Andrew T. Hollcraft Hollcra@students.wwu.edu (206) 948-4370

https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewhollcraft

Qualifications Summary

Highly motivated professional chemist and materials engineer with three internships of experience in

research and production settings of high performance aerospace polymer composites and a proven

published background in solving engineering challenges with chemical solutions

Experience using a variety of laboratory equipment to plan, collect, analyze, and summarize different

types of data and observations into concise technical laboratory reports used to assist full-scale, pilot,

and bench top production necessitating long term project management and leadership skills

Background using Six Sigma statistical process control tools and Design of Experiments to aid in

composite panel manufacturing

Excellent oral, written, and graphical communication skills including frequent experience presenting

technical findings to industrial sponsors, colleagues, material vendors, and the general public with the

ability to work well in a team or individual project atmosphere

Proficiency in CATIA, Excel, Origin, Power Point, Vericut, and Word

Selected hands on polymer chemistry, characterization, and process engineering background:

o Polymer synthesis: Emulsion polymerization, foamed polyurethanes, PDMS and xerogel

preparation, ROMP, stable free radical polymerization, stereolithography

o Thermoset processing: Autoclave processing, composite ABD matrix and FEA layup design,

crush core processing, pilot and full scale prepreg manufacturing and resin formulation, VARTM

o Thermoplastic processing: Injection molding and tool design, compression molding, extrusion

compounding of additives to increase base resin thermal conductivity and heat deflection

temperature for rapid prototyping of injection molding tooling inserts

o Characterization:

Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC)

Infrared (IR) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy

Thermal analysis using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Dynamic Mechanical

Analysis (DMA), Melt Flow Index (MFI), and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA)

Education

Western Washington University - Bellingham, WA

B.A. Chemistry; Major GPA 3.70

B.S. Plastics and Composites Engineering; Major GPA 3.84 – ABET Pending

Senior Project: Benzoxazine Cure Acceleration and Flammability Characterization

Minors: Business Administration and Material Science

Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2016

Material/Polymer Science and Related Engineering Experience

Zodiac Aerospace: Student Research Member October 2012 – Current

Formulation and laboratory scale prepregging of various phenol-formaldehyde resins with analysis by

Scanning Electron Microscopy to investigate void creation during cure

Development and analysis of novel flame retardants for use in bismaleimide and benzoxazine based

resin systems

Handling of pyrophoric and volatile compounds capable of hydrosilylation

Investigation of deep eutectic solvents for environmentally friendly prepreg processing

Biweekly or monthly technical presentations to industrial research and development sponsors

Zodiac Aerospace: Intern - Resin Formulation Analysis June 2015 – September 2015

Analyzed commercially available high performance prepolymer formulations by IR and NMR to

determine composition of monomers and additives, as well as oligomerization products

Conducted rheological studies on in house created prepolymer formulations to determine appropriate

processing windows for prepreg composite panel manufacturing

Patent and publication literature analysis to determine current and upcoming methods for benzoxazine

cure acceleration, as well as cure cycle reduction by proposed novel salts

Contributed to the development of a standard operating procedure for a tailorable monomer synthesis

through following multiple literature sources

Zodiac Aerospace: Intern – Resin and Prepreg Development June 2014 – September 2014

Formulated and analyzed phenol-formaldehyde and bismaleimide resins and composites by DMA,

DSC, and TGA-IR

Investigated thermal stability of formulated composites by Federal Aviation Administration certified

optical smoke density, vertical burn tests, OSU heat release, and in house emulated vertical burn tests

Independently planned and conducted a four week nested designed experiment and multiple

measurement systems analysis

Zodiac Aerospace: Intern – Prepreg Warp Characterization June 2013 – September 2013

Qualified and used DMA, along with DSC and TGA, to investigate phenol-formaldehyde prepreg as

functions of various quality assurance tests using statistical process control tools

Characterized the effect of production variables on the level of cure for each stage of phenol-

formaldehyde prepreg production and part manufacturing using appropriate sampling methodology

Created a manual and standard operating procedure for a TA Q800 Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer

Investigated crush core composite laminate warpage due to resin formulation composition at the

production and bench scale

Heath Techna: Production Hand – Polymer Composites July 2012 – September 2012

Production experience including composite panel layup, hand trim, inserts, fill and fare, deco, and

assembly

Troubleshot Vacuum Form Fixture failures such as delamination and resin starvation due to possible

pressure loss or heat fluctuations during cure cycle with engineers and technicians

Kaizen team member focusing on 5S methodology to improve takt time and operator safety

Applied Poka-yoke to composite manufacturing processes, resulting in a reduction in noncompliance

report frequency

Hybrid Bus Project - Student Team Member March 2012 – June 2012

Confronted engineering design and assembly problems using Design of Experiments for bonding and

joining of glass fiber reinforced polypropylene prepreg

Resistance welding, thermoforming, mold and plug creation, wood and metal shop tooling, and long

term project management

Publication

o Hackler, Ryan A., Andrew T. Hollcraft, Tyler A. Kirkness, Nicole S. Larson, Nicole L. Hoekstra,

and David A. Rider. "Relief of Cure Stress in Prepreg Composites with Engineered Voids: A

Solution to Warping in Composite Phenolic Resin/Fiberglass Laminates." Industrial &

Engineering Chemistry Research Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 55.12 (2016): 3568-578.