NOK Corporation (Headquarters: Shibadaimon, Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director, Group Chief Executive Officer: Masao Tsuru; hereinafter referred to as “NOK”) has been recognized with the 2025 Society of Polymer Science, Japan (SPSJ) Award for Outstanding Technological Development. The award honors NOK’s research achievements in reducing friction in sealing devices using concentrated polymer brushes technology. It is presented annually to up to two individuals or groups who have made significant technological contributions in the field of polymers.

Concentrated polymer brushes are a surface treatment method that creates a tightly packed and uniform molecular film, significantly reducing friction to improve performance and extend the service life of sealing devices. By leveraging the adsorption properties of molecules, the technology also offers potential benefits such as contamination prevention and enhanced durability. It is therefore regarded as a next-generation technology that broadens the design possibilities of seal products.

NOK provides seal products to a broad range of industries, including the automotive and general industrial machinery sectors, and continues to advance R&D to further enhance product performance. To accelerate the practical application of concentrated polymer brushes, NOK is participating in an industry-academia consortium led by the Institute for Chemical Research at Kyoto University, driving research and development toward social implementation. This award reflects the high level of technical recognition given to these ongoing efforts.

An article featuring further details of this research, including the mechanisms of concentrated polymer brush and its potential applications, can be found in the Technology Column section of the NOK Group corporate website.

The 2025 Society of Polymer Science, Japan (SPSJ) Award for Outstanding Technological Development

This award is conferred annually by the Society of Polymer Science, Japan (SPSJ), an academic organization with approximately 8,000 members dedicated to advancing research and exchange in polymer science and technology. Each year, the SPSJ carefully selects up to two recipients, individuals or groups, who have achieved original and outstanding results across all technological fields related to polymers, based on registered patents and academic publications.
•    Recipient: Takeya Aoki / Materials Research Section, Technology Research Department, NOK Group R&D, NOK Corporation
•    Research Theme: Reducing friction in sealing devices using concentrated polymer brushes