Melanie M O'Connell
Irradiated Materials Properties Evaluation - Technical Staff Member
Bio
I recently joined ORNL in March 2023 working in the Advanced Nuclear Materials group as a technical staff member for irradiated materials properties evaluation. Currently I have 25 years’ experience working in laboratories within the petroleum and polymer industries. My main focus right now is on graphite programs including testing pre and post irradiated specimens.
Professional Experience
- Techmer PM- Polymer colorants and additives
- Analytical Chemist/ Supervisor- February 2007- November 2022
- Calumet Specialty Product Partners- Petroleum
- Quality Control Laboratory Supervisor- April 2001- February 2007
- Fuchs Lubricants Co.- Metal Lubricants
- Quality Control Chemist- February 1997- April 2001
Education
BS Chemistry- Purdue University Northwest
Professional Service
- ISO 9001 and ISO 17025
- Quality Audits- internal/ external
- Operation and verification of testing instrumentation used in petroleum and polymer testing
- Maintenance of laboratory documentation
- Quality assurance and inspections
- 5S world class manufacturing
Specialized Equipment
- Atlas accelerated weatherometers- Xenon and QUV
- Mettler Toledo DSC and TGA, FTIR and FTIR microscope analysis
- Instron and Tinius Olsen- Mechanical testing of polymers including Tensile, Flex, and Impact, Heat deflection
- Surface resistivity, static decay, x-ray fluorescence, transmission haze and clarity
- Flammability tests- UL94 and NFPA 701, Melt flow rates