Chippewa Valley Times

The two-year, $231,709 government subcontract received by Dr. Deidra Gerlach, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry at UW-Eau Claire, marks a significant milestone for the university. It is the first subcontract of its kind for UW-Eau Claire and sets a precedent for future industry collaborations, according to Gerlach. Other members of the team include Dr. Krysti Knoche Gupta, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry, and undergraduate students Jackie Bradley and Connor Koepp.

WPC Technologies, an Oak Creek-based company specializing in high-performance pigments and additives for the paint and coatings industry, secured the primary contract and selected UW-Eau Claire as a subcontractor. WPC Technologies has a global customer base with products used in commercial aerospace, industrial, and military applications.

"The experiences of conducting industry-collaborated research are invaluable to students," said Dr. Deidre Gerlach. "Participating in research at the direct application stage within the parameters of industry documentation and communication requirements not only gives our students the opportunity to identify their interests in industry but also makes them more marketable as they enter the workforce."

WPC Technologies developed an environmentally friendly anti-corrosion pigment currently used on specific types of aluminum for aircraft. The U.S. Navy contract requires WPC to develop a similar pigment applicable to steel and other types of aluminum to enhance military equipment's longevity and reliability.

"A commercial airliner over its lifetime might get refurbished just once down to the bare metal," stated Brent St.John, chairman and CEO of WPC Technologies. "A military jet carrier aircraft needs to be refurbished on a more frequent schedule because of harsh conditions."

UW-Eau Claire's connection with WPC Technologies extends over several years through internships provided to Blugold students. Alumnus Eric Colwitz, who graduated in December 2020 with a degree in chemistry, now works full-time as a chemist at WPC Technologies. St.John emphasized that UW-Eau Claire is an attractive partner due to its chemical analysis testing equipment and quality control testing protocols taught to student chemists.

"We like UW-Eau Claire’s approach with how they deal with commercial companies," St.John remarked. "The scale of Dr. Gerlach’s lab fits our project needs, and we require a steady stream of good chemists."

Gerlach noted that Blugold undergraduates are essential contributors to the project by testing mixtures using WPC’s latest anti-corrosive pigments to meet company and government standards.

"There are many properties of the formulation that need to meet qualifications necessary for sea- and aircraft," said Gerlach. "Students will be part of identifying variables that will produce a viable formulation for new anti-corrosive pigments."

Jackie Bradley, a fourth-year chemistry major from Hurley, runs experiments analyzing material qualities before reporting results back to WPC Technologies. Bradley joined the project seeking experience in inorganic/organometallic materials through industry partnerships.

"This type of research is more than I could have hoped to find at UW-Eau Claire because of the people I’ve met and experiences I’ve had with different spectroscopy methods," said Bradley.

Six months into the two-year project, both parties express satisfaction with technical progress made so far.

"Our goal is for every year to be a partner for the Department of Defense,” stated St.John. “To have UW-Eau Claire as a key partner... it’s good for everyone including Wisconsin.”

In 2023, UW-Eau Claire received a $400,000 National Science Foundation grant aimed at increasing industry collaboration through its Enabling Partnerships program.

Gerlach’s work with WPC Technologies exemplifies significant benefits derived from such partnerships according to Dr. Doug Dunham, interim director at UW-Eau Claire.

“These collaborations provide students with valuable technical skills,” said Dunham. “They keep faculty informed about current industry needs while advancing industrial partners' R&D objectives.”

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