Academic Credentials
  • Ph.D., Applied Physics, Harvard University, 2019
  • S.M., Applied Physics, Harvard University, 2015
  • B.Sc., Nanotechnology Engineering, University of Waterloo, 2013
Professional Affiliations
  • Society of Plastics Engineers
  • ASM International

Dr. Kreder specializes in the characterization, properties and end-use performance of polymeric materials, including elastomers, rigid plastics, adhesives, coatings, paints, textiles, membranes and foams. He has particular expertise in the area of interfacial science and solid-liquid interactions, encompassing thin film application and analysis, characterization of surface properties, filtration, capillarity, porous flows and surface fouling. 

Dr. Kreder has extensive experience using his broad knowledge of materials science to conduct failure investigations of polymeric components in a wide number of products, such as fluid handling systems, medical devices, automotive vehicles, construction or building materials, and consumer electronics. Dr. Kreder's deep knowledge of the physical and chemical properties of polymers allows him to further support clients with material processing and manufacturing, yield improvement, material selection, and end-use testing. He regularly assists clients with the technical aspects of product liability and patent litigation.

Dr. Kreder specializes in using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) to visualize and characterize surface topography and morphology for a variety of applications, including failure analysis and polymer fractography. He has extensive experience developing custom optical systems for interferometric analysis of the thickness and dynamics of liquid thin films.

Dr. Kreder has expertise in measuring the interfacial properties of solids, liquids and surfactant mixtures using tensiometry and contact angle analysis, and he is experienced in thin film techniques such as spin-coating, doctor-blading, and dip-coating polymers and sol-gel solutions. Dr. Kreder has employed and developed various scientific approaches to modify the surface energy and wetting properties of a wide range of materials with molecular monolayers and polymer brushes of various chemistries, with a particular focus on alkyl, perfluorinated and siloxane-based molecules. In addition, Dr. Kreder routinely uses analytical techniques such as UV-Vis, FTIR, Raman, XRD, TGA, and DSC to assess the composition of engineered materials.

Prior to joining Exponent, Dr. Kreder received his doctorate in Applied Physics from Harvard University, where he researched and developed novel lubricant-infused repellent coatings. In addition to interfacial properties, he extensively studied the thermodynamic and kinetic properties of materials and worked to describe the behavior of swellable polymers. His current research interests also include the fractographic behavior of polymeric materials.