Henry J. DeGraaf has over 50 years of experience in polymer research and development for coatings. He specialized in developing new acrylic, polyester, epoxy, and alkyd polymers. Throughout his career, he focused on creating new polymer formulations and processes to reduce costs and improve product performance. He holds several patents related to his work developing new polymer technologies and coatings.

1. HENRY J. DeGRAAF
4401 Stafford Circle
Stow, Ohio 44224
hjdegr@yahoo.com, Home Phone: 330.678.8772
CAREER SUMMARY
Experienced Polymer Research Chemist skilled in the development of new polymer formulations and processes to
create acrylic, polyester, epoxy, epoxy/acrylic graft, and alkyd polymers for the coatings industry. Extensive
knowledge of condensation polymerization theory and practice as applicable to polymers for architectural oil
based paints. Co-developed in-house formulation software. Recently focused on new co-polymers, polymer
processes,and coatings for metal containers for the food packaging business until my full retirement in 2011.
WORK EXPERIENCE – Post 2004 retirement
Randstad US, 7580 Pearl Rd. Middleburg Hts., OH 44130 (contract employer)
Senior Chemist: Nov 2010 – Oct 2011, Industrial polymer development (acrylic) scale-up for AkzoNobel.
Sandra Heath & Associates, Inc. 6929 W. 130th Street, Suite 307, Parma Hts., OH (contract employer)
Senior Chemist: 2008 – 2010, Polymer Development and Packaging Coatings for AkzoNobel.
> Cost reduction and trouble shooting for Packaging Coatings production polymers and blends.
ON ASSIGNMENT, Cleveland, OH (contract employer) Senior Chemist – 2006 - 2007
Develop and evaluate additives for paint formulation, and processes intended for production. Lab test production
formulations intended for toll manufacture. Implement test method improvements and raw material cost saving
measures. >Worked with ICI Paints, & Gabriel Performance Products on proprietary formulations & chemistries.
ICI Paints and Packaging Coatings, Strongsville, Ohio. Senior Polymer Chemist (Chemist I) – 1993-2004
Researched new formulas, new processes, and safe practices. Supervised scale-up from pilot into large
production vessels. Implemented test method and process improvements, and raw material cost saving measures.
> Researched, developed, and implemented an initiator system and a process for a new low VOC acrylic
poyol, lowering molecular weight into the range of Mn = 2500-3000, also lowering the RMC, and finally
supervising scale-up into production.
> Developed process changes for water-based epoxy/acrylic graft polymers for packaging coatings,
minimizing particle size to improve stability. Discovered the source and cause of contamination in a
production reactor vessel, for an epoxy polymer process, eliminating premature gelation of the polymer.
> Identified a new epoxy advancement catalyst, increasing the molecular weight, and broadening polymer
polydispersity, leading to improving coating adhesion and flexibility.
> Discovered and developed an improved microgel polymerization process for packaging coatings, lowering
VOC, improving pasteurization resistance, and receiving two US patents covering this technology.
> Co-designed and developed a Microsoft Access based software package known as FORMULA , which
has become very useful to polymer and coatings formulators, minimizing desk time or the need to create
spreadsheets, as well as other common manual calculations.
Senior Coatings Chemist – 1984-1993 (The Glidden Co. / ICI Paints)
Created and discovered new formulas and processes for polymer systems used in all types of coatings
formulations, supervising scale-up from pilot into large production vessels. Implemented numerous process
improvements and cost-saving measures.

2. Henry J. DeGraaf, Page Two
330.678.8772
Senior Coatings Chemist – 1984-1993, (The Glidden Co. / ICI Paints) continued
> Created and developed new polyester/acrylic graft polymers for thermosetting powder coatings. Two US
patents were issued. A third patent was also issued from an automotive clear coat development team to
include my polymer development support work.
> Researched new UV cure polyester-urethane-acrylate polymers for floor tile applications, lowering RMC.
> Created and designed high solids polyesters for industrial coatings, lowering RMC, improving detergent and
stain resistance performance, and reducing polymer process times.
> Developed new very low VOC alkyds for various air-dry coatings. Process improvements resulted in shorter
process times, glycol loss reductions, and lower VOC in paint and coatings formulations.
> Explored and developed novel air-dry alkyd modifiers for VOC reduction and for faster dry and cure times.
Two US patents were issued.
> Expanded a mainframe computer program for formulating alkyds and polyesters, to include epoxy polymers.
Coatings Chemist – 1964-1984 (The Glidden Co. / SCM Corp.)
Responsible for new formulas, new processes, safe practices, supervising scale-up of new formulas from pilot
scale into large production vessels, test method and process improvements, and cost-saving measures. Worked
individually or with a team on most polymer development projects.
> Developed new and improved alkyds for decorative and industrial coatings, achieving commercial production
at Glidden for many new formulas. Knowledgeable and skilled in formulating low VOC alkyds with high oil
and/or fatty acid content, and understanding the best approach to utilize triglyceride oils with fatty acids.
> Created polyesters for coil coatings and unsaturated polyesters for gel-coat applications, improving cost or
reducing polymer processing time.
> Developed acrylic modified epoxy-acrylic co-polymers for electrocoating applications, improving product
stability and performance.
> Formulated a new thixotropic alkyd for oil-based decorative paints; in production for many years.
> Initiated development of a mainframe computer program used to formulate alkyds and polyesters. Worked
with computer programmers throughout my career to develop later refinements of this software. Software was
later converted to be used on personal computers.
EDUCATION
Associate in Science, Mathematics & Chemistry, Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Learned and developed my knowledge and skills of condensation polymer synthesis while working for
Guardsman Chemical Coatings of Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1962-1964.
Physical Chemistry, Economics, Statistics, Public Speaking, Baldwin-Wallace College, Berea, Ohio
Computer Science studies, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- Introduction to Physical Polymer Science – A Short course, Lehigh University
- Organic Coatings II & III, Kent State University

3. Henry J. DeGraaf, Page Three
330.678.8772
US PATENTS
- DeGraaf, Aqueous Dispersed Acrylic-Epoxy Branched Epoxy Protective Coatings, #5,942,563, 1999
- Craun/DeGraaf,Telford Aqueous Dispersed, Acrylic Grafted Microgel Protective Coatings, #5,508,325,1996
(Above patent, # 5,508,325 has now expired - expired on January 19, 2015)
- Bode/DeGraaf/Miller/Toman, Thermosetting Acid Functional Crystalline Polyester Modified Acrylic
Coatings, #5,418,292, 1995
- DeGraaf/Sobek, Polyester-Acrylic Graft Polymers for Powder, #5,350,810, 1994
- DeGraaf/Sobek, Polyester-Acrylic Graft Polymers for Powder Alkyd Resin Cure Modifier, #5,280,089, 1994
- DeGraaf, Alkyd Resin Cure Modifier, #4,624,869, 1986
- Bode/DeGraaf, High Solids Coating using Unsat. Monoisocyanate Adducts of Alkyd Resins, #4,609,706,
1986
- Craun/DeGraaf, Aqueous Glycoluril Thermosetting Coating, #4,525,535, 1985
ASSOCIATIONS
- Former member, Cleveland Coatings Society
HJD Resume9c: revised on: 04/04/2016