Kenneth T. Gillen is a retired Sandia National Labs researcher noted for contributions to service life prediction methods for elastomers[1] Gillen completed his PhD in chemistry at University of Wisconsin - Madison in 1970 under advisor Joseph H.
[2] Gillen joined Sandia National Labs in 1974, working on elastomeric seals in nuclear weapons and satellites.
His research has focused on the prediction of the service life of polymers under exposure to temperature, radiation, humidity and mechanical stress.
His most highly cited published work was the development of testing and analysis methods for the combined effects of diffusion and oxidation in polymers.
[4] His development of a technique for profiling of oxidation-induced stiffness gradients[5] in aged elastomers was applied in the tire industry.