Modern Chemistry & Applications

Bob A Howell

Bob A Howell
Professor, Department of Chemistry
Central Michigan University, USA

Biography

Bob Howell received the B.A. degree in chemistry at Berea College (1964), a Ph.D. in physical-organic chemistry at Ohio University (1971), and completed a postdoctoral assignment with Professor Walter Trahanovsky at Iowa State University (1971-74). He is currently a professor of organic chemistry/polymer science and Director, Center for Applications in Polymer Science at Central Michigan University. He has long been active in several professional societies, particularly the American Chemical Society (ACS), the North American Thermal Analysis Society (NATAS), the Society for Plastic Engineers (SPE), and the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM). He has served both ACS and NATAS in numerous capacities. He is a former President of NATAS. He is a former chair of the Midland Section – ACS and currently serves as ACS councilor for the section. He is a member of several ACS committees including the Committee on Professional Training, and the ASTM Committee E-31 on thermal methods. He is Fellow of both the American Chemical Society and the North American Thermal Analysis Society. He is the 2012 recipient of the NATAS award for outstanding achievement which recognizes distinguished achievement in the field of thermal analysis of generally wide interest and impact.

Research Interest

Degradation/stabilization of vinylidene chloride barrier resins; mass transport in barrier polymers; thermal methods of analysis/kinetics; water-soluble polymers suitable for the support of organoplatinum antitumor agents; mediated radical polymerization; fuel cell membrane materials; effective, non-toxic polymer additives. A current major focus is the development of non-toxic, biodegradable, environmentally-friendly flame retardants based on renewable biomaterials.