Research & Development

Research & Development

Thanks to this continuous dedication, today the company can provide the widest range of reliable and advanced instruments for polyolefin characterization.

In recognition of Polymer Char’s technology, the company has received several awards, such as being considered one of the 50 Successful Companies in innovation in the Valencia Community or the innovation recognition in 2010 to its instrument GPC-IR by C&EN Magazine (from the American Chemical Society).

Polymer Char collaborates in several projects with prestigious Petrochemical companies and Research Institutes to develop unique instruments adapted to their specific characterization needs. In most of the cases, these instruments have been introduced into the commercial industry afterward with reliable and satisfactory results.

Polymer Char laboratories in the Valencia Technology Park are considered today a worldwide reference, receiving every year scientists and technologists in the field of polyolefin analysis from all around the globe. With the various techniques to determine polyolefin microstructure, the whole range of Polymer Char instruments perform here analyses for companies in 35 countries.

Polymer Char has a close connection with the polyolefin industry, being its researchers frequently invited to give lectures in the main polymer research conferences and to contribute proactively by publishing scientific publications of the field.

Actively focused on R&D projects, Polymer Char’s technical approach is closely aligned to its Mission: to become the leading technology company in the field of polyolefin analysis.

R&D Accredited Projects

Below is a list of Projects (in chronological order) accredited by official institutions from which they have received financial support:

Dow Chemical CRYSTAF Patent exclusive license.
Technology Transfer Program, IMPIVA, Valencian SME Institute. 1993.

CRYSTAF equipment development.
New Industrial Activities Program, 1992.
Technology Development Program, IMPIVA, Valencian SME Institute, 1993.
PATi Program, Ministry of Industry. 1993 – 1994.

Collaboration Project with an Optoelectronic Research Institute in North Europe.
International Cooperation Program, IMPIVA, Valencian SME Institute. 1993.

Infrared Technology transfer.
Technology Development Program, IMPIVA, Valencian SME Institute. 1995.

Preparative Fractionation of Polymers instrument development.
Technology Development Program, IMPIVA, Valencian SME Institute. 1995 – 1996.

Infrared Detector development.
Technology Development Program, IMPIVA, Valencian SME Institute. 1996.

Infrared Spectrophotometer with Digital Control development and manufacturing.
Technology Innovation Program, IMPIVA, Valencian SME Institute. 1998.
ATYCA Plan, Ministry of Industry. 1998.

Development of CRYSTAF instrument with Light Diffraction detector for the Analysis of the Dependence: Molecular Weight and Composition.
Technology Transfer Program, IMPIVA, Valencian SME Institute. 1999.
ATYCA Plan, Ministry of Industry. 1999.

Worldwide Polyolefin Characterization Laboratories establishment.
Laboratory Analysis Program, IMPIVA, Valencian SME Institute. 1999.

Modified CRYSTAF development for extractables analysis.
Technology Development Program, IMPIVA, Valencian SME Institute. 2000.

Composition Detector development.
PROFIT, National Program of Industrial Design and Production, Ministry of Industry. 2003.

Multi-Processor System development with Can Bus system for Chemical Laboratory instrumentation control.
Technology Development Program, IMPIVA, Valencian SME Institute. 2004.

Universal Infrared Detector development for Liquid Chromatography.
Technology Development Program, IMPIVA, Valencian SME Institute. 2004.

Viscometer Capilar development for Polymer measures in high temperature dissolution.
Technology Development Program, IMPIVA, Valencian SME Institute. 2004.

 

New Optoelectronic Infrared detector IR5 MCT.
Technology Development Program, IMPIVA, Valencian SME Institute. 2005.

High throughput TREF (Temperature Rising Elution Fractionation) analyzer.
Technology Development Program, IMPIVA, Valencian SME Institute. 2005.

High throughput CEF analyzer (Cross Elution Fractionation).
Technology Development Program, IMPIVA, Valencian SME Institute. 2006.

CRYSTAF analyzer with Viscometer for Quality Control.
Technology Development Program, IMPIVA, Valencian SME Institute. 2006.

Thermal Stabilization techniques development and Increased Sensitivity.
Technology Development Program, IMPIVA, Valencian SME Institute. 2006.

Cross-Fractionation technique development for Characterization.
Technology Development Program, IMPIVA, Valencian SME Institute. 2006 – 2007.

Previous Study and Assessment of applicable Technologies in an instrument development.
Technology Development Program, IMPIVA, Valencian SME Institute. 2006 – 2007.
PROFIT, National Program of Sciences and Chemical Technologies. Ministry of Industry. 2006 – 2007.

Previous Study and Assessment of Chemometrics’ Techniques.
Technology Development Program, IMPIVA, Valencian SME Institute. 2008.

New Infrared Detection techniques for new Applications in Characterization of Polycarbonate and Polyester.
Technology Development Program, IMPIVA, Valencian SME Institute. 2009.

Measurement Equipment Development for Intrinsic Viscosity and High-speed Composition.
Technology Development Program, IMPIVA, Valencian SME Institute. 2010.

Development of Differential Refractive Index Detector applied to High Temperature.
Technology Development Program, IMPIVA, Valencian SME Institute. 2010.

Development of Data Acquisition System with GPC system applications.
Technology Development Program, IMPIVA, Valencian SME Institute. 2010.

Development of Temperature controlled environment of High Sensitivity Detectors.
Technology Development Program, IMPIVA, Valencian SME Institute. 2010.

Optimization of analytical and preparative fractionation methodology in TREF, TGIC and SGIC modes from tests with high impact polypropylene copolymers (IPC).
Ministry of economy, science and competitiveness. Spain. 2017.


POLYGREENS Project (Spain).

Development of a green methodology for the characterization of polyolefins and engineering polymers compatible with infrared detection (POLYGREENS), with the objective of boosting research, technological development, and innovation. This project is partly financed by the Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico Industrial (CDTI) from the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities (Spain), and by the European Regional Development Fund, through the Programa Operativo de Crecimiento Inteligente 2014-2020.

Ongoing Collaborations


IVA Applications Project with the CP2M, CPE-Lyon (France).

The University of Lyon is currently using Polymer Char’s Intrinsic Viscosity Analyzer (IVA instrument) for method development in the application of this equipment on several types of polymers, including PET.

Green Solvents Project with Fraunhofer-LBF Institute (Germany).

This collaboration consists in searching for new and more sustainable solvents to be used in the analysis of polyolefins, aiming to improve their impact on health and the environment.

 


PE Impact Reduction Project with the Toulouse Biotechnology Institute (France).

Collaboration in a project “A solution for plastic waste pollution (SOLFORPLAS)” funded by the European Commission under Horizon 2020 for studying the reduction of the molar mass caused by the degradation process that polyethylene may suffer when exposed to biological, mechanical or chemical agents, using Polymer Char’s GPC-IR. Project Lead Researcher: Gemma Buron Moles, PhD.

Quality Management

 

Polymer Char’s philosophy is specially oriented to Quality Management. Each week, the Engineering, Analytical and Manufacturing departments join in to follow up the continuous improvement possibilities within the different projects and areas.

Business practices, and specially the technical ones, such as those from the laboratories and production, are audited and reviewed monthly by an internal Quality Team. Besides, Engineering, Analytical, and Manufacturing departments are highly involved in several work-teams to ensure the Customer always receives the best quality.

Since the beginning of its history, Polymer Char’s philosophy regarding product development has been dedicated to putting all its efforts in what it is really good at, such as Polyolefin Analytical Chemistry, Detection Technology and Software; subcontracting other technologies which other dedicated suppliers will probably do better. This way it gets the sum of the latest technologies in one single and very reliable product.

As a result, Polymer Char selects the best suppliers for the electronics and measurement tools of its products, since it is really aware that in the Research field, the Customer’s interest is to receive high quality and technology corresponding to the latest scientific advances, while receiving the best service and training.

In conclusion, Polymer Char’s Quality Management policy honors its essence: Scientific commitment and Customer-orientation.

 

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