University of Liverpool, Scott Bader form joint venture, Polymer Mimetics
Registered as a subsidiary of Scott Bader, Polymer Mimetics aims to open new opportunities in coatings, composites specialty adhesives and more.
The University of Liverpool (Liverpool, England) and Scott Bader Co. Ltd. (Wellingborough, U.K.) report they have established Polymer Mimetics, a joint venture to develop a novel polymer chemistry platform for the wider industrial chemical sector. The new company will be a registered subsidiary of Scott Bader Co. Ltd., which will be the majority shareholder.
Polymer Mimetics, Scott Bader says, is built upon technology originally developed by Professor Steve Rannard, from the University’s department of chemistry, which takes widely available commodity chemical building blocks — many currently used by Scott Bader — and in a novel, highly scalable process, transforms them into high-performance polymeric products. The company hopes these materials will open up new opportunities in coatings, adhesives, composites specialty additives, lubricants, personal care and additive manufacturing, as well as open up the possibility to develop degradable polymers.
Polymer Mimetics will be based in Liverpool, in close proximity to the university and will initially employ three scientists to carry out fundamental research in areas aligned closely to Scott Bader’s current business interests and future business strategy. To exploit this opportunity, Scott Bader says it has also obtained an exclusive global license to all of the background patents and know-how underpinning the technology. Further, the company says it plans for Polymer Mimetics to carry out funded research on behalf of third parties in areas with no conflicting interests.
The Polymer Mimetics team will report directly into Mark Cooper, group chief technology officer, and the research activities will be led by Steven Brown, new technology manager, working closely with the Polymer Mimetics team and Scott Bader's own R&D group.
Related Content
-
Chemnitz University of Technology receives €6 million to expand research into "green" carbon fiber
Carbon LabFactory and InnoCarbEnergy project conduct R&D across entire value chain from raw materials through processes to structures and systems on a pilot line with technology demonstrators.
-
Sustainability has come to composites and it's here to stay
It might be tempting to think of sustainability as a buzzword, but there are structural changes taking place in the composites industry that signal its permanence.
-
Women in the Composites Industry brings together women for networking, educational opportunities
Aiming to support the growth of women in this industry, the WCI industry group and its partners recently held its first live training event hosted by Owens Corning.