Our research facilities are dedicated to creative customer solutions.
The Cincinnati Technology Center (CTC) is a multi-million dollar, state-of-the-art research facility located in suburban Cincinnati, Ohio. The campus houses the company's polymers, polymer specialties and fundamental research and development functions.
The Role of the Cincinnati Technology Center
Our research and development (R&D) scientists, engineers and technicians work closely with our customers to develop solutions to problems and build knowledge for our mutual benefit. In virtually every application area, we employ some of the most respected authorities in the field.
Applications Laboratory
Our Cincinnati applications laboratory is one of the largest of its kind in North America. This laboratory is staffed and equipped to help customers develop and evaluate the most efficient materials and constructions for their applications. There are more than 30 plastics processing lines in the laboratory, including lines for extrusion coating, blow molding, film extrusion, injection molding, rotomolding, fiber, pipe and wire and cable.
Polymers Testing Laboratory
This laboratory has extensive capabilities for sample preparation, sample conditioning and testing, as well as physical property testing of polyolefin materials. Tests performed include burning characteristics, column-crush strength, density, impact strength, accelerated weathering, electrical properties, environmental stress crack resistance, mechanical properties, optical properties, oven aging, permeation properties and physical properties.
Analytical Department
Our analytical department performs a wide range of qualitative and quantitative analytical techniques. It has a broad selection of procedures for solving both routine and non-routine analytical problems. Techniques include capillary electrophoresis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy, liquid chromatography, low shear rheology, mass spectrometry and gas chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, optical microscopy, polymer thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy, shear flow rheology and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy.
Catalyst Department
Our catalyst department is on the forefront of technology development for new polyolefin catalysts, especially in the single site area. Equistar STAR™ catalyst, recently demonstrated on a commercial reactor in Clinton, Iowa, produces novel polyethylene structures with unique attributes.
Pilot Plant Facilities
The Matagorda pilot plant facility, located adjacent to the company's Matagorda production facility in Texas, houses a pilot version of the dual-reactor slurry process used to make bimodal high density and medium density polyethylene products. The Matagorda bi-modal slurry pilot facility is used to test and scale-up new catalysts and develop advanced products to meet our customers needs.
Novolen Technology Holdings
In 2000, Equistar and ABB Lummus announced the formation of Novolen Technology Holdings C.V. Equistar provides the technology development and research support to this polypropylene joint venture. The catalyst development, product development, analytical support and technical service support are carried out from CTC.
For more information
There are many more evaluation tools and tests available at the CTC. For more information on how you can use our extensive experience to enhance your business, contact your sales or technical service representative to discuss specific equipment or test procedures of interest.
Equistar Chemicals, LP is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lyondell Chemical Company.