Anne Hiltner

Anne Hiltner (18 March 1941- 6 September 2010) was an American polymer scientist who founded the Center for Applied Polymer Research (CAPRI) and was later instrumental in the founding of the Center for Layer Polymeric Systems (CLiPS), a National Science Foundation Science and Technology Center at Case Western Reserve University. She served as Director of the Center for Layered Polymeric Systems from its founding in 2006 until her death in 2010.

Personal life In 1999, she married Eric Baer, who was the Chairman of the Department of Macromolecular Science at Case Western Reserve University at that time. She died on September 6, 2010, at age 69 after battling illness. In 1971, Hiltner became a senior research associate in the Department of Macromolecular Science.

Hiltner made history in 1974 when she became an assistant professor of macromolecular engineering and the first female engineering faculty at Case Western Reserve.

In 1981, Hiltner founded the Center for Applied Polymer Research (CAPRI), which was an organization that encouraged collaboration in research across disciplines, particularly in applied polymer science, and was funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). This proposal was accepted and the Ohio Controlling Board approved a $4.1 million grant for the two universities.

In 1997, CAPRI and the Biodegradable Polymer Research Center (BPRC) worked together on research on biodegradable micro layered polymer composite systems. Anne Hiltner was the principal investigator for this project and Eric Baer was the co-principal investigator. This U.S.-France collaboration focused on developing new composite materials with novel interactive electrical and mechanical properties, with Eric Baer as the principal investigator and Anne Hiltner as the co-principal investigator. According to the NSF award, CLiPS aims to "create a broadly integrated program of research and education through the vehicle of a unique microlayering and nanolayering processing technology developed at Case Western Reserve University." There are also several other affiliate universities and high schools involved with CLiPS.

Memberships and professional activities Hiltner was involved in several societies, including the American Chemical Society (ACS), the American Physical Society, the Society of Biomaterials, the Society of Plastic Engineers, and the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering. Hiltner was quite involved in the American Chemical Society, serving as an Alternate Councilor in 1978, being a member of the Executive Committee in the Division of Polymer Chemistry from 1979 until 1981, and being a PMSE Fellow in 2006. Hiltner, Anne; Baer, Eric (1972). "Comparison of Dynamic Mechanical Relaxation Processes at Cryogenic Temperatures in Polyesters". Journal of Macromolecular Science. Part 3: Physics: 545-557. DOI:10.1080/00222347208219133.

Hiltner, Anne; Anderson, James M.; Borkowski, Edward (1972-07-01). "Side-Group Motions in Poly(α-amino acids)". Macromolecules. 5 (4): 446–449. doi:10.1021/ma60028a020. ISSN 0024-9297. Hiltner, Anne; Anderson, James M.; Baer, Eric (1973). "Dynamic mechanical analysis of poly-α-amino acids. Models for collagen". Journal of Macromolecular Science, Part B. 431-443. DOI:10.1080/00222347308201630. Hiltner, Anne; Baer, Eric.(1974) "Mechanical properties of polymers at cryogenic temperatures: relationships between relaxation, yield and fracture processes". Polymer. 15 (12): 805–813. doi:10.1016/0032-3861(74)90142-6. Hiltner, Anne (1979). "Interaction of water with macromolecules by dynamic mechanical analysis". Polymer Engineering and Science. 19 (10): 722–727. doi:10.1002/pen.760191012. ISSN 1548-2634. Hiltner, Anne (1987). Order in the Amorphous “State” of Polymers. Springer, Boston, MA. pp. 119–133. doi:10.1007/978-1-4613-1867-5_6. .

Awards and honors

1999, Roon Award from the Federation of Societies of Coatings Technology 2005, Outstanding Achievement Award from the Society of Plastics' Engineers (SPE) 2006, PMSE Fellow, American Chemical Society 2008, American Chemical Society Award in Applied Polymer Science from the American Chemical Society