Monte said his mission in life is to "teach the more efficient use of raw materials through titanium chemistry."
"I have invented products that solve problems related to materials sustainability as testified by several thousand ACS [American Chemical Society] CAS [Chemical Abstracts Service] abstracted patents filed by others covering the full spectrum of thermoplastic and thermoset polymeric composites — from longer-lasting lipstick to more powerful yet safer plastic-bound explosives," he said. More than 450 ACS abstracts published are "Works by S.J. Monte."
The biggest challenge in his career was solving the "unplanned detonation of RDX/CAB propellant being used to propel the 120-millimeter tank round of the Abrams A-1A tank gun that was killing our military in the absence of enemy fire." As part of the United States Department of Defense's Insensitive Munitions Program, the new propellant was called LOVA, for low vulnerability ammunition.
"As a result of work with my invention titanates, two of my patents were placed under DOD Secrecy Orders for over 15 years and were approved for use in 92 successful IM programs. You learn that the periodic table applies to nitramine explosives or foamed pool floats, and the multiple material challenges present in curbside recycle are solvable applying the chemistry and physics of titanium coupling and catalysis and in situ functionalization of the inorganic and organic materials in the recycled plastics," he said.
Monte's other career highlights include, but are not limited to: 2015 Business Man of the Year from the Bayonne Chamber of Commerce; past president of the Society of Plastics Engineers' New Jersey section; past chairman of the NYRG-ACS rubber division; board of governors of the Plastics Pioneers Association; lifetime member of the National Defense Industrial Association; past chair and lifetime member of the SPE Thermoplastic Materials and Foams division board of directors.
The Salvatore J. Monte Thermoplastic Materials and Foams division scholarship offers financial assistance to undergraduate and graduate student members of SPE who have an interest in the plastics industry, specifically thermoplastic materials and foams.
His most recent patent, dated Feb. 7, protects nano-titanium surface modification of ordinary Portland cement.
"Once the metal oxides that make up the Portland cement are organotitanium functionalized, the result is: greater compression strength; efflorescence elimination; faster mix cycles; polymer compatibilization with epoxy, hydrocarbons such as oil, asphalt and plastics; prevention of rebar corrosion; more uniform cell structure in cement foam; more flexible structures for improved earthquake resistance; and the creation of ageless and beautiful concrete structures," Monte said in a news release announcing the patent issuance.
Monte has also testified multiple times before Congress on international trade and intellectual property protection, lectured worldwide on titanate and zirconate coupling agents, and written a 340-page Ken-React reference manual with 80,000 copies distributed.
