Erich D. Bain

Erich D. Bain, Ph.D.

Senior Staff Consultant

Dr. Bain is a chemical engineer with over 15 years of experience investigating performance of materials on behalf of government, industrial, and academic clients. His extensive product failure analysis experience covers a wide range of polymeric and non-polymeric materials, including engineering thermoplastics, thermosets, composites, elastomers, gels, textiles, glasses, ceramics, and metallic components. His expertise is aimed at solving complex problems involving performance of materials and determining root-causes of product failure based on a deep understanding of material chemistry, processing, structure, and property relationships and how these interact with design, manufacturing, and extreme service environments. His approach is based on reliable and proven scientific techniques applicable to a wide range of industries including piping, transportation, construction, defense, medical devices, adhesives, electronics, consumer products, and more.

Prior to joining ESi, Dr. Bain worked for seven years at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory as a staff scientist and post-doctoral research engineer. His research on polymer and composite materials for body armor, lightweight vehicle protection, ballistic clay replacement, battlefield wound care, additive manufacturing materials and processes, and high voltage electronics resulted in significant advances to soldier capability.  Dr. Bain has published numerous peer-reviewed journal papers and has been invited to present his research at domestic and international scientific meetings.

Material and Market Experience

  • Engineering Thermoplastics (Nylon 12, PEEK / PEKK, PPS, UHMWPE)
    • Extrusion
    • Injection Molding
    • Compression Molding
    • Polymer Fibers and Oriented Films
    • Composite Matrices
    • Additive Manufacturing (Selective Laser Sintering)
  • Thermosets (Rubber Toughened Epoxies, Polydicyclopentadiene)
    • Structural Adhesives
    • Composite Matrices
    • Reaction Injection Molding
  • Composites (Particulate, Short Fiber, Continuous Fiber)
    • Silica Particles
    • Glass Fiber
    • Carbon Fiber
    • UHMWPE Fiber (Dyneema)
    • Aramid Fiber (Kevlar)
  • Elastomers and Gels (Silicones, Hydrogels, Thermoplastic Elastomers, Kraton)
    • Sealants
    • Biomaterials
    • Pressure Sensitive Adhesives
    • Hot Melt Adhesives
    • Rubbers

Publications

ESi's expertise spans dozens of industries and specializations organized across several practice groups, each staffed by dozens of in-house experts with the technical knowledge, hands-on expertise, and courtroom experience required to execute projects for and with our clients from start to finish.

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