How to proceed with potentially lucrative business idea?

[john22004]

Gentlemen,

I have an idea that I think could prove lucrative. I'm unsure of how much development will cost or how I should proceed. I need a special plastic developed, one similar to ABS and one that "reacts" when fired on by a laser beam. The reaction is simple, I need the plastic to rise 1/32" of an inch above the surface of the material. The ABS similarity requirement is necessary because ABS plastic provides high contrast when etched with a YAG type laser. In effect, giving the lasered plastic an "embossed" appearance, with a high contrast mark on the embossing.

So, that being said, can anyone recommend how I should proceed, possibly by suggesting a few individuals or companies that do this sort of work? I took a wild guess and started looking up photopolymer engineers. Was I far off the mark? Also, does anyone feel it would be worthwhile for me to offer a 50% partnership in exchange for development, or are most more interested in an upfront fee?

Again, any suggestions, maybe other forums ( although in my web travels so far I've found this one the best ) or individuals or companies that might be helpful...

[Bruce]

John,
Just a down stream question. If you invent such a system, are there people looking for this? If not, do you have any marketing in place? Quite often the most difficult and expensive part of a new product is getting people to realize they can't get along without it.
Good luck
Bruce

[john22004]

Bruce,

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I have been working in the industry this product targets for over 13 years. The plastic I want to develop targets a technology and process which has been developed over the past 10 years, so I've watched the target technology evolve from complete infancy to huge business. My experience has given me a unique perspective in what has been done, and what needs to be done.

One of my responsibilites includes keeping current on production methods and technologies which may benefit my company. The plastic I want to "invent" will effectively shave 60-75% of the production time of the process currently used. This is a multi-million dollar market, and the product is required by law. I know this could be big, and I'm suprised it hasn't appeared yet ( I'm sure if you had a dime for every time you've heard that though, you'd be rich ) however I frequently talk to others in my industry and they all complain about how time and cost heavy the current method is. I'm sure the hurdle must be the cost involved with developing a new plastic. Sorry to seem a bit vague, I can go into much greater detail in private.

Anyhow, any information you can point me to would be appreciated. Ideally a plastics wizard that will work for 50% of the profits

[Skip]

I recall years ago that our additive company supplied a quarternary-functional mercaptoester (based on pentaerythritol) that was used in a photo-cure-able polymer coating on aluminum plates for high speed newsprint production at major newspapers.
I don't recall the base polymer used with our additive in this coating, but maybe by contacting a major city newspaper, you can
"reverse-engineer" what and how they utilize this concept, and maybe identify a supplier of the coated aluminum plates, the the polymer coatings producer?? Our additive was called "Q-43", made by Cincinnati Milacron Chemicals, Reading Ohio (now part of Rohm & Haas)

Perhaps such a light-or UV- curable coating on ABS (with the uncured portions solvent washed away) would provide what you need??

Good luck, and have fun with the concept!

[john22004]

Hi Skip,

Thanks for the reply. That is a really good suggestion, and it seems like it may solve the problem of embossing the surface. However, I need the embossed area to have a very high contrast in color with the non-embossed area. This is a regulation by law that I can't go around. There has got to be a way to get this to work. HEEEELP!

[Skip]

Just pigment the curable coating differently than the ABS substrate! i.e. a TiO2 white coating of desired thickness over black ABS. Hopefully the laser or UV cured portions should retain color after uncured portions are rinsed away. Solvent recovery should furnish uncured pigmented coating to be re-used.

[john22004]

Wow..that is a really great idea Skip..as you can tell, I'm somewhat ignorant as to what these marvelous materials are fully capable of. I can see it working in my head, but now how do I get it to work in our world?

Also, do you think there would be a way to do all this, without involving solvent? by this I mean simply having the plastic react to the laser and not have to go through an additional step such as rinsing with a solvent?

A big part of the marketability would involve the ease of use, which is why I ask.

I should've also added that something like this already exists..it's called a photopolymer..unfortunately the time involved in processing really shaves away any advantage I would be able to reap in the marketplace.

Thanks