Request for Proposal
Minimizing Yellowing in a Prepolymer Blend
Status: RFP is Closed
RFP was closed on
Dec 2018
RFP Title
Minimizing Yellowing in a Prepolymer Blend
RFP Description
NineSigma, on behalf of a global materials company, invites proposals for expertise, technology, or methods to solve a chemical interaction that causes yellowing of a liquid prepolymer blend.
Background
NineSigma’s client is working with a mixture of hydrofluoro-olefin monomer and a blend of alkyl vinyl ethers, some of which have pendant hydroxy groups (such as 4-hydroxybutyl vinyl ether). The prepolymer mixture is a high-solids, viscous liquid diluted slightly in butyl acetate. Subjecting this initially colorless, or lightly colored (yellowish), mixture to continuous heat, up to 95 °C, produces noticeable yellowing (several ΔE) in as little as 4-5 days. The client observes yellowing in mixtures that range from 35 wt% to 70 wt% prepolymer in solvent.
NineSigma’s client seeks to understand the yellowing phenomenon. We encourage you to respond to this request if you have knowledge, methods, or technology which can eliminate the yellowing in this prepolymer blend.
Key Success Criteria
The goal is to:
- Eliminate yellowing interaction in a prepolymer blend of hydrofluoro-olefin monomer with alkyl vinyl ethers
- Maintain the physical performance characteristics of the blend
- Utilize methods which can be implemented in large scale manufacturing
- Be cost effective at commercial scale
Preferred Collaboration Types
Items to be Submitted
Submissions must not contain any confidential information.
If you are submitting an interest to participate as a consultant, your response should:
- Describe relevant background and experience solving similar problems
- Describe your specific experience with fluoropolymer chemistry and with elucidating root cause of unexpected chemical interactions
- Include a copy of your CV or resume (you can upload as an attachment)
If you are submitting a technology solution, your response should address the following:
- Description of proposed technology and working principle
- Availability of technical data including process parameters
- Technical maturity of the approach (concept, reduced to practice, prototype, ready to commercialize, ready to implement, commercialized)
- Pathway to commercial scale including timing, estimated budget, and capacity for manufacture
- Estimated unit cost of technology
- Position on intellectual property including patent references
- Desired relationship with sponsor
- Team description and related experience
Appropriate responses to this Request
Responses from companies (small to large), consultants, entrepreneurs, or inventors are welcome. For example:
- You are a professional offering service as a consultant.
- You represent a company or university that has demonstrated a proof of concept.
- You represent a company or university that has reduced method to practice at lab scale.
- You represent a company or university that has developed a method for use at pilot scale.
- You represent a company or university that has demonstrated a method ready for implementation at industrial scale.
- You represent a technology transfer agency that represents an inventor or technology holder who can demonstrate an approach to address the request.
- You represent a university research department that has a bench-scale demonstration ready to adapt.
- You represent a university research department that has an undeveloped pathway with a high probability of success.
