Profile Details

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USD 70 /hr

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Hire Dr. Deon D.

South Africa

USD 70 /hr

I have a PhD in Polymer Science with over 22 years industry work experience

Profile Summary

I have a PhD in Polymer Chemistry from Stellenbosch University (1999) and an MBA from Heriot-Watt University (2012). I’ve worked in the polymer industry for more than 22 years. I started my career working for a paint company (Plascon) and have extensive experience in the hands-on design and synthesis of paint additives based on special unsaturated polyesters (vesiculated beads) as well as core-shell binders for paints and rheology modifiers. I worked at SASOL and was involved in tandem oligomerization-polymerization, micro-wax synthesis, crystal habit modifiers using controlled free radical polymerization (RAFT), and superabsorbent polymers. I achieved the role of chief scientist at SASOL. I briefly spent time at the Borealis research Centre in Linz, Austria as research engineer where I was using controlled free radical polymerization to design an additive to assist with paint adhesion to polypropylene door panels. I have also worked as technical manager and R&D manager at Lake International (AECI) and the SI Group respectively. During my time at Lake International I was tasked with the improvement and design of products for agriculture (Biofix), emulsifiers for mining explosives (Experse) and novel polyols derived from margarine waste (Industrial Urethanes). During my tenure as R&D manager at SI Group I was involved in the design of novel plywood adhesives and polyols for rigid polyurethanes derived from phenolic resins. During my time at SI Group I was also involved in the design of novolacs with added anti-oxidants to significantly improve the performance of novolac binders in brake pads. Since August 2016 I worked as consultant at Sappi in the role of product development manager for lignin. I successfully modified sodium lignosulfonate and soda lignin for the synthesis of polyols to make rigid polyurethane foams and resins to be used in plywood glues. The resins were scaled up to 10 tons and successfully commercially tested. Both projects are at an advanced level of pre-commercialization. I started my own consulting business in 2018 entitled Industrial Chemistry Consulting. I remain intensely interested in science and chemistry and specifically the interaction between science and business hence business science. I’m also skilled in scientific programming and financial modelling.

Subject Matter Expertise

• ☆ Dispersion Chemistry
• ☆ Natural Product Chemistry
• ☆ Physical Chemistry
• ☆ Polymer Chemistry
• ☆ Agricultural Chemistry
• ☆ Supramolecular Chemistry
• ☆ Organic Chemistry
• ☆ Physical Organic Chemistry
• ☆ Software Engineering
• ☆ Financial Modeling
• ☆ Mathematical Models
• ☆ Applied Chemistry
• ☆ Formulation
• ☆ Mathematical Finance

Services

• Writing
• Research
• Consulting
• Data & AI
• Product Development

Writing Technical Writing

Research Market Research, User Research, Feasibility Study, Technology Scouting, Gap Analysis, Gray Literature Search, Systematic Literature Review

Consulting Scientific and Technical Consulting

Data & AI Predictive Modeling, Statistical Analysis, Data Visualization, Data Processing

Product Development Formulation, Product Evaluation, Prototyping

Work Experience

Product Development Manager

Sappi

August 2016 - Present

Research and Development Manager

SI Group

August 2014 - August 2016

Technical Manager

Lake International

August 2011 - August 2013

Research Engineer

Borealis

April 2008 - June 2009

Chief Scientist

Sasol

January 2002 - March 2008

Basic Research Manager

Plascon

January 1998 - December 2001

Education

MBA

Heriot-Watt

January 2007 - January 2012

PhD (Polymer Science)

Stellenbosch University

March 1994 - March 1999

Certifications

• Professional Certificate of Competency in Chemical Engineering and Plant Design

  Engineering Institute of Technology

  January 2021 - January 2021