José Antonio Avila, Dr.-Ing.

- Select thermoplastic materials for new electrical connectors and help engineering teams to answer technical questions related to injection molding and plastic part design. Assure compliance with Automotive Specifications. - Provide engineering insight into material failures and problems in application and use. Make recommendations and direction on fixes. - Approve new materials and suppliers that meet Aptiv material specifications. Insure materials used are within applicable regulatory requirements, for use and reporting.

- Designed Sheet Moulding Compounds (SMC) for door skin applications. Formulations consisted mainly of unsaturated polyester, calcium carbonate, glass fiber, thickener, initiator and inhibitor. Formulated materials were processed by Compression Molding and cut into multiple test specimens to determine their mechanical properties. Material processability was determined using spiral flow test: ASTM D3123. - Wrote and sent a proposal for a bilateral project between Mexico and Germany, in framework of the joint Call CONACYT-BMBF 2016. In this project, thermoplastic composites with blue agave fibers will be developed. One of the main goals of this project will be to get approval for using these materials for the automotive industry (interior parts). The work team will be made up of a German company, a German research center, a Mexican company and CIATEQ. Currently, work is made to get a signed collaboration agreement by all the involved parts. - Reduced gel content in PVC films coming from a customer that used high content of post-industrial materials in his process. Several changes were made in raw materials and process conditions. For example, the plasticizer content and particle size of flakes was reduced, and screw geometry was changed to improve mixing. It was possible to obtain films with low gel content, even when using 100\% of post-industrial as feedstock. - Developed a plastic formulation based on PBT and fiberglass. This material was designed to be used for the manufacture of electrical contactors for railways. In this project the requirements of electrical, mechanical and thermal resistance were obtained based on a reverse engineering study carried out on the parts supplied by the customer. - Elaborated several project-proposals for participating in the call: PEI-2016 (Program of Incentives for Innovation in Mexico.)

- Executed plastic extrusion tests for customers interested in Helibar®-technology. Commonly extruded plastics were: LDPE, HDPE, UHMWPE, PP and PS. Temperature and pressure profiles along the extruder's barrel were always recorded and analyzed for each operations conditions. Throughput and torque were also studied as a function of screw-velocity and die-restriction. - Developed calculation tools in Matlab to assist during the design of extrusion-screws. - Assisted in the elaboration of didactic materials for students of polymer extrusion courses. - Imparted practical training for students of polymer extrusion courses (Lab practices). - Advised several students during their research thesis (two master's theses and four bachelor's theses). - Advised on the use of LabVIEW as a tool for registering and analyzing experimental data during polymer extrusion and injection molding operations. - Participated in the design of a high-speed extruder with a plasticating grooved-barrel. - Collaborated in the preparation of various proposals for Technology-Projects in order to participate in one of the following German support-funds: DFG (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft) and ZIM (Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand).

- Performed raw material validations for Rulon® resins. - Troubleshooted the Compression Molding and Ram-Extrusion processes (Rulon® and virgin PTFE). - Optimized sintering cycles and pressing cycles employed for the compression molding of PTFE & Rulon® stock shapes. - Troubleshooted the Injection Molding Process for PEEK products. - Conducted mechanical tests and DSC analysis for PTFE and PEEK samples. - Conducted product and process improvements/developments using DOE methodology to determine the root cause of product and process variations, product’s failures, and to elucidate the controlling parameters.

- Supervised the activities of workers engaged in receiving, storage, and shipping finished products. (managed 8 employees). - Recommended and implemented personnel actions, such as hiring, firing, and performance evaluations.

- Reduced solvent consumption in General Motors Plant through the implementation of Quality Tools. - Supervised the warehouses of indirect chemical materials at General Motors (managed 5 employees). - Designed and implemented a system for controlling the inventories of chemicals products. - Supervised work area and enforced safety and sanitation regulations.

- Coordinated and advised all those teams who were involved in Continuous Improvement Projects. - Trained operating personnel on Quality Tools, so they could troubleshoot problems in the following chemical plants: calcium carbonate, calcium bicarbonate, calcium chloride and sodium chloride. - Participated as an instructor in subjects including chemistry, statistics, troubleshooting tools, and technical English.

Research Thesis: Mathematical Modeling of Melting Process in Single-screw Extruders with Grooved Plasticating Barrel. Dissertation supervisor: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christian Bonten.

Research project: Design of a Chemical Plant for the Production of Hydrochloric Acid.