Mason Dearborn

Dr. Dearborn is a polymer scientist with specialties in polymer chemistry, thermomechanical characterization, polymer processing, and polymer formulation. His expertise spans a broad array of techniques, including differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), as well as the full gamut of additional characterization methods to create technical datasheets (TDS) for polymer resins.

Prior to joining Exponent, Dr. Dearborn developed high performance polymers at SABIC, where his responsibilities included product development, material formulation, processing and selection, testing for high-demand applications, product safety and compliance assessments, failure analysis, and intellectual property analysis.

Dr. Dearborn received his Ph.D. in Molecular Engineering from the University of Chicago. His research involved controlling the reaction-diffusion process of frontal polymerization, enabling single-step, energy-efficient fabrication of aerospace composites with patterned microstructures mimicking the intricacy of biology. This work involved extensive control of polymerization kinetics through reactor and additive design, microstructural imaging, thermomechanical characterization, and validation of computational models.