A Virtual R&D Center for High-Energy Materials Testing and Analysis

Characterization of high-energy systems and materials is a vital part of a chemical company’s responsible and sustainable execution of product development, operation, and change management. When Chemours was spun-off from DuPont, the lab facilities and some of the technical expertise remained with DuPont, leaving Chemours with the need to re-establish similar capabilities. The most expedition solution was to establish a virtual R&D center for high energy materials testing and analysis. This presentation will discuss the steps taken to survey and define testing needs, collaboration with 3rd-party labs to establish contractual access to testing facilities, and the creation of a formal workflow to interface the remotely-located program principal engineer with internal customers throughout Chemours. A case example is also provided for a what-if scenario identified in a PHA for an out-of-order addition of catalyst to a highly reactive system, how testing was designed and executed, and how the results were delivered back to the customer.