How we can serve our clients

We offer different options for clients depending on their needs:

A La Carte: For simple projects where you only need a handful of tasks done. We’ll provide a per-run or per-hour rate for each task that you need done.
Project-Based: For larger or more complex projects. Rather than itemize each individual experiment, we can provide a project-based estimate that will help streamline project efficiency. This provides advantage of doing testing that is warranted based on data, without falling outside of the scope of the estimate requiring less back-and-forth.
Retainer: For clients that need on-demand consulting services we do offer retainer services.

Synthesis

Additives & monomers: Our team is well-versed in wet-chemistry techniques for small molecules. We have extensive experience in synthesis of custom initiators/chain transfer agents (anionic, ATRP, RAFT, etc.). The members of this team have several patents and applications for different novel monomers, chain transfer agents, and subsequent polymers for different bio-derived feedstocks (soybean oil, glycerol, muconic acid, isosorbide, etc.). We have also developed and synthesized various additives such as plasticizers, tackifiers, and emulsifiers.

Polymers: We have experience with anionic, anionic ROP, ROMP, ATRP, RAFT, polycondensation, step-growth, and emulsion polymerization techniques. We have the capacity to do both high and low pressure polymerizations as well as temperatures that range from cryogenic to 300 °C or higher

Services offered

We can duplicate or tweak procedures that are known in the literature or by your entity.
We can work on process optimization, cost reduction, laboratory scale-up, etc.
We can design derivative molecules to work for your process. An example would be a RAFT chain transfer agent with a unique functional group to work with your chemistry/system.
Beyond what is typically seen in a wet-chemistry lab, we also have access to a flash chromatography system that can allow for separations with as high as 30% mass loading onto the column. This is useful when brute force separation of large quantities (1 kg+) is necessary, but you don’t want to spend months separating enough material for testing.

Characterization

Capable of a variety of small molecule and polymeric characterization techniques. Thermal, mechanical, physical, thermomechanical, and chemical characterization are all possible. Contact us for requests on whether we can provide the desired technique.

Prototyping and formulation development

Extrusion: We have access to several different extruders depending on the scale needed

Haake Minilab: Ultra small scale (3-7 g batches)

Process 11: Small batches (10g) to up to 2 kg/hr continuous twin screw extrusion.

12mm & 35mm single screw extruders

Larger twin and single screw options are available as needed

Injection molding: We have access to two injection molders

Haake minijet: small mechanical test specimens (ASTM 638 type V, ISO 527-2, DMA bars, IZOD bars, rheology disks, etc.)

100 ton injection molder: larger & multishot mechanical specimens. Prototyped parts (i.e. golf-tees)

Prototyping

Process 11: capable of generating thick films, sheets, fibers, filaments, and tubes. Prototyping with as little as 100 g for certain applications

Cast film lines are available. Require around 2-4 kg

Blown film lines are available. Require around 2-4 kg

Formulation

Via extrusion we can formulate composites, stabilizers, nucleation aids, and a plethora of other additives.
If extrusion is not viable, we also can help design other methods, such as solvent cast films, to help with formulations and property determination.

Analytical Capabilities

Small Molecule

NMR (solution, solid, proton, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, etc.)

GC-MS

LC-MS

Synapt G2

MALDI

Viscometry

Intrinsic Viscometry

FTIR

DSC

WAXs

XRD

Elemental Analysis

Particle Size Analysis

TGA-DSC-MS-FTIR

Contact Angle

Polymer

GPC

DSC

DMA

Rheology