Jim Criss is knowledgeable in polymer synthesis, processing and characterization,
having 3 college degrees in polymers and materials. He received his
M.S. and Ph.D. at Georgia Institute of Technology (GT), both under NASA
fellowships. While at GT, He completed both the chemistry and engineering
tracks for the Ph.D. degree and completed all of the required undergraduate
level classes in materials including metal, ceramic and semi-conductor
classes. At the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) he developed
new and improved polyether associative thickeners for latex paints that
had 10 times the thickening efficiency of polyurethane thickeners and were
non-toxic. While employed at NASA Langley Research Center between
undergraduate and graduate school, he synthesized and characterized new
monomers for use in high performance silicone polymers, formulated new
polyimides, and synthesized, characterized, and studied new imide molecules.
He was awarded a Certificate for Outstanding Research in High Performance
Polymers for the work.
Dr. Criss worked at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company
(LM Aero) as a Senior Research Engineer with the Advanced Development Programs
"Skunk Works" organization for over five years. He has extensive experience
with and knowledge of advanced materials development and their application
to aircraft and space vehicle components. This experience includes
but is not limited to:
1. Polymer Synthesis, Processing and Characterization
2. Materials Engineering
3. Composites Processing and Characterization
4. Smart Materials and Nano-Materials
Specifically, in the area of high temperature polymers,
he was recently involved in the development of new high temperature polyimide/phenylethynyl
polymers for which he was a recipient of the NASA “Turning Goals Into Reality”
(TGIR) award for 2001. This work resulted in the development of novel
new high temperature polymeric materials and a new high temperature resin
transfer molding (RTM) process for making composites from these new resins.
The program culminated in the fabrication of 9-foot fuselage F-frames for
the High Speed Civil Transport (HSCT) and was the first ever successful
RTM of these materials [1-3]. The same materials are being considered
for carbon/carbon composite precursors because of their high carbon content.
At LM Aero, Jim developed a novel In-Situ Fiber Placement
(ISFP) process for thermosetting prepregs that enables the manufacture
of composites without the aid of an autoclave [4-5]. He also developed
a new high temperature Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM) process
for bismaleimide (BMI) and phenylethynyl containing imide resins [6].
The VARTM of both of these resins had never before been successfully accomplished.
He has a working knowledge of smart materials, biologically-inspired materials
and nano-structured materials and was recently funded through a DARPA program
with EIC Laboratories, Inc. to develop and characterize biologically inspired
“self healing” materials. Dr. Criss is educated and experienced in
most processing, evaluation and characterization techniques of advanced
materials used in aerospace.
As a manager of multiple research and development
programs at LM Aero, Jim has established effective management skills associated
with planning, budgeting, scheduling, and defining and meeting deliverables.
In addition he was responsible for new business generation, customer relations
and production support.
As evidence of his program management expertise he
has successfully planned, managed and completed several tasks on the Composites
Affordability Initiative (CAI) Program. Under the CAI program his
team successfully developed the VARTM process for C130J wing-to-fuselage
fairings, which resulted in a 40 percent savings over the autoclave baseline.
The team fabricated a pristine part in less than 2 months. On the
same program he was responsible for selling, managing and demonstrating
the ISFP technology, which he first envisioned under a Great Lakes Composites
Consortium (GLCC) program. This work was recognized in the LM Aero
STAR, a monthly LM Aero publication. Jim successfully championed
the effort from initial conception to demonstration by obtaining the needed
development funds from both Navy and Air Force customers. Application
of this technology to the F-22 pivot shaft is projected to give a Return
On Investment (ROI) of over 10. The technology was recently funded
for a F-22 Process Improvement Program (PIP) for technology implementation.
The technology has been applied to multiple epoxy, bismaleimide and e-beam
curing resin systems and has been shown to eliminate the need for costly
autoclave consolidation and curing. Jim also led the LM Aero engineering
team that successfully developed the VARTM process for Cytec Fiberite’s
5250-4 BMI resin. This work culminated in fabrication of multiple
pristine composite panels having autoclave fiber volumes and is being applied
to F-22 edges.
M&P
Technologies, Inc.
