Award Descriptions & Sponsors

SPONSORED BY HF GROUP  

• The purpose of this award is to perpetuate the memory of Charles Goodyear as the discoverer of the vulcanization of rubber by honoring individuals for outstanding invention, innovation or development which has resulted in a significant change or contribution to the nature of the rubber industry.
• The award consists of $6,000, a gold medal, framed certificate, gratis lifetime Rubber Division, ACS membership and $1,000 for expenses incurred incidental to attending the awards ceremony, as well as two nights complimentary lodging at the meeting where the award will be received.
• The recipient is expected to deliver a lecture covering the background, development, implementation and commercialization of the invention or innovation pertinent to the award.
• The award was established by Rubber Division, ACS in 1941, as a part of its continuing effort to honor scientists and engineers who are recognized as having made an outstanding invention, innovation or development which has resulted in significant change or contribution to the nature of the rubber industry.
• The recipient(s) shall have been the principal inventor(s), innovator(s) or developer(s) of a significant change or contribution to the rubber industry.

The worldwide leading polymer processing equipment manufacturers Harburg-Freudenberger, Farrel and Pomini Rubber & Plastics have been working together as the HF GROUP since 2010. Each of these companies brings with it a long history and strength in the construction of machines, engineering of mixing room controls and automation as well as complete solutions for the rubber processing industries. Together the HF GROUP provides comprehensive expertise for customized solutions for its worldwide customer base at its locations in Germany, United Kingdom, the USA, Italy and Slovakia. Learn more: www.hf-mixinggroup.com/en

SPONSORED BY LION ELASTOMERS

• The purpose of this award is to perpetuate the memory of Melvin Mooney, the developer of the Mooney Viscometer and other testing equipment, by honoring individuals who have exhibited exceptional technical competency by making significant and repeated contributions to rubber science and technology.
• This award consists of $3,000, an engraved plaque, and gratis lifetime Rubber Division, ACS membership. The recipient will also receive $500 for travel expenses incurred in attending the awards ceremony meeting.
• The award was established by Rubber Division, ACS in 1983 as the Award for Technical Excellence as a part of its continuing effort to recognize Rubber Division, ACS members/affiliates who have made repeated contributions to rubber science and technology.
• The recipient shall have made repeated innovative contributions to rubber science and technology.

Lion Elastomers is a leading manufacturer of synthetic rubber. The company operates world-class EPDM and SBR production facilities in Geismar, Louisiana and Port Neches, Texas. Lion Elastomers have emphasized and maintained a solid, trusting and dependable relationship with our customers. Lion’s Sales, Customer Service, Technical and R&D organizations are ready to serve your development, application and commercial requirements

SPONSORED BY CABOT CORPORATION

• This award perpetuates the memory of George S. Whitby, head of the rubber laboratory at The University of Akron and for years the only individual who taught rubber chemistry in the USA, by honoring outstanding international teachers of chemistry and polymer science and recognizing innovative research.
• The award consists of $3,000, an engraved plaque and $500 for travel expenses in attending the awards ceremony meeting.
• This award was established by Rubber Division, ACS in 1986 as a part of its continuing effort to honor teachers and academic scientists for distinguished innovative and inspirational teaching and research in chemistry and polymer science.
• The recipient shall be a professor or equivalent who has made outstanding contributions to chemical, material or polymer science education through teaching and innovative research, including the instruction of professional rubber or polymer chemists; the dissemination of reliable information about chemistry to prospective chemists, to members of the profession, to students in other fields, and to the general public; and the integration of chemistry and polymer science into our educational system. The activities recognized by the award may lie in the fields of teaching (at any level but especially/including academic, government, and private educational institutions), innovative research, organization and administration, influential publications, standards of instruction, and public enlightenment. This award is open and not restricted to Rubber Division, ACS membership.

Cabot Corporation (NYSE: CBT) is a global specialty chemicals and performance materials company, headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. The company is a leading provider of rubber and specialty carbons, activated carbon, inkjet colorants, cesium formate drilling fluids, fumed silica, and aerogel. For more information on Cabot, please visit the company’s website at: http://www.cabotcorp.com.

SPONSORED BY ENDURICA, LLC

• The purpose of this award is to perpetuate the memory of William J. Sparks and Robert M. Thomas, chemists, who developed butyl rubber, by recognizing and encouraging outstanding scientific contributions and innovations in the field of elastomers by younger scientists, technologists and engineers.
• The award consists of $4,000, an engraved plaque and $500 for travel expenses incurred in attending the award ceremony meeting.
• The award was established in 1986.
• The recipient shall have made an outstanding contribution to the science and technology of elastomers. Special consideration may be given to areas that have not been recognized recently. Recognition will also be given to originality and independence of thought, and to the technological impact of the nominee’s contribution. The nominee must be within 25 years of earning a baccalaureate degree.

Endurica is the leading provider of solutions for getting durability right. Our solutions include: simulation software for computing elastomer fatigue performance from a finite element model, testing instruments for characterizing fatigue behavior, testing services and training. To learn more about what we can bring to your products, visit our website at www.endurica.com.

SPONSORED BY RENKERT OIL, LLC

• This award is to honor significant contributions to the advancement of the chemistry of thermoplastic elastomers.
• This award includes $4,000, and engraved plaque and $500 for travel expenses incurred in attendance at the awards ceremony meeting.
• This award was established by Rubber Division, ACS in 1991 as a part of its continuing effort to recognize the contributions of scientists in the field of thermoplastic elastomers.
• The recipient shall be any chemical researcher and must have made an outstanding contribution in the field of thermoplastic elastomer chemistry. Particular emphasis is placed on innovations that have yielded significant new commercial or patentable materials. Patentable innovations in process chemistry for the production of new thermoplastic elastomers will also be eligible for this award.

Renkert Oil, founded in 1987, is an independent specialty oil distributor and manufacturer serving many industries.  We provide premium products, technical service and responsive logistics. Renkert Oil offers high quality mineral oils that  meet the needs of a broad range of applications.  Our clear, water white process oils with viscosities from 60 to 1500 SUS @ 100F have excellent compatibility with Thermoplastic Elastomers and rubber with high UV stability and low volatility. Learn more at www.renkertoil.com.

SPONSORED BY HF GROUP  

• This award perpetuates the memory of Fernley H. Banbury, the inventor and developer of the internal mixer that bears his name, by honoring innovations in production equipment, instrumentation, control systems, or improved processing technologies, widely used in the manufacture of rubber or rubber-like articles of importance.
• The award consists of $3,000, and engraved plaque and $500 for travel expenses incurred in attending the awards ceremony meeting.
• This award was established by Rubber Division, ACS in 1986 as a part of its continuing effort to recognize the contributions of scientists and engineers in developing production equipment, instrumentation, control systems or improved processing technologies, widely used in the manufacture of rubber or rubber-like articles on importance.
• The recipient shall have been the principal inventor(s) of innovative production equipment, instrumentation, control systems, or developed improved processing technologies, widely used in the manufacture of rubber or rubber-like articles of importance.

The worldwide leading polymer processing equipment manufacturers Harburg-Freudenberger, Farrel and Pomini Rubber & Plastics have been working together as the HF GROUP since 2010. Each of these companies brings with it a long history and strength in the construction of machines, engineering of mixing room controls and automation as well as complete solutions for the rubber processing industries. Together the HF GROUP provides comprehensive expertise for customized solutions for its worldwide customer base at its locations in Germany, United Kingdom, the USA, Italy and Slovakia. Learn more: www.hf-mixinggroup.com/en

SPONSORED BY ACE LABORATORIES 

• This award is to honor significant contributions to the advancement of sustainability in elastomers.
• This award includes $3,000, an engraved plaque and $500 for travel expenses incurred in attendance at the awards ceremony banquet.
• This award was established in 2018 by Rubber Division, ACS under the name of the “Bioelastomer Award” in order to recognize the contributions of scientists in the field of biotechnology and biomaterials as these relate to elastomeric materials. In 2024, it was renamed the “Sustainability in Elastomers Award” to include other forms of sustainability.
• The recipient must have made an outstanding contribution to the understanding, development, or utilization of sustainable elastomers. Eligible contributions shall include material and process developments that impact sustainability through the reduction of carbon footprint, the improvement of human and environmental compatibility, increased utilization of material derived from natural sources, and recycling.  Example topics may include but are not limited to natural rubber, bioelastomers, recycling or conversion of materials used in elastomer-based products, or other novel applications of sustainability.

ACE Laboratories is an ISO /IEC 17025: 2017 accredited independent laboratory providing expert testing and development services to the elastomer industry. We service a global customer base from our world class laboratory located in Ravenna, Ohio. We are equipped with an experienced team, innovative testing equipment and a passion to service the customer. Whether it is testing to specifications, formulation development, environmental compliancy analysis, reverse engineering, raw material analysis or other technical need, your team of Rubber Nerds® has you covered. Learn more by visiting their website at www.aceprodcon.com.