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Rafael Prado de Moraes

Inventor | Materials Scientist | ESG Expert | CEO, EVABIO Polymers

📍 Winter Garden, FL | ✉ rafael@evabio.us | 🌐 evabio.us | 🔗 linkedin.com/in/rafaelpradomoraes.

Multidisciplinary executive with 30+ years of experience leading high-impact innovations in polymers, sustainable materials, and engineering plastics. Proven success managing global accounts, launching ESG-driven products, and transforming scientific innovation into scalable business value. Founder and CEO of EVABIO.us and PoliNb®, delivering solutions at the intersection of material science, circular economy, and performance. Extensive collaboration with OEMs, R&D, and commercial teams worldwide. Now seeking to bring this unique combination of vision, technical knowledge, and business acumen to a global organization like Petropol, DuPont, BASF, Covestro, DSM, Clariant and RTP.

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY


Global Business Leader | Inventor | Materials Scientist | Circular Economy Strategist | CEO

I am a multidisciplinary executive and innovation leader with over 30 years of experience at the forefront of polymer science, sustainable materials, ESG strategy, and industrial transformation. My career bridges technical mastery and business leadership — translating cutting-edge research into scalable, market-ready innovations that generate measurable performance and long-term value.

As the Founder & CEO of EVABIO.us, I lead the development of advanced circular materials derived from recycled and bio-based sources. I am also the inventor of PoliNb®, a patented niobium-enhanced polymer platform designed to deliver superior mechanical and barrier performance with reduced carbon footprint. These solutions reflect my core mission: to integrate material performance, ESG goals, and operational efficiency into one cohesive value chain.

I previously served for nearly three decades at Petropol Polymers, where I led R&D, sustainability, and quality operations, collaborating with global OEMs and managing innovation across automotive, industrial, and packaging sectors. My work resulted in the successful launch of high-performance polymer compounds, ISO/IATF-certified systems, and complex international partnerships.

I collaborate across disciplines — R&D, sales, quality, procurement, ERP/IT systems, and executive leadership — bringing rare fluency in both science and strategy. Whether leading lab-scale formulation or negotiating global licensing deals, I deliver results.

Now based in the United States, I support industries, startups, and institutions in transforming sustainability into real business performance through technical consulting, carbon management systems, lifecycle assessment (LCA), and advanced polymer development.


My Journey to the U.S.

In 2024, I relocated to the United States to establish EVABIO.us under the prestigious O-1A visa, granted to individuals with extraordinary ability in science and innovation. This move was driven by my mission to bring meaningful impact through circular materials development, ESG leadership, and carbon performance systems, combining breakthrough polymer technology with measurable sustainability outcomes. I designed integrated tools using ERP systems (Odoo) to deliver verified carbon footprint management and material traceability.

As the inventor of the patented PoliNb® platform — a niobium-enhanced circular polymer — I later applied for the EB-1 immigrant visa for individuals with extraordinary ability, and currently await my green card. I’m committed to contributing to the U.S. as a scientist, inventor, and business leader with solutions that turn sustainability into performance.


CORE EXPERTISE

  • Materials Science & Polymer Engineering
  • Research & Development Leadership
  • Experimental Design & Applied Research
  • Sustainable & Circular Materials
  • Injection Molding & Extrusion
  • Polymer Compounding & Formulation
  • Technology Transfer & IP Strategy
  • Patentable Innovation
  • Industrial Scale-Up
  • ESG & Sustainability in Manufacturing

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE


EVABIO Polymers LLC – USA

Founder & Managing Director | 2024 – Present

  • Lead the strategic direction, R&D, and commercialization of sustainable polymer technologies, with a focus on circular materials, bio-based compounds, and carbon performance systems.
  • Invented and patented PoliNb®, a disruptive polymer platform that integrates niobium into plastic matrices to enhance mechanical, thermal, and barrier performance, while reducing carbon footprint. https://www.polinb.com
  • Designed and implemented ERP-integrated ESG systems (Odoo-based) for real-time carbon accounting, enabling operational traceability of emissions (Scope 1, 2, 3) and cost-efficiency decision-making.
  • Developed technical and commercial roadmaps for pilot testing, scale-up, and licensing of advanced materials across the plastics, packaging, and automotive sectors.
  • Provide strategic consulting to startups, manufacturers, and investors seeking innovation in sustainable materials, industrial decarbonization, and regulatory ESG compliance.
  • Facilitate technology transfer and joint development agreements with companies pursuing circular economy goals, including the substitution of virgin polymers for recycled or functionalized alternatives.
  • Lead sustainability due diligence projects for M&A and corporate ESG strategy alignment, especially in manufacturing-intensive sectors.
  • Deliver customized ESG training and coaching for executives and operational leaders, with a focus on transforming sustainability into business performance.
  • Represent the company in global events and partner with universities, clusters, and innovation hubs to accelerate material science adoption and low-carbon technologies.
  • Engage in grant writing, public-private partnerships, and innovation ecosystems to fund applied R&D and industrial pilot projects in the U.S. and Latin America.


Petropol Polymers Ltd – Brazil

Director of R&D, Quality & Sustainability | 1994 – 2023

  • Spearheaded R&D and technical innovation for engineering polymers used in automotive, electrical, packaging, and industrial markets.
  • Co-founded the engineering department in 1998; led the development of over 150 proprietary compound formulations.
  • Specialized in high-performance polymers: PA, PPA, PBT, PC, PPS, PEEK, PP, ABS, PE, EVA, TPEs, with glass fiber, mineral, and flame-retardant additives.
  • Scaled industrial extrusion processes using twin-screw compounding, increasing production efficiency by 600%.
  • Partnered with global OEMs and resin producers like DuPont, BASF, Covestro, Bayer, DSM, LyondellBasell, RTP, and Clariant.
  • Directed ISO 9001, IATF, and ESG certifications, including achieving Pellet Zero - OCS® certification in 2022.
  • Led ERP transformation: implemented Oracle ERP, CRM, WMS, BI, Balanced Scorecard, and manufacturing systems.
  • Oversaw all marketing strategy, including 4Ps, B2B campaigns, trade shows, SEO, and brand positioning.
  • Delivered technical sales support, product training, and after-sales engineering to global key accounts.
  • Built supplier networks, managed strategic procurement, and developed cost-saving resin substitution plans.
  • Led Petropol’s growth to R$123M revenue (2022), driving 60% business expansion, 40% higher client retention, and a 35% boost in supply chain performance.
  • Drove the company’s sustainability transformation by integrating ESG, carbon governance, and recycled-content innovation.

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SELECTED PROJECTS


A few highlights from my most relevant industry-impacting initiatives include:

  • ESG Strategy and Circular Materials Innovation for Engineering Plastics Manufacturer;

  • Scale-Up of Glass-Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Compounds for Automotive Applications;

  • US Expansion and Licensing Strategy for PoliNb® Advanced Polymer Platform


New Expanded Highlights:


  • Next-Generation Textile Filaments: Developed recyclable monofilament yarns combining polyamide, polyester, and elastomeric polymers, replacing traditional non-recyclable multifilaments. This innovation enables performance, elasticity, and full circularity in a single textile-grade filament.


  • Smart Functional Yarns with PoliNb®: Engineered high-performance textile filaments integrating the patented niobium-enhanced polymer (PoliNb®), creating recyclable smart fibers with improved thermal stability, mechanical behavior, and sensing properties.


  • Upcycling Organic Waste into Functional Plastics: Designed an industrial technique to incorporate organic residues (such as fabrics, peanut shells, and peach seeds) into thermoplastic matrices, converting waste into value-added plastic parts — effectively “locking in” carbon while enabling circular product design.


  • Polymer Blend Compatibility Breakthrough: Created a new line of compatibilizers enabling the recycling of immiscible polymer blends (e.g., PP + PS, PET + PP, PVC + PBT). This allows co-recycling of mixed plastic streams without the need for separation, significantly reducing carbon footprint across plastic recycling operations.


EDUCATION


Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Environmental Science & Technology

Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC) – Brazil

Focus: Industrial sustainability, environmental risk management, and advanced carbon footprint modeling in manufacturing environments.

M.Sc. in Environmental Science & Technology (Dual Degree)

FUNIBER / Universidad Europea del Atlántico – Spain

Focus: International environmental policy, circular economy, and sustainable innovation frameworks.

MBA in Business Management

Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV) – Brazil

Executive training in corporate strategy, innovation management, and international business leadership.

Postgraduate Diploma in Polymer Technology

Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar) – Brazil

Specialization in advanced polymer formulation, compounding, and processing for high-performance applications.

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Materials Engineering – Polymers

Fundação Santo André (Faculdade de engenharia - FAENG) – Brazil

Solid foundation in materials science, polymer chemistry, mechanical properties, and plastics engineering.

Degree in Marketing Management

Universidade Paulista (UNIP) – Brazil

Complementary business education in branding, B2B strategy, and product commercialization.


CORE EXPERTISE


A deep multidisciplinary foundation at the intersection of polymer science, sustainable engineering, and business strategy, with a track record of delivering innovation with measurable impact:

  • Advanced Materials & Polymer Science

    Expertise in high-performance engineering-grade polymers, sustainable additives, functional compounds, and niobium-enhanced materials (PoliNb®).

  • Leadership in R&D and Innovation

    Over 30 years leading industrial-scale research programs, experimental design, and technology validation aligned with ISO 9000, IATF 16949, and ESG standards.

  • Sustainable Polymers & Recyclates

    Proven capabilities in designing circular compounds using recycled and bio-based feedstocks, polymer blends, compatibilizers, and carbon-reducing additives.

  • Industrial Scale-Up & Manufacturing Optimization

    Strong command of twin-screw extrusion, injection molding, pilot line development, and process efficiency — delivering cost, energy, and emissions savings.

  • Technology Transfer & Patent Innovation

    Inventor of US-provisionally patented PoliNb®, with hands-on experience transforming lab-scale breakthroughs into viable industrial products.

  • Cross-Functional & Multicultural Collaboration

    Fluent collaboration with stakeholders across sales, procurement, engineering, ERP/ESG systems, quality, and international regulatory environments.


AVAILABILITY & ENGAGEMENT AREAS


A deep multidisciplinary foundation at the intersection of polymer science, sustainable engineering, and business strategy, with a track record of delivering innovation with measurable impact:

  • Advanced Materials & Polymer Science

    Expertise in high-performance engineering-grade polymers, sustainable additives, functional compounds, and niobium-enhanced materials (PoliNb®).

  • Leadership in R&D and Innovation

    Over 30 years leading industrial-scale research programs, experimental design, and technology validation aligned with ISO 9000, IATF 16949, and ESG standards.

  • Sustainable Polymers & Recyclates

    Proven capabilities in designing circular compounds using recycled and bio-based feedstocks, polymer blends, compatibilizers, and carbon-reducing additives.

  • Industrial Scale-Up & Manufacturing Optimization

    Strong command of twin-screw extrusion, injection molding, pilot line development, and process efficiency — delivering cost, energy, and emissions savings.

  • Technology Transfer & Patent Innovation

    Inventor of US-provisionally patented PoliNb®, with hands-on experience transforming lab-scale breakthroughs into viable industrial products.

  • Cross-Functional & Multicultural Collaboration

    Fluent collaboration with stakeholders across sales, procurement, engineering, ERP/ESG systems, quality, and international regulatory environments.


INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY


PoliNb® – Advanced Polymer Platform with Niobium Integration

Title: Concentrate and Processes for Incorporation of Niobium in Engineering and High-Performance Polymers

Patent Status: US Provisional Patent Application No. 63/925,344

🔗 https://www.polinb.com

PoliNb® is an advanced polymer technology platform designed to enable the efficient and scalable integration of niobium (Nb)—preferably in oxide form—into thermoplastic, elastomeric, and engineered polymer systems. The platform addresses long-standing limitations in the dispersion and interfacial compatibility of inorganic functional additives, unlocking a new class of high-performance, sustainable, and circular polymer materials.

At its core, PoliNb® functions as a universal niobium concentrate and compatibilization system, allowing niobium to be incorporated into polymers using conventional industrial processing while delivering consistent and reproducible performance gains.

Key Performance Enhancements Enabled by PoliNb®

Through controlled dispersion and interfacial interaction of niobium within polymer matrices, PoliNb® is designed to confer multiple property improvements simultaneously, including:

  • Mechanical performance

    • Increased tensile strength and modulus

    • Improved impact resistance and fatigue behavior

    • Enhanced creep and long-term dimensional stability

  • Thermal performance

    • Higher thermal stability and heat deflection temperature (HDT)

    • Improved resistance to thermal aging

    • Better performance under continuous service temperatures

  • Barrier and durability properties

    • Improved barrier performance against moisture and gases

    • Enhanced resistance to UV radiation and environmental degradation

    • Extended service life of polymer components

  • Fire and safety behavior

    • Contribution to flame retardancy and char formation mechanisms

    • Improved dimensional integrity under heat exposure

  • Processing and formulation advantages

    • Enhanced dispersion of fillers, pigments, and functional additives

    • Improved rheological stability during extrusion, injection molding, and fiber spinning

    • Greater formulation robustness and reproducibility at industrial scale

These combined effects position PoliNb® as a multifunctional performance enabler, rather than a single-property additive.

Circular Economy and Sustainability Impact

PoliNb® is intentionally designed to support both virgin and recycled polymers, enabling:

  • Performance recovery or enhancement in recycled resin streams

  • Material light-weighting and potential metal replacement

  • Extended product lifetimes and reduced material turnover

  • Lower overall carbon footprint per functional unit

By increasing durability and functionality while remaining compatible with existing processing infrastructure, PoliNb® aligns strongly with ESG strategies, circular economy models, and sustainable materials innovation.

Application Domains

The versatility of the PoliNb® platform enables its application across multiple industries and polymer families, including:

Engineering and Technical Plastics

Applicable to engineering and technical polymers such as PA, PBT, PET, PC, PC/ABS, POM, TPU, and related blends, enabling the development of materials with enhanced performance, durability, and industrial reliability.

By incorporating PoliNb® into these polymer systems, manufacturers can overcome common limitations related to mechanical strength, thermal stability, and long-term performance, while maintaining compatibility with standard industrial processing.

Key application opportunities include:

  • Structural and semi-structural components

    Polymer parts designed to withstand mechanical loads, vibration, and repeated stress, suitable for housings, brackets, enclosures, and functional components.

  • Replacement of metal or fiber-intensive solutions

    Lightweight polymer alternatives that reduce part weight, simplify processing, and lower overall system cost while preserving stiffness, strength, and dimensional stability.

  • Enhanced performance in demanding environments

    Improved resistance to heat, mechanical stress, humidity, and environmental aging, enabling use in applications exposed to challenging thermal or mechanical conditions.

Additional performance advantages enabled by PoliNb® in engineering plastics include:

  • Improved impact resistance and fatigue behavior

  • Greater dimensional stability over time and temperature

  • Enhanced dispersion and effectiveness of fillers and functional additives

  • Increased consistency and reproducibility in large-scale production

These benefits position PoliNb® as a strategic performance enabler for engineering plastics, supporting the development of next-generation polymer components for automotive, industrial, electrical, and consumer applications where reliability and durability are critical.


High-Performance Polymers and Advanced Applications

Applicable to high-performance and specialty polymers such as PPA, PPS, PEEK, PEI and related high-temperature engineering polymers, enabling the development of materials for extreme mechanical, thermal and chemical environments.

PoliNb®allows these polymers to achieve enhanced and more balanced performance profiles, particularly where conventional formulations face limitations related to filler dispersion, thermal stability, or long-term reliability.

Key application opportunities include:

  • High-load mechanical components for industrial equipment, machinery, and structural assemblies

  • Parts exposed to extreme temperatures, chemicals, or continuous mechanical stress

  • Lightweight alternatives to metal components, maintaining stiffness, strength, and dimensional stability

  • Improved fatigue resistance and long-term mechanical integrity

Medical and Hospital Applications

In the medical and healthcare sector, PoliNb® opens new possibilities for advanced polymer-based solutions, particularly in polymers such as PEEK and related bio-compatible systems, including:

  • Prosthetic and orthopedic components

  • Implant-adjacent and medical device housings (subject to regulatory validation)

  • Components requiring high mechanical performance combined with bio-compatibility

  • Sterilization-resistant polymer parts with improved dimensional and thermal stability

By enabling controlled dispersion of niobium within high-performance polymer matrices, PoliNb® supports the development of next-generation medical-grade polymers that combine mechanical reliability, durability, and design flexibility.

Textiles and Smart Fibers

  • Monofilaments and functional yarns

  • Technical textiles requiring durability, UV resistance, or functional performance

  • Potential alternatives to elastane-based systems with improved recyclability

Automotive and Mobility

  • Lightweight components with improved mechanical and thermal stability

  • Parts exposed to heat, vibration, or environmental stress

  • Applications supporting electrification and sustainability goals

Electronics and Electrical Applications

  • Polymer components with enhanced thermal and dimensional stability

  • Potential for conductive, antistatic, or EMI-related functional systems (application-dependent)

  • Encapsulation and housing materials for electronic devices

Packaging, Construction, and Industrial Goods

  • High-performance packaging materials with improved barrier and durability

  • Construction products requiring long-term dimensional and environmental stability

  • Industrial components exposed to harsh operating conditions

Platform Strategy and Commercialization

PoliNb®is being actively developed as a platform technology, rather than a single product. Its strategic positioning includes:

  • Global licensing to polymer compounders, OEMs, and materials manufacturers

  • Collaborative development programs tailored to specific industries and applications

  • Compatibility with existing compounding, extrusion, injection molding, and fiber-spinning infrastructure

  • A strong intellectual property foundation covering composition, process, and use

This approach allows PoliNb® to scale internationally while fostering partnerships that accelerate adoption and application-specific validation.

Strategic Relevance

By enabling niobium—a strategic and underutilized element in polymer science—to become a functional component of advanced plastics, PoliNb® repositions niobium from a niche additive to a core enabler of next-generation polymer materials.

The platform sits at the intersection of:

  • Materials science and industrial scalability

  • Sustainability and circular economy

  • Performance enhancement and cost efficiency

PoliNb® represents a forward-looking response to global demands for lighter, stronger, more durable, and more sustainable materials across critical industries.