Evonik owns a state-of-the-art Polymer Processing and Testing Laboratory located in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Historically utilized solely for internal R&D, Evonik designed a pilot program to offer these capabilities to startups. The partnership can range from collaborative R&D to defined testing service (e.g. analytical).

Startups shall ship the lab-scale samples to Evonik Allentown, PA facility and qualified Evonik operators will run the experiments/testing per instruction from the startup. The results will be shared promptly.

Due to safety reasons, the startups are not permitted to operate the Evonik equipment/work in the Evonik lab space. However, if desired, startups are welcome to visit the lab in-person to observe/have technical discussion.

Benefits to Startup

Access to specialized polymer testing/processing equipment, including but not limited to

Compound development
Polymer Processing Techniques e.g. twin screw compounding, injection molding, tube, SLS 3D printing and filament extrusion, etc.
Test specimen preparation
Various testing capabilities (e.g. mechanical, rheological)
Application testing (e.g. tube burst pressure, tube adhesion testing)

A complete list of capabilities will be shared after application is submitted through STEX.

Who Should Apply?

Scope: Evonik’s Allentown facility only offers processing & testing capabilities, not monomer synthesis or polymerization.
Technology: Startups developing new polymer compounds and novel applications. Companies working in the space of high performance polymers, such as polyamide 12 and PEEK (poly ether ether ketone), are particularly encouraged to apply.
Stage of Development: Flexible - nominally TRL 2+ Lab R&D scale
Location: Startups with operations in USA

About Evonik

Evonik is a global leader in specialty chemicals, operating in over 100 countries with approximately 32,000 employees. Our commitment extends beyond chemistry to deliver innovative, profitable, and sustainable solutions for our customers. Learn more at https://corporate.evonik.com/en.