Advanced Softmaterials

Advanced Softmaterials Inc. (ASM), originally established in March 2005, operates as a materials startup commercializing technology developed at The University of Tokyo. The company's core focus is the development, manufacturing, and sale of products based on the "Slide-Ring Material" (SeRM), a polymeric material built on polyrotaxane technology. This material was invented by Professor Kohzo Ito and his team, and ASM was founded to facilitate its implementation and mass production. The firm's business model centers on supplying this base material to various industries and engaging in joint research and development with corporate partners, universities, and research institutes to create new applications.

ASM's flagship product, the SeRM series, is derived from polyrotaxane, which features a unique supramolecular structure with moving cross-linking points. This structure imparts characteristics such as high shock absorption, scratch resistance, and resilience, distinguishing it from traditional thermoset polymers that can become brittle as their strength increases. The company offers SeRM as a raw polymeric material, the "Super Polymer" series, which has improved solubility and compatibility for industrial use, and as pre-mixed solutions called "Key-Mixture" for specific applications like coatings and inks. These products are engineered for benefits like stress relaxation, flexibility, and reduced shrinkage in end-products.

The company's offerings cater to a diverse client base seeking to enhance material properties in their products. Applications are found in fields requiring advanced material performance, such as abrasives, heat dissipation sheets, and coatings for items like golf balls. Specific product lines include polyol types for coatings and adhesives, UV or thermal curable types for inks and sealants, and a specialized soft urethane foam that demonstrates excellent resilience and body pressure dispersion. In 2013, the Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) invested JPY 500 million to support ASM's growth as an academia-originated venture. The company changed its name from Advanced Softmaterials Inc. to ASM Inc. in April 2020.

Keywords: Slide-Ring Material, SeRM, polyrotaxane, advanced polymers, materials science, supramolecular chemistry, University of Tokyo spin-off, scratch resistant coatings, shock absorption, urethane foam, stress relaxation materials, high-resilience polymers, polymeric additives, adhesives, sealants, functional materials, materials development, specialty chemicals, polymer innovation