Rahul Kulkarni

VP of Technology @ Elkay Chemicals

About

Polymer Scientist with a background in Polymer Engineering. Have broad background of the engineering, chemistry and physics of materials to understand the structure-property relationships important for applications. Experience in polyolefins, liquid crystals, block copolymers and silicone research. Specialties: Materials Characterization, Structure Property Relationships and Silicone Chemistry/Formulations/Applications

Country

India

City

Pune

Industry

Chemicals

Skill

Materials Science, Physics, Characterization, Engineering, Materials, Polymers, R&D, Polymer Characterization, Chemistry, Design of Experiments, Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering, Thermoplastics, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Rheology, Elastomers, Polymer Chemistry, Nanotechnology

Experience

VP of Technology

Elkay Chemicals

2017-8 - Present · 9 yrs 2 mos

General Manager, New Product Development

Elkay Chemicals

2013-8 - 2017-8 · 4 yrs 1 mo

Pune Area, India

Senior Engineer

ExxonMobil

2009-9 - 2013-7 · 3 yrs 11 mos

Product Development Scientist - Chemicals R&D - Polymer structure-property relationship subject expert (mainly crystallization, crystallization kinetics, thermal analysis, functionalization and blending) - Product development in polyethylene, polypropylene, polyolefin elastomers and specialty polyolefins

Research Assistant

The University of Akron

2004-8 - 2009-12 · 5 yrs 5 mos

Characterizing promising photovoltaic materials (porphyrin based) under the guidance of Dr. Stephen Z.D. Cheng. • Test and develop new photovoltaic materials and ideas for photonics applications • Analyzing the helical diffraction (SAED) patterns of hexagonally ordered columnar phase seen in certain porphyrin based liquid crystals. • Discovered unusual morphologies in the above materials and explained the mechanism of such growth. • Developed thermal gradient and magnetic field alignment techniques to facilitate the structural and morphological characterization of the above compounds.

Intern

National Chemical Laboratory

2002-5 - 2002-6 · 2 mos

Studied the various methods of surface modification of transparent thermoplastics (PMMA, PC). Analyzed the modification of PPO-PS blends by addition of Divinylbenzene.

Intern

Litex Electricals Pvt. Ltd

2000-6 - 2000-7 · 2 mos

Computerized the filament design method for halogen lamp filaments. Heat loss calculations to troubleshoot quartz melting problems for high powered lamps.