Covalent Exclusive Partnership with Toray Research Center

Covalent deepens our advanced scientific and engineering consulting services to create new materials, new functions, new products, and new processes in our partnership with Toray Research Center. For North American customers, this uniquely opens access to this world class resource of expertise and analytical technology. By working with Covalent, customers have a convenient channel to setup and manage their projects, leveraging the full range of capabilities at Covalent and Toray Research Center.

Together, we tackle our customers’ hardest challenges in materials design, materials selection, failure analysis, quality issues and process optimization.

Who is Toray Research Center?

Toray Research Center, Inc. is a leading contract research and analysis company. Established in 1978 as a subsidiary of Toray Industries, and headquartered in Japan, Toray Research Center operates globally with laboratories in Japan, China, and Europe.

Torey Research Center’s strength primarily lies in its laboratories equipped with the latest cutting-edge equipment and staffed with a group of analytical professionals constantly striving to achieve the highest level of technical capabilities and to respond to a wide variety of analytical requests. They specialize in advanced analytical techniques for industries including semiconductors and consumer electronics, polymers, and batteries. Their capabilities include surface analysis, spectroscopy, and materials evaluation.

Cases studies: Improved adhesion

The problem: blistering occurring in a laminated material. Determining the failure cause: After identifying the blistered area, we carried out various analyses and found that an additive had migrated from one layer to another. We hypothesized that the cause of the blister was the thermal decomposition of the migrated additive. Solving for the customer: we proposed a solution to suppress the thermal decomposition of the additive contained in the specific layer as a countermeasure, this contributed to resolving the problem.

Cases studies: discoloration

The problem: resin discoloration. Determining the failure cause: Analysis revealed that the resin itself had not deteriorated, but that the compound added as an antioxidant had degraded. Solving for the customer: we reviewed the antioxidant and proposed a change of formulation that was able to improve the discoloration.

Case studies: Process trouble

The problem: increased frequency of defective resin products over a certain period of time. Determining the failure cause: Analysis of used resin molds detected compounds that were not originally contained in the raw materials. We then analyzed the raw materials, but no differences were found, and a defect in the manufacturing process was suspected. Based on the analysis results, we estimated the mechanism by which the detected compounds were generated, and by examining the manufacturing process together with the customer, we came to the conclusion that the atmospheric gas in a certain manufacturing process, which had been caused by a change in the specifications of the manufacturing equipment, was the cause of the trouble. . Solving for the customer: We proposed improvements to the equipment specifications, and contributed to a significant reduction in the defect rate.

Scientific and Engineering consulting :

Covalent and Toray Research Center collaborate to provide comprehensive consulting services and product development support, extending beyond standard analytical evaluations. By leveraging Toray Research Center’s advanced problem-solving expertise, the partnership enables customers to address complex challenges in materials research, failure analysis, and process optimization. Toray Research Center’s specialized solutions, including defect analysis, reliability assessment, and contamination identification, complement Covalent’s hands-on customer engagement. This collaboration ensures clients receive not only precise analytical data, but also strategic insights and innovative solutions tailored to product development, quality improvement, and manufacturing efficiency across various industries.

Analysis and evaluation:

Covalent partners with Toray Research Center to expand its own laboratory capabilities and provide world-class analysis and evaluation services. Thanks to this collaboration, Covalent’s customers can seamlessly benefit from Toray Research Center’s advanced laboratories for in-depth analysis using techniques that are rarer and otherwise hard to find such as NanoSIMS, RBS, SCM, TERS, SNOM, AFM-IR. Toray Research Center’s expertise in cutting-edge techniques spanning surface analysis, spectroscopy, and material characterization, allows for precise and reliable data insights. This partnership enables customers to benefit from Toray Research Center’s state-of-the-art technology while working seamlessly through Covalent, ensuring efficient sample handling and expert evaluations for a wide range of industries.