Dr. Fabian has extensive knowledge of various polymer characterization (i.e., physical, mechanical, and chemical) and analytical methods, flammability test methods, and advanced textile performance property measurements. He has researched areas of fundamental polymer physics, additive manufacturing/3D printing, and conducted hundreds of fire research experiments ranging from milligram size samples through complete houses. This expertise enables Dr. Fabian to understand the relationship between materials, products, and complete systems in order to solve problems in a wide variety of industries including polymer formulation, building components, paints and coatings, wire and cable, and consumer products. This expertise has also qualified him to provide scientific support for multiple patent litigations and lawsuits as well as prepare Congressional testimony.

Before founding Blue Sky Polymer Consulting, Dr. Fabian spent 18 years at Underwriters Laboratories leading their fire and polymer R&D groups, and the Regulatory Compliance group for the Consumer Products division. His research focused along two primary lines:

• Guiding client material formulation and product development that also addressed alternative design and supplier flexibility when submitted for subsequent certification
• Developing and standardizing new testing capabilities and services for innovative products that aren’t suitable for traditional test methods

Some of the product areas he has worked on include:

• Polymers, most notably aging / weathering, combustion, and electrical properties
• Additive manufacturing, including development of UL’s Blue Card system, the world’s first certification program for additive manufacturing materials and 3D printed products
• Flammability of building products, wire and cable insulation, and upholstered furniture and its components
• Detection and characterization of combustion products (i.e. smoke and gases) for smoke detectors and alarms
• Textile moisture management

Prior to joining UL, Dr. Fabian spent six years working in textiles including as the lead material scientist at Nextec Applications where he developed bench-scale test methods to better predict real-world apparel performance and utilized those test methods to develop Nextec’s first commercially successful products.

Dr. Fabian is an active leader in the textiles, fire and plastics standards development community for more than 25 years. He has chaired multiple committees in the American Association of Textile Colorists and Chemists (AATCC), chaired committees for plastics combustion characteristics and wildland-urban interface fire test methods in ASTM, and led UL Standards task groups for advancing CTI testing of polymers (UL 746) and developing new fire tests for smoke detectors and alarms (UL 217 and 268). He also participates in the FAA task group for development of new fire tests for material certification.