Senior Associate Consultant
Patrick C Wernett, Ph.D.
Patrick C Wernett, Ph.D.
Dr. Patrick Wernett - Polymer Expert
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Patrick is an experienced Director of R&D with a demonstrated history of new product development in the Minerals industry. He is a strong research professional skilled in root cause analysis, continuous improvement, new product development linked to VOC activity/tools, quality assurance, worldwide food/pharma regulatory compliance, analytical instrumentation and process optimization. Patrick uses his strong background in the characterization and modification of the physical and chemical characteristics of mineral based products for use in polymer reinforcement, plastic films, paper filling, paper coating, consumer products, building products, adhesives/sealants, and paints and coatings to assist in the development of new products from inception to full commercialization. Patrick's proven history in product development has provided him an in-depth understanding of worldwide regulatory compliance of mineral based products including direct interactions and registrations with U.S. FDA, U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services, USP, EP, JP, JHOSPA, NSF, PPI, and the MOH of China.
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- Quality assurance expertise including the development of Quality Management Systems (QMS), cGMP, multiple ISO standards, and HACCP programs.
- Proficient in implementation of Lean Manufacturing, Operational Excellence, statistical process control, design of experiments and project management.
- Strong background in analytical instrumentation including thermal analysis (DSC), XPS, NMR, HPLC/SEC, LOM/SEM/TEM, microcalorimetry, FTIR, GC/MS, FESEM and various mechanical and characterization-based testing related to mineral composite materials, such as the reinforcement of thermoplastic polymers, antiblocks for polymer films, paper and consumer products.
Experience
March 2020 - Present
Wernett Scientific LLC, CEO / CTO
Palm Springs, California
Providing Consulting Services
• Utilizing my industrial experience to aid clients in the development of new products in the areas of polymer reinforcement of polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polylactic acid, polyhydroxyalkanoates, polyethylene films and mineral filled paper composition and applications.
• Aid clients in determining worldwide regulatory compliance issues in determining product attributes and testing necessary to obtain specific product compliance and necessary product registration processes.
1992 - March 2020
Specialty Minerals Incorporated (SMI), A wholly owned subsidiary of Minerals Technologies Incorporated (MTI )
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Sr. Director, SMI R&D and Corporate Analytical Services Group 2018 – 2020
• Directed and supervised multiple R&D groups within the U.S., Europe, India and China consisting of 8 global direct reports and 100+ total employees.
• Directed the operations of the MTI corporate Analytical Service Group responsible for the characterization of materials for applications and customer service support, new product development, and regulatory compliance.
• Directly responsible for managing “stage-gate” based new product development programs through the principles of Hoshin Kanri.
• Implemented multiple Operational Excellence programs within the R&D groups to improve the pace and financial impact of new product development efforts. These programs successfully reduced commercialization times by 10% a year to meet or exceed SMI 1-5yr. revenue plans for these new products and delivered new products for Paper PCC that brought revenue contributions from 2% to 6% in 2 years and from 2% to 14% in 5 years for the Performance Minerals division.
Director- Performance Minerals R&D and Quality Assurance 2006-2018
• Supervisor of an R&D group of 18 highly skilled professionals.
• Successful commercialization of newly engineered mineral products in areas of plastics reinforcement, antiblock additives for polymer films, construction and automotive sealants, consumer products, building products, paints and coatings.
• Coordinated all aspects of new product commercialization efforts working directly with target customers, Marketing, Sales, Production, and Quality Assurance.
• Responsible for education of global customers on the use of mineral additives in multiple polymer and sealant-based systems.
• Managed our divisional Quality Assurance programs as divisional Director of Quality Assurance, managing 6 manufacturing facilities (5 in the USA, 1 in the UK). This involved ensuring cGMP practices, multiple site registrations with FDA and DHHS, and ensuring product regulatory compliance.
Technical Manager- Plastics 2002-2006
• Direct experience in the design and development of mineral reinforced polymer composites.
• Developed a revolutionary family of calcium carbonate-based products to improve the toughness and stiffness of polypropylene, rubber reinforced polyolefins (TPO) and renewable polymers such as polylactic acid and polyhydroxyalkanoates. One new product was successfully designed to improve the impact resistance of PLA based polymers by an order of magnitude.
• Experience in the mineral reinforcement of PP/TPO, PVC, PLA, PHA based thermoplastics.
• Responsible for the development of product specifications for Specialty Minerals precipitated and ground calcium carbonates, talc, mica and barite minerals based on structural-performance relationship.
• Managed projects that successfully produced new high clarity antiblocks for polyolefin films (LLDPE, LDPE and PP).
• Responsible for writing process monographs for new precipitated calcium carbonate products synthesized for the plastics and sealant industries.
Senior Scientist- Sealants and Adhesives 1999-2002
• Developed new low moisture and high efficiency precipitated calcium carbonate based products to act as thixotropic rheological modifiers for construction and automotive sealants.
• Developed specific surface treatments of submicron and nano-sized mineral particles to optimize the rheological/thixotropic properties in construction and automotive sealants.
• Experience in PVC plastisols, silicone, methoxysilane polyethers, polysulfide and polyurethane sealant systems.
• Familiar with formulating, curing and the rheological and mechanical testing of sealant systems
Research Chemist /Senior Research Chemist 1992-1999
• Managed a research group focused on organic chemical research directed at developing new products for the paper coating and paper filling markets.
• Directed paper technical service support related to organic based deposits.
• Supervised the Surface and Colloidal Science laboratory utilizing XPS, microcalorimetry, and instrumentation to measure contact angle and surface energy (Wilhelmy plate, Goniometer, IGC).
• Designed and implemented a major research project involved in the development of functional polymeric coatings for carbonate-based minerals for use in the paper, polymer, plastics, sealants and paint industries.
March 2020 - Present
Wernett Scientific LLC, CEO / CTO
Palm Springs, California
Providing Consulting Services
• Utilizing my industrial experience to aid clients in the development of new products in the areas of polymer reinforcement of polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polylactic acid, polyhydroxyalkanoates, polyethylene films and mineral filled paper composition and applications.
• Aid clients in determining worldwide regulatory compliance issues in determining product attributes and testing necessary to obtain specific product compliance and necessary product registration processes.
1992 - March 2020
Specialty Minerals Incorporated (SMI), A wholly owned subsidiary of Minerals Technologies Incorporated (MTI )
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Sr. Director, SMI R&D and Corporate Analytical Services Group 2018 – 2020
• Directed and supervised multiple R&D groups within the U.S., Europe, India and China consisting of 8 global direct reports and 100+ total employees.
• Directed the operations of the MTI corporate Analytical Service Group responsible for the characterization of materials for applications and customer service support, new product development, and regulatory compliance.
• Directly responsible for managing “stage-gate” based new product development programs through the principles of Hoshin Kanri.
• Implemented multiple Operational Excellence programs within the R&D groups to improve the pace and financial impact of new product development efforts. These programs successfully reduced commercialization times by 10% a year to meet or exceed SMI 1-5yr. revenue plans for these new products and delivered new products for Paper PCC that brought revenue contributions from 2% to 6% in 2 years and from 2% to 14% in 5 years for the Performance Minerals division.
Director- Performance Minerals R&D and Quality Assurance 2006-2018
• Supervisor of an R&D group of 18 highly skilled professionals.
• Successful commercialization of newly engineered mineral products in areas of plastics reinforcement, antiblock additives for polymer films, construction and automotive sealants, consumer products, building products, paints and coatings.
• Coordinated all aspects of new product commercialization efforts working directly with target customers, Marketing, Sales, Production, and Quality Assurance.
• Responsible for education of global customers on the use of mineral additives in multiple polymer and sealant-based systems.
• Managed our divisional Quality Assurance programs as divisional Director of Quality Assurance, managing 6 manufacturing facilities (5 in the USA, 1 in the UK). This involved ensuring cGMP practices, multiple site registrations with FDA and DHHS, and ensuring product regulatory compliance.
Technical Manager- Plastics 2002-2006
• Direct experience in the design and development of mineral reinforced polymer composites.
• Developed a revolutionary family of calcium carbonate-based products to improve the toughness and stiffness of polypropylene, rubber reinforced polyolefins (TPO) and renewable polymers such as polylactic acid and polyhydroxyalkanoates. One new product was successfully designed to improve the impact resistance of PLA based polymers by an order of magnitude.
• Experience in the mineral reinforcement of PP/TPO, PVC, PLA, PHA based thermoplastics.
• Responsible for the development of product specifications for Specialty Minerals precipitated and ground calcium carbonates, talc, mica and barite minerals based on structural-performance relationship.
• Managed projects that successfully produced new high clarity antiblocks for polyolefin films (LLDPE, LDPE and PP).
• Responsible for writing process monographs for new precipitated calcium carbonate products synthesized for the plastics and sealant industries.
Senior Scientist- Sealants and Adhesives 1999-2002
• Developed new low moisture and high efficiency precipitated calcium carbonate based products to act as thixotropic rheological modifiers for construction and automotive sealants.
• Developed specific surface treatments of submicron and nano-sized mineral particles to optimize the rheological/thixotropic properties in construction and automotive sealants.
• Experience in PVC plastisols, silicone, methoxysilane polyethers, polysulfide and polyurethane sealant systems.
• Familiar with formulating, curing and the rheological and mechanical testing of sealant systems
Research Chemist /Senior Research Chemist 1992-1999
• Managed a research group focused on organic chemical research directed at developing new products for the paper coating and paper filling markets.
• Directed paper technical service support related to organic based deposits.
• Supervised the Surface and Colloidal Science laboratory utilizing XPS, microcalorimetry, and instrumentation to measure contact angle and surface energy (Wilhelmy plate, Goniometer, IGC).
• Designed and implemented a major research project involved in the development of functional polymeric coatings for carbonate-based minerals for use in the paper, polymer, plastics, sealants and paint industries.
Education
Patents, Publications, and Presentations
Contact Dr. Patrick Wernett
- Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, Post Doctoral Fellow
- Under the supervision of Dr. Ned Arnett, research involved the determination of the heats of formation of N, S and P ylides by microcalorimetry and the development of an NMR based approach to characterize super acid strength.
- Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Ph.D. Physical Organic Chemistry
- Under the direction of John Larsen, Ph.D. projects involved the characterization of pore structures of coals by NMR, volumetric gas adsorption, diffusion kinetics and determining the fractal dimensionality by SAXS utilizing the synchrotron particle accelerator at Brookhaven National Labs.
- West Chester University, West Chester, Pennsylvania, B.S. Chemistry
- Independent research under the supervision of Dr. Joel Ressner involved the synthesis and characterization of Mn, W and Mo organometallic complexes.
Patents, Publications, and Presentations
- Hold 4 patents in the areas of the development of novel polymers to enhance the strength characteristics in highly mineral filled paper and the development of surface treatments to improve the thermal stability of mineral filled polymers.
- Presented over 30 papers in a wide variety of scientific areas from fundamental thermodynamic studies to the practical use of surface modified mineral products
- Multiple published papers in peer reviewed scientific journals
Contact Dr. Patrick Wernett
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