Applied Statistics in Polymer Reaction Engineering

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

This research program develops and applies statistical methods that assist in the collection and analysis of data required to develop mathematical models of chemical processes. The resulting models are used for various purposes including the design, optimization and control of chemical processes to ensure that they are operated safely and profitably. The techniques can also be used to design new products such as disinfectants for hospital applications. They also act as a repository of our process knowledge and are used to guide further experimentation to develop new information for new processes and products. One of the primary application areas is the production of polymers, which are used to produce a large number of commodities such as paints, adhesives, carpets, automotive parts such as bumpers and belts and hoses, and food wrap. The problem of designing experiments to provide high quality informative data and the development of methods for bringing these data into process models, which represent what we know about a product or process, are two vitally important problems. Decisions made on the basis of information-poor data or incorrect inferential procedures will lead to decisions, which are based on little more than speculation. This can have a detrimental effect on the profitability of a company, on the safety and environmental impacts of a process or product and ultimately on the health of the employees and the public.