About

Biography

My background in Ceramic Engineering began at the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University (B.S. and M.S. 1981 & 1983) where my course concentrations were in processing, properties and characterization.  Internships in whiteware and container glass industries, and teaching assistantships in ceramic processing and X-ray diffraction, influenced my career path in materials and processing.  Other graduate school work included 

·  Study of defect oxide structures for fuel cell applications using novel powder processing and X-ray Diffraction methods (under Prof. Robert L. Snyder, M.S. thesis)

·  Post graduate work at the Goebel laboratory at Siemens Research Labs in Munich, Germany, applying Position Sensitive Detectors to time and temperature studies of  materials by X-ray diffraction.

·  Presentation of Siemens research at conferences and travel throughout (then) Western and Eastern Europe. 

My experience in advanced ceramics began in 1985 in the field of fiber reinforced composites (Fiber Materials, Inc., Biddeford, Maine).  For seven years I worked at the development, processing and testing of ceramic-, metal- and polymer-matrix composites, and carbon/carbon composites, for aerospace and defense applications.  Specific areas included woven reinforcement structures ranging from simple fabrics to complex multidirectional weaves, fiber interface issues, methods of matrix infiltration/densification, oxidation control in carbon/carbon, materials for radar signature control using metallic whiskers and custom-resistivity yarn and fabric designs, 

My background in Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) began in 1992 and continued to 2000 while employed by ATMI, Inc. in Danbury, CT as a Senior Engineer and Program Manager.  There I targeted ceramic coatings on multifilament fibers for interface control in composites and also contributed to the CVD of metal coatings on fibers for radar obscuration.  My objective at ATMI was to identify and develop applications for the company’s liquid CVD precursors and precursor delivery equipment, and demonstrate coatings using in-house CVD reactors.  Although ATMI’s focus for these precursor and equipment technologies was the semiconductor industry, the potential for these new CVD technologies to aid many fields, including high temperature composites, was obvious.  A number of government agencies and companies recognized this as well and provided funding for the investigation of new applications.  This work led to the first CVD monazite (LaPO₄) coatings (used in ceramic composites), a highly advanced atmospheric pressure CVD process for coating multifilament fibers, the first fiber-coating process to incorporate computer control, process sensors and data acquisition (Air Force funding), and an in-depth survey and evaluation of coating and gas sensors for CVD in general.   

Other coating studies included SiC, BN/SiBN, and various oxides for interface coatings in composites and on components, and doped tin oxide and chromium oxide for battery and charge bleeding applications.   In several instances, novel precursors were used and proven effective, leading to invention disclosures and patents.  Government and private sector customers included Depts. of Defense and Energy, NASA, the power generation industry, and the aircraft and aerospace industries.   

Throughout this work, I gained an intimate understanding of, and appreciation for, the key aspects of successful CVD processing.  Reduced to the most basic elements, these are

·  precursor chemistry,

·  delivery of precursor to the reactor,

·  reactor design and control,

·  process diagnostics,

·  experimental design, and

·  safety 

In late 2000, I left ATMI in order to continue applying emerging CVD technologies in non-semiconductor applications. 

During my years in industry, I have established a strong base of contacts in industry and government and developed skills in program management, proposal writing (including SBIR), reporting, presentation of results, marketing and preparation of marketing materials.  Having worked in R&D and production with professionals from nearly every scientific and engineering discipline, at all levels of training, I have acquired a deep appreciation for the value of interdisciplinary teams in achieving goals.   

A full resume and list of publications/presentations and patents may be requested through this website.

A full resume may be requested by contacting me.