showcase exhibitors’ hall. Don't miss this incredible chance to connect with industry leaders, exhibitors, and peers!

Tuesday February 25, 2025 5:00pm - 7:00pm CST
Grand Ballroom D

Receptions, All Tracks