Facilities Overview
R&D Centre
At KOSSAN, Research and Development takes the leading role in meeting demands of dynamic market segments from healthcare to industrial application.
Our continuous research leads to breakthroughs in glove technology with numerous patented innovations.
Our Research and Development Centre serves as the company gateway to enable continuous transformation thorough technology and innovation.
We have established an efficient Research and Development (R&D) team that provides R&D support to our endeavor in providing innovative medical gloves that can meet the requirement of our customers. Our competent and resourceful R&D team of chemists and engineers provides reliable services for both our internal research projects and medical glove factory operations.
Their daily tasks include rubber and chemicals identification, rubber network studies, failure analysis, understanding of rubber and crosslink agents’ interaction, enhancement of production process, analysis of competitor products, compliance with regulatory requirements and compliance to environment requirements. The accumulated results from these well-planned research activities lead to innovative quality glove products that meet the ever-increasing demand of our customers.
Our R&D chemists are trained in advanced analytical techniques such as analysis using the Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer (FTIR).
Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
The scanning electron microscope (SEM) uses a focused beam of high-energy electrons to generate a variety of signals at the surface of the test sample. The signals that derive from electron-sample interactions reveal information about the sample including external morphology (texture), chemical composition, and crystalline structure and orientation of materials making up the sample.
The testing is conducted to:
- Determine elements in or on the surface of the sample for qualitative information
- Measure elemental composition for semi-quantitative results
- Identify substances and coatings
High-performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
The high performance liquid chromatograph is versatile in the identification of some of the compounding ingredients such as the accelerators used in glove manufacturing. It is particularly handy in determining the presence of residual chemicals in rubber gloves using suitable extraction procedures. We have made use of this well-established chromatographic technique to detect and quantify chemicals in parts per million (ppm) level.
Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer (FTIR)
The FTIR is a standard technique used in the identifying of chemicals and materials. FTIR can generate an infrared spectral scan of a sample that absorbs infrared light. The spectrum is obtained when a molecule transform infrared radiation into molecular vibrations which create bands in a spectrum occurring at specific wavelengths. From the spectrum, one can interpret and deduce the type of functional groups and chemical bonds present in the sample. Thus, FTIR is primarily used to provide structural information about the presence of certain functional groups in a material.
Expanding from the well-established HPLC and FTIR techniques, our trained chemists are able to provide the needed information to the factory operations. Some of the contributions include the following:
- Developing technologies in sample preparation and extraction methods for HPLC analysis
- Evaluation and quantification of residual chemicals in gloves
- Benchmarking the level of residual chemicals in gloves from the market
- Developing our patent-pending medical gloves with low dermatitis claim
- Contamination analysis and impurities screening
- Glove degradation identification
- Identification of unknown rubber and chemicals
- Evaluating the purity of raw materials and chemicals
- Developing in-house FTIR library of rubber and rubber chemicals
- Monitoring in situ chemical reactions
*FTIR spectrum indicating the presence of ionic crosslink of carboxylate acrylonitrile butadiene latex with zinc oxide.
*HPLC analysis of chemicals present in leached water.
Antigenic Protein Testing
In order to provide safe-usage of natural rubber latex medical gloves to our customers, we have continuously improved our glove dipping technology and with proper treatment of the raw materials to produce natural rubber latex gloves with low protein level. We have also expanded our testing facility to include antigenic protein measurement in addition to the total protein measurement using the modify Lowry method. The antigenic protein measurement is in compliance to ASTM D 6499 Standard Test Method for the Immunological Measurement of Antigenic Protein in Natural Rubber and its Products.
Dipping Process Simulation
Industrial robotic technology has been installed in our R & D laboratory to offer detailed simulation of the glove dipping process. Dipping process design involving a large range of parameters can now be executed in a consistent automated manner and the results can be transferred and analyzed at the factory floor.
This special facility enables new product and new process to be developed and tested in the shortest time possible.
Our other testing capabilities include:
Contact Angle Tester
Liquid Particle Counter
Zeta Potential Tester
Mastersizer