Entrepreneur's perspective of commercializing advanced polymers in energy applications

POLY 101

Earl H. Wagener, ewagener@bellsouth.net1, D. W. Smith Jr., dwsmith@clemson.edu2, and Jeffrey R. DiMaio, dimaio@tetramertechnologies.com1. (1) Tetramer Technologies, L.L.C, 657 S. Mechanic Street, Pendleton, SC 29670, (2) Department of Chemistry; Center for Optical Materials Science and Engineering Technologies (COMSET), Clemson University, Center for Optical Materials Science and Engineering Technologies (COMSET), Advanced Material Research Laboratory (AMRL), Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634
Lessons learned and tips for the entrepreneur will be shared on faculty start-ups, working with universities, managing conflicts of interest, applying for SBIRs, tech transfer, and more. Special emphasis will be placed on the development of Tetramer's products which focus on applications in energy and environment. Current products include proton exchange membranes, gas separation membranes, and bio-based materials. In addition, other materials in development have applications related to energy such as nanoparticle encapsulants for solid state lighting and piezopolymers for energy harvesting. Tetramer Technologies was formed in 2001 as a faculty-driven start-up company commercializing high value research activities pursued at Clemson University. We currently employ 11 people- 9 PhD, 1 Masters, and 1 BS level. Our business model is to focus on developing specialty polymeric or oligomeric materials through synthesis and structure/activity development in close research development relationships with device or other downstream customers.
 

Entrepreneurship in Polymers for Energy and the Environment
1:30 PM-5:15 PM, Sunday, April 6, 2008 Hilton New Orleans Riverside -- Grand Salon 18, Oral

Division of Polymer Chemistry

The 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 6-10, 2008