Three Students Share Experiences From Vinyltec 2023

For the fifth year in a row, the Vinyl Institute has provided grants to undergraduate and graduate students to attend Vinyltec – the leading technical conference pertaining to vinyl in North America. We’re proud to say that this year, we received the most applications we’ve ever gotten, and each could have easily been chosen to receive one of our grants.

Ultimately, we chose three students with diverse educational backgrounds to attend, and they’ve been so kind as to provide writeups about their experience at Vinyltec. Read on to see what Ali, Ted, and Liam had to say about their experience at Vinyltec!

 

Ali Al Alshaikh, The University of Alabama

I am doing my PhD on PVC, a very rare breed. As such, I felt like I fit right in at Vinyltec.

The day 1 sessions, PVC 101, expanded my knowledge about the polymer. My knowledge of PVC is mostly academic, and these sessions introduced me to the industrial side of it. I learned a lot about Vinyl resins, extrusion, additives, recycling, and standards, all of which will help my research. It would be difficult for me to identify which aspect was my favorite.

Actually, it would not really be that difficult, it’s the people! The nicest, down to earth, and helpful professionals I’ve ever met. They were willing and happy to talk to me, as I was to them. They taught me more about the polymer and the industry that I hope to be a part of in the future.

I have been working on PVC for more than 3 years. I interact with it every day. Although I have some colleagues that work with PVC, it still felt isolating at times. Thus, getting this chance to talk to PVC professionals was unmissable. Meeting Mr. DeCaria and Mr. Monroe was a highlight. They were very welcoming and helpful with who to talk to about what.

I am happy and proud to have been chosen for the VI Vinyltec grant. I am hoping to attend other SPE conferences in the future because of this experience, and I have encouraged my colleagues to do the same.

 

Ted Zhang, The University of Michigan

As a college undergrad, the VinylTec conference really expanded my knowledge in the vinyl and PVC world. The conference was well-organized and had a professional vibe, with lots of informative and tech-savvy presentations. This gave me a great chance to connect with experienced pros during the sessions and after the main events.

My main goal at the conference was to dive deeper into the vinyl industry, going beyond what I’d learned in my internships and classes. It wasn’t just about exploring new aspects like PVC recycling and those cool bio-plasticizers, but it also jogged my memory and gave me a better understanding of the techniques I’d picked up during my internships, like extrusion and UV testing.

If the opportunity comes around, I’d definitely jump at the chance to attend the VinylTec conference again. It’s a valuable educational experience that digs into the details and structure of the vinyl industry, going well beyond what I’ve covered in my college studies. This conference offers an awesome opportunity for me to get a comprehensive grasp of a field that’s of significant importance and relevance.

 

Liam Reilly, Colorado State University

Vinyltec was a wonderful introduction to the current state of the vinyl industry. As a student that has focused on materials chemistry in a purely academic setting, I found the exposure to the industrial/commercial side of things incredibly valuable. It was especially exciting to gain insight into all of the real-world applications of the chemistry and science I’ve only ever seen in my classes and research lab. Beyond attending the informative technical seminars, I was fortunate enough to meet and connect with a variety of industry professionals that inspired me with their passion and impressed me with their expertise.

Overall, I am tremendously grateful to the Vinyl Institute for facilitating my attendance to Vinyltec 2023 and so appreciative of the opportunity to learn, network, and take my first steps towards a future in the vinyl industry!