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Iman Soltani

 

Resume of an experienced plastic, rubber, composite scientist & engineer, holding BS, MS, and PhD in Polymer Engineering and Science, with more than 14 years' experience in automotive, packaging, and filtration applications.

ABOUT ME
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IMAN SOLTANI (Polymer Development Scientist & Engineer)

            211-255 Main St, Toronto, ON, M4C 4X2              

(647)385-4707, IMAN.SOLTANI@UTORONTO.CA

https://www.linkedin.com/in/iman-soltani-ph-d-2234577‎

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Polymer & Fiber Research Engineer & Scientist, University of Toronto, ON                                                            8/2017-present

  • Compounding (extrusion & batch mixers) polymers, fiber spinning & melt-blowing (PP, PET, PE, PA, PLA, PC, ABS, PVDF, PTFE), and processing novel hybrid nanocomposites & foams (injection molding), with improved performance & investigating their morphology and crystallography (microscopy, image analysis, statistical analysis, XRD, FTIR, UV-Vis), thermo-physical (DSC, TGA, TMA), mechanical (DMA, instron), & rheological (ARES, capillary) properties.

  • Supervising graduate students and postdocs on conducting their projects, and training them on polymer processing and characterization techniques.

  • Communicating and negotiating (liaison) with major manufacturers of plastic processing (DSM, Brabender, Haake, Xplore) & characterization facilities (TA Instrument, Anton Paar), to equip the processing and characterization labs.

Polymer & Fiber Research Scientist, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN                                                  4/2016-8/2017

  • Blended polymers & made melt-blown nanofibers (PBT, PET, PS, PVDF, PTFE) for nonwoven filtration applications, & investigating their morphology (POM & SEM microscopy, image analysis, statistical analysis), physical (DSC, TGA, GPC), mechanical, & rheological (parallel plate and capillary rheometry) properties.

  • Made hybrid nonwoven mats comprising nanofiber and microfiber layers with various surface properties for gas and liquid filtration applications.  

  • Produced the thinnest fibers ever through a melt-based method, with the diameter of 36nm.

  • Supervised and mentored research assistants on conducting their projects, and training them on polymer processing and characterization techniques.

  • Managed the polymer processing and characterization lab.

  • Mentoring undergraduate students with their research in polymer and fiber processing, and investigating their morphology and physical, rheological propertie

Polymers & Nanomaterials Research Scientist, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC                          1/2011-4/2016

  • Improved the gas barrier properties of a difficult-to-work-with polymer like highly hydrophobic PS and HIPS for the record high of about 500 times, through coating (multilayer) method, and for more than 2 times through conventionally processable nanocomposite approaches (HIPS, PET, PVAc, adhesives, clay), respectively, for food & beverage packaging application.

  • Developed new FDA-approved and optically clear nanocomposites with superior barrier properties against CO2 & O2, by improving the adhesion between polymer bulk and nanoparticles through developing a variety of novel methods, via collaboration with United Resource Recovery Corporation (URRC), one of the largest PET recycling plants in the world and the major supplier of the Coca Cola.

  • Proficiently conducted various characterization techniques to investigate physical mechanical and barrier properties, and melt flow behavior of novel polymer nanocomposites, through working with sorption and permeation cells, rheometry, SEM, microtomy, TEM, optical microscopy, ImageJ, XRD, DMA, DSC, TGA, Instron, pH meter.

  • Managed the polymer processing and characterization lab.

  • Supervised and mentored research assistants on conducting their projects, and training them on polymer processing and characterization techniques.

  • Improved the interaction between clay platelets and polymeric matrices, by using polyelectrolyte interlayers and their electrostatic interactions, concluding FDA-approved and optically-transparent exfoliated polymer nanocomposites with improved mechanical, thermal and gas barrier properties.

  • Taught undergraduate courses in Thermodynamics, and tutored and supervised undergraduate chemical engineering students with their research.

Plastics, Rubbers, Composites Development Engineer, Renault Automotive MFG Co. Plant at IKCo                1/2002-1/2011  

  • Founded and managed the Plastics, Rubbers, & Composites Engineering Group and their routine and R&D projects.

  • Managed the polymer processing and characterization lab and the composite modeling shop.

  • Established novel plastic/rubber hybrid composites with superior physical, mechanical, and rheological properties, through growing brushes, grafting, compounding, and processing of a variety of polymeric blends and composites.

  • Formulated & compounded polymer blends (including masterbatch) & hybrid composites with various pieces of equipment, as single & twin screw extruders, batch mixer, injection molding, thermoforming, calendaring, & milling.

  • Designed (CAD) & processed engineering polymer (blends, composites, textiles) (mainly based on PA, PP, PET, PBD, PU, ABS, TPO) automotive parts (under bonnet & trim parts (exterior and interior), & performed quality control tests (ISO, ASTM, DIN) on them, aiming at improved performance, customer demands, and reduced costs, in team projects within the frameworks of Stage-Gate (idea to launch), Lean six sigma, and 5-S protocols.

  • Directed various characterization tests for different polymeric blends, composites, and textiles including mechanical testing (Instron, impact), rheometry (capillary, rotational, oscillatory), DMA, DSC, TGA, HDT, FTIR, and UV-Vis.

  • As the Design MGMT consultant, recommended optimized polymers and processes, in various car design projects.

  • Improved the crash resistance of vehicles, through leading research & feasibility study along with communicating & collaborating (liaison) with major chemical companies, Dow, Henkel, & BASF to apply impact absorbent polymeric structural foams in automotive pillars, to be processed at the online paint-shop plant simultaneously with other paint processes.

  • Performed design, evaluation, quality control (FMEA), & troubleshooting for chemical processes & materials involved in the online automotive paint-shop, as sealers, PVC under-body, cavity wax, damping sheets, and coatings.

  • Experienced with different techniques of making polymeric composites, like hand-lay-up, RTM, SMC, and BMC, mainly for exterior parts with class A surfaces, and GMT for the bumper beam.

  • Taught engineers, polymers processing, their properties, and their characterization techniques at the education center.

  • Designed technical documents as Design Method Request (DMR), Test Plan, Product Design Specification (PDS), Bill of Materials (BOM), Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS).

  • As a supply chain expert, recognized and evaluated the third party and external plastic parts and components manufacturers, and collaborated with them to improve their products quality to fulfill the existing standards.

  • Collaborated with quality control department on applying Lean 6 sigma, Kaizen, and 5S on current projects.

  • Planned and managed the projects with MS Project and Primavera (Gantt Chart, assigning resources,…).

  • Renault Plant at IKCo, with the manufacturing volume of above 700,000 vehicles per annum, and about 40,000 employees, including about 3000 engineers, is the second largest plant of this major French car manufacturing company.

  • Developed hybrid microcomposites of short glass fiber and rubber grafted thermoplastic matrix with improved toughness, through growing interactive compatibilizer brushes like MAH and DCP on rubbers and grafting them to thermoplastic matrix, being aided by appropriate shear, stress, and temperature applied by twin-screw extruder, along with investigating their morphology and rheological properties.

  • Conducted research and feasibility study on painting processes for plastic parts of the body, like plastic fenders, to be painted simultaneously with the automotive body through the online paint-shop, through Communicating and collaborating with major chemical companies, Dow, Henkel, BASF, and Bayer.

Elastomer Engineering Intern, General Tire & Rubber Co.                                                                                            3/2001- 9/2001  

  • Designed and processed different elastomer compounds through working with equipment like banbury, mixer mill, calendering, and conducted various tests for tire and controlled their quality.

 

EDUCATION

Postdoctoral Fellowship, Polymer & Fiber Processing, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN                        2017

Supervisor: Prof. Christopher Macosko, Co-Advisor: Prof. Frank Bates

 

Ph.D., Polymer & Fiber Science & Nanotechnology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC                                                2016  

Dissertation: Using Layer-by-Layer Coating and Nanocomposite Technologies to Improve the Barrier Properties of Polymeric Materials, Needed for Packaging Applications. Supervisor: Prof. Richard Spontak

 

MS, Polymer Engineering & Science (Polymer Processing), IPPI                                                                                                          2004

Thesis: Investigating Morphology & Rheology of Novel Nylon66/Glass-Fiber/EPDM rubber Graft Composites, with Superior Mechanical Properties.

 

BS, Polymer Engineering & Science (Polymer Processing), Amirkabir University of Technology                                                    2001  

                 

OTHER SKILLS

Computer: MS Office, MS Access, MS Project, XMind, Data Analysis, CATIA, Solid Works, Mold Flow, Origin, Kaleidagraph, MATLAB, LabVIEW, RefWorks, EndNote, Photoshop, Inkscape, Design of Experiment (DOE).

Languages: English: proficient; French: intermediateOTHER SKILLS

 

AWARDS, HONORS, & AFFILIATIONS

  • Was ranked 2018th amongst 212,000 participants in the National Entrance Exam towards BS Degree, so was granted by The Ministry of Sci. Res. &Tech., the undergraduate scholarship to study at Amirkabir Univ. of Tech. (1996).

  • Member of Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi (ΦΚΦ), Americ. Inst. of Chem. Eng. (AIChE), Mat. Res. Soc. (MRS), Americ. Physical Soc. (APS), Americ. Chem. Soc (ACS), & ASTM, also Vice-President (NCSU Chapter) of Soc. of Plastics Engineers (SPE).

  • Member of Habitat for Humanity, Scientists without Borders, Engineers without Borders International, & Open Arms of Minnesota. 

 

PUBLICATIONS

Book Chapter:

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles:

Conference Proceedings:

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