Roy W. Tess Award in Coatings

Dr. Christian Decker

Dr. Christian Decker, Director of Research at the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) in Strasbourg France will receive the Roy W. Tess Award in Coatings for 2009. The announcement was made by the Officers and the Award Committee of the Division of Polymeric Materials: Science and Engineering (PMSE) of the American Chemical Society.

Dr. Decker is recognized as one of the world's leading experts in the area of radiation-induced reactions in polymeric materials. His main research interests are in ultrafast light-induced polymerizations, the synthesis and characterization of UV-cured coatings and nanocomposite materials, photostabilization of polymers, and laser-assisted chemical processing of polymers. He has contributed over 300 publications, patents and book chapters to the coatings and scientific literature as well as given more than 300 lectures at scientific meetings. Prof. Decker is a member of the American Chemical society, Radtech International, RadTech Europe, French Society of Polymers and the French Society of Chemistry.

Dr. Decker received his MS degree in Chemical Sciences from the University of Strasbourg in 1960, Engineer degree from Ecole National Superieure de Chimie de Strasbourg in 1961and then became an attaché de recherché at the CNRS in 1962. He received the Doctorate degree in Physical Sciences from the University of Strasbourg in 1967. He has been working at the Research Center on Macromolecules of Strasbourg and at Stanford Research in California. In 1975 Professor Decker joined the University of Haute Alsace and became Head of the Polymer Photochemistry Laboratory at the Ecole Nationale Superieure de Chimie de Mulhouse.

One of Dr. Decker's main research interests have included novel highly reactive acrylate monomers which contain cyclic carbamate or cyclic carbonate moiety and when used as reactive diluents in UV curable resins undergo polymerization 5 times as fast as conventional monoacrylates as well as improve the mechanical properties of the UV cured polymers. He also demonstrated that acrylic resins can be hardened quasi-instantly by simple exposure to an intense UV laser beam. This process has lead to a number of commercial industrial applications including the build up of complex 3-dimensional objects. He also has been involved with developing Real-Time Infrared Spectroscopy to follow in-situ ultrafast polymerizations induced by light or lasers. He also has been involved in photostabilization of polymers with UV-cured polyurethane-acrylate coatings to improve the outdoor durability of such polymer materials as PVC, polycarbonates, wood panels and painted metals. Dr. Decker also has used UV-curing of nanocomposite polymers with as little as 3wt% clay nanoparticles at ambient temperatures to improve barrier and mechanical properties which is of value in floor finishing and furniture applications. Most of the work carried out by Dr. Decker and his team has been in close collaboration with many industrial partners.

Dr. Decker has received many awards for his research and development efforts from RadTech Europe and RadTech International.

Dr. Decker will receive the Roy W. Tess Award from Dr. E. Bryan Coughlin Chair of the PMSE Division, on Monday, August 17, 2009 during the 238th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society in Washington, D.C. Dr. Decker will present an Award Address at that time. An evening reception sponsored by the PMSE Division will follow the Award Symposium.

The Tess Award is presented annually by the Division of Polymeric Materials: Science and Engineering in recognition of outstanding contributions to coatings science and technology. It is funded by a grant to the Division from Dr. and Mrs. Roy W. Tess. The purpose of the award is to encourage interest and progress in coatings science technology and engineering and to recognize significant contributions to the field. The Award consists of a plaque and a $3000 cash prize.

Distinguished past recipients of the Tess Award include:

For further information, please contact Dr. Theodore Provder, Polymers and Coatings Consultants, 5645A Emerald Ridge Parkway, Solon, Ohio 44139, 440-914-0611 or 440-610-4809 (cell), Email: tprovder@att.net..