A faculty member in Pennsylvania College of Technology's plastics and polymer technology department has authored a textbook that has been well-received by the plastics industry.
Kirk M. Cantor, professor of plastics and polymer technology, wrote the book "Blown Film Extrusion: An Introduction," which was released in April. The book is published by Hanser Gardner Publications. The publication, which deals with a specialized form of plastics processing, is targeted to professionals in the industry.
Cantor wrote the book as part of his work on the Plastics Resources for Educators Program, for which Penn College and The Pennsylvania State University received $1.9 million in grants from the Advanced Technology Education program at the National Science Foundation to develop instructional materials and opportunities for faculty development in plastics education. Cantor is co-principal investigator for the program.
Cantor's book is accompanied by a CD that includes a computer-based simulator that he also developed under the PREP grant to teach blown film extrusion equipment operation and processing principles.
When Hanser Gardner representatives offered copies of the book for sale during the National Plastics Expo in June, it sold out of the supply they had allocated for the Chicago event.
Cantor has taught at Penn College since 1990. He holds a doctorate and master's degree in polymer science from Penn State, and he earned a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Maryland.
For more information about the academic programs offered by the School of Industrial and Engineering Technologies at Penn College, call (570) 327-4520, or send e-mail .