Ledger · 2026-09-01 · Polymer Chemistry / Structural Composites

High-Impact Polydicyclopentadiene (pDCPD) Resins via Frontal Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization (FROMP)

Rejected

This concept did not clear the framework. The reasoning is published in full below.

Why it failed

• opex_driven_margin

Assessment

Fails unit economics under Sub-Test D. At the incumbent selling price of $4.77/kg and unit OPEX of $1.86/kg, the gross margin is 61.0%, failing the strict 70% threshold required at price parity.

Claimed advantage

300%-400% (3-4x) improvement in ballistic energy absorption (KE50) and 50% smaller delamination area compared to structural epoxy

Named comparator: Structural Epoxy Resin

Also flagged

• Evidence rests on non-peer-reviewed sources
• Price parity asserted, not sourced

A rejection is not a claim that the science is wrong. It means the venture case did not survive: the comparator was not what the buyer actually buys, the comparison was not like-for-like, the advantage fell short of a step change, or the capital and time to first revenue were prohibitive.

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Assessed 2026-09-01 against seven gates plus the voiding sub-tests. How the method works · Browse all concepts