SPE announces a thermoplastic workshop for September

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SPE announces a thermoplastic workshop for September

August 18, 2026

RubberWorld

Danbury, CT – Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPEs) continue to expand into applications that demand flexibility, durability, processability, and recyclability. But selecting the right TPE, understanding how its molecular structure influences performance, and tailoring materials for specific applications requires more than a basic understanding of elastomer chemistry.

Join SPE’s online workshop, Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPEs): From Fundamental Insights to Contemporary Technologies, September 23–25, from 11:00 AM–1:00 PM ET, for a practical exploration of the science and engineering principles that drive TPE performance—from molecular design to emerging applications.

During this three-day workshop, you’ll examine questions that directly influence material selection and product development, including:

How different classes of TPEs compare in structure, properties, and applications.

How block copolymer architecture and molecular characteristics determine mechanical and viscoelastic performance.

How self-assembly and thermodynamics influence elasticity, durability, and network formation.

How blending and chemical functionalization can tailor TPEs for specific technologies and end-use requirements.

Where TPEs are enabling new opportunities in responsive materials, membranes, photovoltaics, antimicrobial systems, and other advanced applications.

This workshop combines the underlying science of thermoplastic elastomers with practical insights into contemporary technologies. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of block copolymer-based TPEs, physical crosslinking, morphology development, and the relationships between molecular structure and material performance through experimental observations, theoretical models, and computer simulations.

Presenter Dr. Richard J. Spontak – Professor, North Carolina State University

Dr. Spontak, Distinguished Professor at North Carolina State University, has over 40 years of experience with thermoplastic elastomers. During the past 25 years, he has explored new and exciting applications of TPEs as stimuli-responsive and functional soft materials ranging from electroactive and shape-memory media to carbon-capture membranes and antimicrobial surfaces. He received his B.S. and Ph.D. degrees in chemical engineering from Penn State and UC Berkeley,, respectively, and he pursued post-doctoral studies at Cambridge University (UK) and the Institute for Energy Technology (Norway) before joining the Procter & Gamble Company and later North Carolina State University. He has published over 300 peer-reviewed journal publications and presented nearly 400 invited presentations worldwide, and he has received numerous awards in recognition of his research.

*Source: Rubber World. For reference only.