SBIR-STTR Award

This project addresses objectives within the Section 8.8 Biofuels and Biobased Products and particularly those within the subtopic 8.8.1 New Non-food Biobased Products from New Industrial Crops. It will use industrial crops to supply raw materials for one of the fastest growing fields of plastics; that being polyurethane dispersions (PUDs). The global PUD market is expected to reach $2.4 Billion by 2023 with a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of7.1%. This is a perfect timing to replace current PUDs that are derived from petrochemicals with PUD's derived from industrial crops. INSTRUMENTAL POLYMER TECHNOLOGIES(IPTECH) has the experience and capabilities to achieve this goal. IPTECH will use a nonisocyanate synthetic route to the polyurethane in which a primaryaliphatic amine reacts with a cyclic carbonate. During this project IPTECH will synthesize two monomers that will contribute particular toughness and chemical resistance to the PUD. We will also utilize a unique proprietary crosslinker for the PUD called QUICKSTAR 94XAC that is produced from biosourced raw materials. This crosslinker developed by IPTECH has been sold for the last 8 years to current manufacturers of PUDs. It's unique in being able to be stored in the emulsion for extended periods of time however crosslinking the emulsion particles once a coating is formed. This crosslinker will enable the PUD developed in this project to have performance properties that can compete not only with current PUD systems but conventional solvent born two component polyurethane systems. IPTECH currently sells polymers to manufacturers and coatings adhesives sealants and elastomers as well as to manufacturers of PUDs. We will be able to utilize our current production and distribution capability as well as our relationships with coatings adhesive sealants and PUD manufacturers for launching this technology.