Improved silicone polymers
A research program to eliminate undesirable components in silicone polymers before manufacturing, rather than after. Drawing on over fifty years of polymer chemistry expertise, the work proposes multiple proprietary methods and seeks a sponsored research partner to produce and evaluate sample materials.
Overview
This research program targets a persistent challenge in silicone polymer manufacturing: the presence of undesirable components in the final material. Rather than attempting to remove or mitigate these components after polymerization, the proposed approach seeks to eliminate them before the polymer is manufactured in the first place. Preventing the problem at the source offers the potential for cleaner, more consistent silicone products with fewer downstream processing steps.
The technology is grounded in more than fifty years of polymer chemistry expertise, including hands-on experience developing and manufacturing specialty polymers such as epoxies, polyurethanes, adhesives, and coatings. The proposing scientist has encountered similar challenges in prior work and has familiarity with multiple means and methods for addressing them.
Technical specifications
Multiple methods are proposed for eliminating undesirable components prior to polymer manufacture. Some of these methods are considered likely patentable and are treated as proprietary. Detailed technical discussion is available under a non-disclosure agreement.
Key characteristics of the approach:
- Focus on pre-manufacturing prevention rather than post-production removal
- Based on established polymer chemistry expertise and prior experience with similar challenges
- Multiple potential routes are available, increasing the likelihood of a practical solution
- Hands-on manufacturing background provides practical insight into scalability and production realities
The next technical milestone is the production of samples for evaluation by partners, allowing the improved polymer properties to be directly assessed.
Technology readiness level
The technology is at an early stage, with the core hypothesis established and validation planned. The proposer's extensive industrial background, including leadership of a specialty polymer manufacturing business since 1972, supports the practical feasibility of the approach. Future validation will focus on producing evaluation samples for partner assessment. A sponsored research partnership is sought to fund and support this next phase of development.
About steve smith, consulting scientist
Steve Smith operates as a Consulting Scientist, providing expert research, development, and consultation in the physical sciences. With a background in physics and chemistry, he offers specialized expertise in solving complex technical problems that fall outside a client's core area of knowledge. His capabilities span diverse fields, including electronics, materials science, and chemical product development. He is also the President and Chief Scientist of Smith & Co., a manufacturing business he established in 1972. This company develops and produces its own specialty epoxies, polyurethanes, adhesives, and coatings used internationally in the marine, construction, and property restoration sectors. Smith's approach involves breaking down problems to uncover root causes and false data, drawing on his extensive experience in research, product design, and patent-holding innovation.
These services are critical for inventors, engineers, and businesses facing persistent technical failures or unique R&D challenges. Customers rely on his expertise for tasks ranging from enhancing system reliability and developing specialty materials to solving product failures in wood, paint, and chemical interfaces. His work is supported by decades of industrial experience, including contributions to aerospace electronics, radar transmitter design, and government-industry research initiatives like the CALCE Tin Whisker Group. By offering a confidential, project-based engagement model—often supported by formal non-disclosure agreements—he provides high-level scientific guidance and problem-solving capacity to clients requiring specialized, interdisciplinary knowledge.
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