The largest of the Ionian islands, Kefalonia has a rugged coastline that extends 250 kilometers. The central mountain, Aenos, is known for the Enos forest, which features the high-altitude Kefalonian fir. The mountain has been designated a national park for more than half a century. The island is also known for its distinct culture, which is informed by a diversity of peoples that claimed it over the centuries, including the Franks, the Turks, and the Normans. A part of Greece since 1864, Kefalonia played a pivotal role in the nation’s resistance against the Axis powers during World War II. Reflecting this wartime heritage, the island was the backdrop of the critically acclaimed 2001 film Captain Corelli's Mandolin, starring Nicholas Cage and Penelope Cruz.
A successful entrepreneur, Gerald Thermos heads the Bellflower, California, chemical systems engineering firm THR Corporation. He is also a passionate traveler who has visited scenic locales spanning the globe. One of Gerald Thermos’ most memorable trips was to Greece, including the islands of Lefkada and Kefalonia. Situated off the western coast of Greece, Kefalonia features a mild climate and is relatively unspoiled by mass tourism.
The largest of the Ionian islands, Kefalonia has a rugged coastline that extends 250 kilometers. The central mountain, Aenos, is known for the Enos forest, which features the high-altitude Kefalonian fir. The mountain has been designated a national park for more than half a century. The island is also known for its distinct culture, which is informed by a diversity of peoples that claimed it over the centuries, including the Franks, the Turks, and the Normans. A part of Greece since 1864, Kefalonia played a pivotal role in the nation’s resistance against the Axis powers during World War II. Reflecting this wartime heritage, the island was the backdrop of the critically acclaimed 2001 film Captain Corelli's Mandolin, starring Nicholas Cage and Penelope Cruz.
0 Comments
Gerald Thermos, president of THR Corporation of Bellflower, California, is an experienced engineer and developer of synthetic products. The focus of Gerald Thermos and his company is mainly the manufacture of polyurethane-based materials.
According to recent manufacturing reports, the market for polyurethane foam is expanding at a compounded annual growth rate of 7 percent. Many experts attribute the robust growth rate to an increasing demand for the material in the bedding and furniture construction industries, but numerous companies use polyurethane for countless products. In fact, polyurethane is found in or on virtually every manufactured product, including vehicles and refrigerators. Published by Infiniti Research Limited, the study included companies throughout North America, Western Europe, Central and South America, and other industrialized areas across the globe. The companies largely responsible for the growth of the market were Dow Chemical, BASF, and Bayer AG. The industry has also witnessed the introduction of green polyurethane foam, which will increase the sustainability of the market. Gerald Thermos is president of THR Corporation, located in Bellflower, California. An engineer and product developer, Gerald Thermos includes polyurethane among his main areas of expertise.
Polyurethane is a synthetic coating and structural material used in a number of applications, such as vehicles, building materials, bedding, and refrigerators. In addition to providing a protective layer that extends the natural life of these manufactured goods, polyurethane is also used for the purpose of conserving energy. In buildings, polyurethane is installed as insulation, which reduces the amount of energy consumed in heating and cooling, and, in refrigerators, the insulation helps preserve food longer. Found on most vehicles, it helps manufacturers create lighter frames, which reduces greenhouse emissions. In addition, polyurethane is a recyclable material, and the polyurethane from recycled products is often made into other things. For example, polyurethane from foam is often turned into underlay for carpets. In terms of stored energy, polyurethane contains the same amount as coal, which makes it ideal for burning in incinerators to heat public buildings. As the former president of a Bellflower, California-based marine products company, Gerald Thermos possesses some familiarity with the development and engineering of advanced chemical systems. Gerald Thermos’ company primarily formulated its products from polyurea and urethane. Developed more than 30 years ago, polyurea is an easily applied polymer technology that is used to line, coat, and seal joints on steel and concrete.
Polyurea has particular advantages over traditional covering materials such as epoxy, fiberglass, and paint because of its fast-set characteristics and durability in protecting against abrasion and corrosion. It is also ideal as a hard-coat protective layer over polystyrene, with specific uses in architectural molded fascia. In addition to structural enhancement and decoration utilizations, polyurea makes an excellent waterproofing material. It can be shaped or molded simply by spraying it within a mold and performs well within a wide range of temperatures and in humid environments. To maximize polyurea’s superior properties, contractors need to prepare the surface properly and follow standard quality control protocols. As the former president of Poly-Granite International in Wilmington, California, Gerald Thermos oversaw the manufacture and sale of various polyurea coatings. Gerald Thermos marketed these products to a diverse client base of construction professionals and companies.
A chemical created when a polyamine compound reacts with a diisocyanate, polyurea is a pure compound made without a catalyst. As such, it is not to be confused with polyurethane, which includes a third component that shortens the compound's reaction time. Pure polyurea, which already offers a fast reaction time that allows complete treatment in as little as one hour, is solvent free and provides a far higher ultraviolet stability compared to polyurethane, particularly when prepared using aliphatic diisocyanates. Polyurea is seamless and applicable at any thickness. It bonds securely to carefully prepared, humidity-free substrates but can also bond acceptably at mild humidity levels. As such, it stands out as a particularly useful compound for waterproofing and atmospheric resistance applications, as well as for structural strengthening and protection against corrosion. Gerald Thermos got his start in the specialty coating business more than a quarter-century ago, when he joined the Foam and Glass Company, a manufacturer of urethane chemical systems, urethane foams, and fiberglass materials. Since leaving the company in 1984, he has led THR Corporation and Poly-Granite International. Gerald Thermos today heads Specguard Engineered Coating Systems, located in Wilmington, California.
Specguard manufactures several specialty coating and other systems, including the SG-54 cool roof system as well as other roof coating systems. In addition, Specguard manufactures floor coating systems in standard and marine versions. The company also manufactures the JF-E375 Polyurea joint filling system, which will not shrink or stain upon curing. Nontoxic and odorless, JF-E375 is environmentally friendly and cures rapidly, promising a return of the treated area to service as soon as an hour after application. Other products manufactured by Specguard include a two-component epoxy primer that penetrates deep into concrete to isolate it and minimize the emission of moisture vapors, as well as spray-on and roll-on marine coating systems that have developed a reputation for longevity in marine environments. Committed to the minimization of the environmental impact of its operations and products, both in their manufacture and application, Specguard produces its coatings with only the most recent state-of-the-art, high-performance components. This approach keeps emissions and waste to a minimum while enhancing coatings’ durability and longevity. |
AuthorA longtime surfer with a scientific mind, Gerald Thermos has led several California-based firms manufacturing such products as urethane chemical systems. Archives
February 2017
Categories
All
|