AIM AND OBJECTIVES

• Understand practical uses of additive manufacturing methods and the predictive structure-property-processing relationships.
• Design novel polymeric materials with a balance of reactivity and rheology for diverse printing platforms.
• Work and consult with renowned authorities in the additive manufacturing field.
• Acquire hands-on experience by small group laboratory environment on relevant characterization and printing processes in POLYMAT laboratories.
• Gain comprehensive, cross-disciplinary knowledge of 3D printing, spanning from fundamental polymer characterization to advanced processing strategies.
• Solve your practical, work-related problems by discussing your work with additive manufacturing and polymer experts.

STRUCTURE AND PROFESSORS

This intensive 4-day course combines 6 focused theoretical sessions with 2 hands-on practical workshops at POLYMAT facilities, covering everything from key characterization techniques for 3D-printable polymeric materials to real-world additive manufacturing processes.

Four main researchers from Virginia Tech University, Arizona State University and Basque Country University (EHU) are leading the course, each of them focusing on one main topic of interest.

Dr. Michael J. Bortner is an associate professor in Chemical Engineering, the Director of the Macromolecular Science and Engineering (MACR) graduate program, and the Associate Director of the Macromolecules Innovation Institute (MII) at Virginia Tech (VT). Prior to joining VT, Mike spent 10 years in industry focusing on manufacturing process development for novel polymer nanocomposites. His current research efforts at VT are focused on rheology informed methods for development of materials and process technologies, and computational methodologies, to advance the state of the art in polymer based additive manufacturing and cellulose nanomaterials: production, characterization and CNC/polymer composite materials development. He has served as an associate editor of the journal Additive Manufacturing and is the chair-elect of the Cellulose and Renewable Materials (CELL) division of the American Chemical Society (ACS).

Timothy Long received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Virginia Tech, and he subsequently joined both Eastman Kodak and Eastman Chemical companies for eight years upon graduation.  He joined the faculty in the Department of Chemistry at Virginia Tech, where he also served as the Director of the Macromolecules Innovation Institute until 2019. In 2020, Prof. Long accepted an interdisciplinary faculty position across the School of Molecular Sciences (SMS) and the School for Engineering Matter, Transport, and Energy (SEMTE) at Arizona State University (ASU) where he launched and now leads the Biodesign Center for Sustainable Macromolecular Materials and Manufacturing (BCSM3). In addition to over 430 peer- reviewed publications, his research awards include the 2023 3M Excellence in Adhesion Award, 2022 Paul J Flory Award, 2020 Virginia Outstanding Faculty Award, 2015 Virginia Scientist of the Year, 2010 Virginia Tech Alumni Research Award, ACS PMSE Collaborative Research Award, PSTC Carl Dahlquist Award, 2019 ACS Rubber Division Thermoplastic Elastomer Award, and the ACS POLY Mark Scholar Award. His most recent research efforts address the need for tailored advanced macromolecules for advanced manufacturing (3D printing), including vat photopolymerization, direct ink write, binder jetting, powder bed fusion, and melt extrusion. His research ranges from controlled polymerization processes for block copolymers to high performance engineering polymers for emerging technology with a lens of earth sustainability.

Dr. Christopher Williams is the L.S. Randolph Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Tech. He is the Director of the Design, Research, and Education for Additive Manufacturing Systems (DREAMS) Laboratory, which team was named the “2023 Academic Research Team of the Year” by 3D Printing Industry. The lab has published over 135 journal articles on topics spanning innovations in additive manufacturing processes and materials, Design for Additive Manufacturing methodologies, and cyber-physical security for AM. He is a recipient of a National Science Foundation CAREER Award (2013) and the 2012 International Outstanding Young Researcher in Freeform and Additive Manufacturing Award. He is a Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors. Dr. Williams holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta, Georgia) and a B.S. with High Honors in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Florida (Gainesville, Florida).

Dr. Xabier Lopez de Pariza is co-founder and CTO of Hevea3D as well as researcher at the University of the Basque Country. He specializes in sustainable additive manufacturing and polymer chemistry. He holds nine years of training in Materials Science, with expertise ranging from photocatalysis and non-radical photopolymerization to latex technology and polymer recycling. He began his career as a MSc at IBM Research (USA) followed by a PhD at EHU under the supervision of Profs. David Mecerreyes and Haritz Sardon, including a stay at the University of Washington. His doctoral research introduced circular photopolymerization systems for vat photopolymerization. After his PhD. Xabi has been involved in an industrial project with Wacker Chemie and POLYMAT on degradable biobased latexes. Currently, at EHU and Hevea3D, he leads projects on sustainable polymer synthesis, catalyst development and material development for additive manufacturing, and recycling.

Program

This is a tentative program.

Final program will be available soon, thank you for your patience.

The beginning of the course is set on Monday at 15:00 and the end on Thursday at 13:30.

DAY 1 / Monday / May 25

Registration

CW1 Welcoming/Introduction of Participants and Outline of Course: Reactivity, Rheology and Resolution

Coffee Break

TL1 Reactivity: Polymer Terminology and Classes

MB1 Rheology: Polymer Rheology in AM Processes

DAY 2 / Tuesday / May 26

CW-2 Resolution: Additive Manufacturing Processes                                     

TL-2 Thermoplastic Structure-Property Relationships

Coffee Break

MB-2 Rheology in Extrusion AM I: Filament and Pellet Fed Extrusion

Lunch Break

CW-3 Structure-Property Relationships of Material Extrusion Printed Parts

MB-3 Rheology in Extrusion AM II: Direct Ink Write and Introduction to Suspension Rheology

Coffee Break

Walk to Labs

Laboratory Session for Extrusion Printing and Rheology

DAY 3 / Wednesday / May 27 

CW-4 Photochemical Processes in Additive Manufacturing: Vat Photopolymerization, UV-DIW, Material Jetting

TL-3 Structure-Property Relationships of Polymer Networks and Photo-reactive Polymers

Coffee Break

MB-4 Suspension and Solution Rheology in AM

Lunch

CW-5 Modeling Photochemical Processes                                                                                  

CW-6 Polymer PBF Additive Manufacturing

Coffee Break

Walk to Labs

Laboratory Session for Photo-DSC, Photo-rheology, and VPP

DAY 4 / Thursday / May 28

CB-7 PBF Processing and Performance of Printed Parts                                                  

TL-4 Structure-Property Relationships of Polymers for PBF Materials

Coffee Break

MB-5 Extensional Rheology in AM with an Emphasis on Polymer PBF

Envisioning Sustainable Additive Manufacturing

REGISTRATION

Registration is available between March 2nd and April 15th.

🤑 20% discount for inscriptions before March 30th

To ensure the best learning experience, maximum number of participants is 35 people. Hurry up to secure your spot!

Please complete this REGITRATION FORM to enroll: https://forms.gle/5JL6bU4LT8taJuxn8

The form is available starting from the first day of the registration period.

After completing your inscription, you will be contacted personally to complete the payment of your fee.

PARTICIPATION FEE

In order to formalise your enrolment, you will need to pay the registration fee, which is worth 500 euros (taxes included).

We are offering a special offer with a 20% discount for inscriptions before March 30th! 

The deadline for payment is April 20th, 2026. Payments done after that date might cause the rejection of your application.

You will be contacted personally to complete the payment of your fee.

PRACTICAL INFO

VENUE

Joxe Mari Korta Zentroa

Address: Tolosa Hiribidea, 72, 20018 Donostia / San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa

Position: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Ub18qy6tz3vQ693u8

To discover the city of Donostia before your arrival, we suggest you to have a look in the official website: https://www.sansebastianturismoa.eus/en/

Please find here the City map and the City guide.

CLOSEST AIRPORTS

• San Sebastian (EAS), Spain: small airport doing only national flights. A bus connecting with the city center is available.
• Bilbao (BIO), Spain: biggest airport in the Basque Country, doing international flights. A bus directly connecting with San Sebastian bus station is available.
• Biarritz (BIQ), France: small airport doing international flights. Although in France, this airport is pretty close to San Sebastian.
• Vitoria (VIT), Spain: small airport doing international flights. A bus connecting with Vitoria city center is available. Then, from there it is possible to take the bus or train to San Sebastian.

SUGGESTED HOTELS

4 ⭐Barceló Costa Vasca, position front beach 🌴

4 ⭐ Hotel NH Collection San Sebastián Aránzazu, position

3 ⭐ Sercotel Codina, position

3 ⭐ Akasha Harina Guesthouse, position

3 ⭐Niza Hotela, position front beach 🌴

⭐ Uma Suites Ondarreta,  position

⭐ Suites Satori, position

2 ⭐ Ezeiza Hotela, position

Join us for a symposium on polymer analysis emphasizing sustainable methods and materials, as well as biomedical applications. Hosted in Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain in collaboration with Prof. Haritz Sardon’s group at POLYMAT University of the Basque Country, this free event offers a full day of inspiring presentations and the latest scientific updates from experts in academia, industry, and Tosoh.

Our international panel of renowned researchers will cover various aspects of polymer design and characterization. PhD students and postdocs are encouraged to present their research in a flash presentation within this distinguished panel. Networking breaks will facilitate scientific discussions and collaborations.

Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with leaders in polymer science!

Registretion is free of charge and will be available soon!

You can also apply for a flash presentation if you wish.

Registration

Opening remarks

rPEG: Structural Isomers of Poly(ethylene glycol) offer new perspectives for biomedical application

The Precision Photochemistry Paradigm

Coffee Break

Selective Post-Polymerization C-H Functionalization of Polyolefins

Flash presentations

Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers Assisted by GPC

Coffee Break

Flash presentations

Final Remarks