Research & Development Services
Superior Polymer innovates novel solutions to your coating or adhesive problems.
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As a leader in surface bonding technologies, Superior Polymer undertakes projects with the ultimate goal of solving our customer’s problems, not just meeting printed specifications. While we are pleased to offer advanced laboratory equipment and facilities, our true pride rests in the innovations we deliver on a daily basis.
Through our unique and thorough approach to polymer development, SP delivers solutions beyond the reach of off-the-shelf products, with successful adhesion under extreme environments such as adhesion under sea water. Our team develops solutions to your unique problem by leveraging many years' experience solving problems for manufacturing, construction, and defense industries. Get your adhesion problem solved faster and at lower cost by contracting our engineers. We begin each project by interviewing your staff to develop a comprehensive understanding of the requirements. Our innovations follow this fundamental understanding. While our developmental breakthroughs often occur through some unexpected test or insight, the general approach we use is outlined below. Our laboratory facilities are located within our manufacturing center, so all company resources available to develop a solution.
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Step 1: Engineering Review of Your Project
Superior Polymer begins each project with a thorough review of your requirements and the environmental conditions that the adhesive or coating must endure. We interview your team members to develop a comprehensive understanding of what the problem is and define what success means. With our goal before us, we begin developing novel formulations in our laboratory.
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Step 2: Initial Polymer Development-Mix Raw Ingredients
With precision scales, we mix dry and liquid ingredients in very small batches of test materials. Our extensive in-house stock of raw materials permits rapid turnaround of projects; in some urgent cases, we have delivered novel compounds on the same day. Our bench top mixers blend these homogenous solutions. Specific requirements for the liquid stage of development, such as viscosity, can also be tested at this stage
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Step 3: Mold Polymer Coupons
Initial tests of the compounds are performed on standard tension or compression coupons. In this image, we see compression coupons being formed in molds, prior to oven curing.
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Step 4: Cure Polymers
We pour the liquid mixture into molds, and cure them in ovens with precision time/temperature control. Superior Polymer can also mix and cure under nitrogen or other oxygen-free environments, permitting a wide range of manufacturing options.
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Step 5: Test Mechanical Properties of New Polymer
Once cured, we can perform a variety of laboratory testing on these materials: viscosity, compression, tension, adhesion, brittleness, and flexibility. Tension and compression can be tested at high or low temperatures for extreme applications.
Tension/Compression testing within an environmental chamber is also available.
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Once primary physical properties are satisfied, we follow up with adhesion testing on the customer’s substrates. Samples are pulled and bonding strength documented. Special environments, such as bonding of wet surfaces in seawater, can also be tested and proven.
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Step 6: Fine Tune Polymer Formulation
Initial blends must often be fine-tuned to provide optimal performance. Failures are analyzed and new innovations tested until we have achieved our goal.
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Step 7: Field Test Polymer Adhesive/Coating
The final step in our process is to take the compound into the field for extensive testing. After passing the final field tests, these custom-formulated solutions can be manufactured in the quantities you need.
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Toll Free: (877) 586-5543
International: +1 (906) 337-3355
Fax: (906) 337-3357
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