Joint Chemistry, Physics, and Soft Matter Seminar: Materials Science and Cosmetic Optical Effects

Wednesday, July 31, 2013 – 11:00am
Regents 109
Curtis J. Zimmermann
BASF Corporation, Manager, Government Liaison, Innovation & Technology North America

Abstract: The cosmetic industry participates in the glamorous fashion arena, where cosmetics provide stunning visual color impact through the use of traditional pigments and more technically advanced pearlescent materials. Through the use of thin film optics one can manage white light to provide a predetermined optical response and thus produce the decorative attributes of pearlescent materials. The intersection of materials science and the market needs of the cosmetic industry will be briefly discussed followed by a technical discourse concerning the architecture of pearlescent materials, optical thin film deposition techniques (aqueous, CVD, hydrothermal, etc.), optical thin film modeling and cosmetic applications.

Bio: Dr. Curtis J. Zimmermann is BASF Corporation’s Manager, Government Liaison where he facilitates interfacing with Governmental entities for growth opportunities strategic to BASF. In his current role, which he assumed on January 1, 2012, he is responsible for identifying Governmental partnering activities and backward integrating them into BASF’s technological landscape for evaluation.

Prior to his current position, Dr. Zimmermann served as the Manager for Inorganic Pigments and Materials for the Performance Chemicals Research Division of BASF in Ludwigshafen, Germany.

Preceding his international assignment, he was the Senior Manager for New Technologies, Effect Materials in the Performance Chemicals Research Division of BASF in Tarrytown, New York. His research was focused on new product conceptualization and development, harvesting technology and intellectual property management for new decorative and functional materials. He has held a variety of technical managerial positions throughout his career and has conducted research in materials science with an emphasis on pearlescence and optical thin film materials for nearly 20 years.

His long-term activities in colloid chemistry have enabled him to provide educational forums and in depth technical courses in the arena of fine particle technology. He has numerous patents covering BASF commercial products in decorative industries and has authored additional technical papers and patents. Prior to joining BASF he worked in powder technology applied to military obscuration at the United States Army Aberdeen Proving Grounds facility in Maryland.

Dr. Zimmermann earned a Juris Doctor from Pace Law School and is a member of the New York Bar. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Physical Chemistry from Clarkson University, New York and a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Millersville University, Pennsylvania.

Host: Jeff Urbach