CME Seminar Series - Summer 2025 with Andrew Hrymak

"High Performance Composites: Trends and Outlook"

Trends in the application of high-performance polymer composites are reviewed from the following perspectives: virtual process chain, automation and digitization, performance/light weighting/cost requirements, material advances and sustainability.

The presentation will also highlight the issues of scaling-up concepts from the laboratory and pilot-scales to commercial scales, including the challenges that come with large dimension parts, high production volumes and multiple performance requirements.

Sample studies will be used to highlight the opportunities for polymer processing to advance the field against the challenges, in particular a case study of glass-mat thermoplastic virtual process chain which included material properties, processing and final property prediction including warpage.

Outlook on approaches for sustainability through re-use and upcycling of materials will also be discussed.

About the speaker

Dr. Andrew Hrymak is Professor of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering and Director of the Fraunhofer Innovation Platform for Composites Research at Western University. His research interests include modeling, design, and optimization of materials processing systems and polymer composites. He previously served in the Department of Chemical Engineering at McMaster University from 1985-2009 where he was Department Chair (2000-2009), Director of the McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute (2001-05), and Director of the Walter G. Booth School of Engineering Practice (2004-09). Hrymak has served as Associate Editor of Computers and Chemical Engineering, Editor-in-Chief of International Polymer Processing, President of the International Society of Coating Science and Technology (ISCST), and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Chemical Institute of Canada.