Dr. F. Parodi - Expertise & Know-How: polymer & fine organic chemistry

	Custom-Designed and Proprietary Polymeric Materials

		Research & Development
		R&D of tailored polymers and (complex) polymeric compositions. Fields of best expertise: polyurethanes, polyureas, and isocyanate-derived polymers in general, aliphatic and aromatic homo- and co-polyesters, polyamides, polysulfones, and polycarbonates.
		Thermosetting Resins

	►	Formulation, reformulation, and testing of thermosetting resins tailored to match specific or critical needs: neat, mineral-filled, fiber-reinforced, fire-retardant, pigmented or colored, epoxy resin systems, phenolics, unsaturated polyester resins, vinyl-ester resins, imide resins and other high-temperature thermosetting products. Analysis of curing kinetics, and design of complete processing maps. Preparation/revision of technical specifications, MSDSs, etc.

		extensive, contract mapping of the curing processes of a commercial epoxy-anhydride thermosetting resin system
		isothermal chemical transformation at 180°C monitored by FT-IR spectrometry	isothermal curing TTT diagram (Time-Temperature-Transformation diagram)

!	►	*FPR Resin Systems :* liquid, very low-viscosity and fast-curing isocyanate-epoxy resin systems, affording high-performance isocyanurate-oxazolidone thermosets for heavy-duty, high-temperature (200-300°C), structural, chemical and electrical applications (see Technical Note #1 this website). Semi-experimental, proprietary products of Dr. F. Parodi.



		Specialty, Aqueous Polymer and Resin Dispersions
		Novel or proprietary aqueous emulsions or colloidal dispersions of a range of unmodified or chemically-modified resins and high-molecular-weight polymers, for zero-VOC applications including coatings, adhesives, fiber coating, sizing & binding compositions (see: -glass fibers-): solid and liquid epoxy resins (either unmodified or chemically-modified); vinyl-ester resins; high-molecular-weight phenoxy resins; chemically-grafted, *crystalline homo-* and co-polyolefins** (polypropylene, propylene-ethylene copolymers, polybutene-1, poly-4-methylpentene-1, etc.); custom or proprietary, complex multipolymeric urethane elastomers.
		Performance and Specialty Polymeric Film-formers
	►	Complex, isocyanate-derived multi-polymers : polymeric solutions in special, "friendly" solvent mixtures, yielding clear and glossy, elastomeric, abrasion & wear resistant films (UV, hydrolytically and solvent-stable coatings on metals, wood and polar polymers such as nylons or polyesters; elastic and tough cast sheets for various applications; elastic and tough impregnants and binding agents for synthetic and natural fiber fabrics and felts).
	►	Sulfone-containing copolymers, affording clear, thermally and chemically-resistant, light- and UV-stable and inherently flame-retardant films for technically-demanding coatings.
	►	Elastoplastic or elastomeric co-polyurethane adhesives : as solutions in either ordinary high-boiling polar solvents (such as DMF, NMP, etc.), or special, "friendly" solvent mixtures, yielding cast polymeric layers acting as strong and flexible contact & pressure, or thermally-activated and irreversible, adhesives for metal-metal, metal-plastic or polymer-polymer joining.

		High-Performance Thermoplastic Rubbers
		Polyamide-based, high-performance thermoplastic elastomers. Perfectly recyclable , FDA-complying, elastomeric blends, combining the fair melt-processability, toughness, resistance to hydrocarbons, lubricants and solvents of nylons, with the elasticity and thermal/mechanical durability of the best vulcanized, high-temperature elastomers known (e.g., acrylic, polyepichlorohydrin, and conventional or hydrogenated nitrile rubbers).

		UV & EB-Curable Resins
!		Acryl, methacryl and/or allyl-functional UV and Electron Beam-curable resins, endowed with strong infrared absorption capacities, and a specific and potent microwave heatability. Resins especially designed as thick coatings or adhesives to be super-rapidly cured by either combined UV + IR, or UV + microwave (UHF), irradiation, affording clear, light amber, glassy thermosets. Uncured resins are pale yellow viscous liquids, or low-melting crystalline powders. Experimental, proprietary products of Dr. F. Parodi. (see also: microwave & RF ).

	Fine Organic Chemicals

		Research & Development
		R&D of tailored, specialty organic chemicals. Fields of best expertise: isocyanates and related derivatives, epoxies, organo-silanes, amino-, ureido-, azido- and hydrazido-compounds, quaternary ammonium and phosphonium compounds, sulfones, sulfoxides and sulfonamides, Grignard and Friedel-Crafts chemistry, etc.

		Non-Ethylene Oxide-derived, Nonionic Emulsifiers
!		Emulsifiers for the preparation of nonionic aqueous dispersions for strongly aggressive environments and/or treatment conditions, i.e. requiring the use of nonionic surfactants having a thermal, chemical, biochemical, hydrolytic and photochemical stability outstandingly higher than that of all commercial nonionic ethylene oxide-derived emulsifiers. White, low-melting, crystalline solids (m.p. from 50 to 80°C, yielding clear & colorless melts), or also clear, colorless viscous liquids. Products soluble in alcohols, ordinary aromatic, chlorinated, ester and ketone solvents, and their mixtures; self-emulsifiable in warm water upon gentle stirring. Experimental, proprietary products of Dr. F. Parodi.

		Waterborne Fluoro-Resins, for Super-hydrophobic Coatings
!		Waterborne, self-curing fluoro-resins for super-hydrophobic, hydrolytically and biochemically undegradable polymeric coatings on metals, thermoset resins, ceramics, glasses and minerals. Organic solvent-free, aqueous colloidal dispersions or micro-emulsions of partially fluorinated reactive oligomers, affording super-hydrophobic, highly chemically and biochemically resistant polymeric films (strongly adhering onto medium-to-high-surface energy substrates) upon drying, followed by a spontaneous self-polymerization, and optional crosslinking, process. Zero-VOC and friendly chemical systems for super-hydrophobic and durable surface treatments, complying with the most stringent international directions, or expectations outlined worldwide, for specialty coating products in terms of handling safety and environmental impact. These waterborne resins have been specifically designed as advanced antifouling and low-friction surface treatments of boat and ship bottoms (and other underwater structures and constructions). They are also indicated for highly-demanding water-repellant, dirt-repellant, anti-adhering and chemically protective coatings on a variety of surfaces, particularly whenever a long-term resistance to chemical and/or biochemical aggressions by the environment, externals agents and/or the substrate itself is a very critical issue (see: Technical Note #5 , this website). Experimental, proprietary products of Dr. F. Parodi.