Technology Offers in CERAMICS - EU-Kooperationsb¼ro Bayern

Thematic Group Materials of the pan-European

Innovation Relay Centre Network

TG Materials Technology Offers and Requests 1

Partner of the

Technology Offers in CERAMICS (10 March 2006)

Regions represented in the TG Materials:

Belgium: • Brussels • Flanders* • Wallonia Cyprus: • all* Finland: • all* France: • Ile-de-France • Limousin • Nord Pas de Calais • Provence-Alpes-

Côtes d’Azur • Rhône-Alpes* Germany: • Bavaria • Hesse*

Germany (continued): • Lower Saxony • Rhineland-

Palatinate* • Saxony* • Saxony-Anhalt* • Thuringia Greece: • All Italy: • Lombardia • North West Italy* • Umbria* The Netherlands: • all Norway: • all

Poland: • South Poland* Spain: • Madrid Sweden: • Western and

Southern Sweden* Switzerland: • West Switzerland Turkey: • West Turkey* United Kingdom: • West Midlands* • Wales

* as observer




Partner of the

Introduction The Thematic Group Materials is a subgroup of the pan-European Innovation Relay Centre network and dedicated specifically to promote transnational technology transfer in the materials sector. The group members are drawn from Relay Centres throughout the regions of Europe (including new member states and associated countries like Iceland, Israel, Norway, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Rumania and Turkey) where materials research plays a major role and/or manufacturing industry is an important factor of the regional economy. The joint concern of the group members is to provide targeted assistance for technology development to companies for whom materials are crucial, thus fostering a swift utilisation of new technologies in the manufacturing industry. The Thematic Group Materials helps clients to promote their own technologies and services, as well as assist them in finding the technologies to match their needs. The CERAMITEC 2006 is Europe’s most important international trade fair for Machinery, Equipment, Plant, Processes and Raw Materials for Ceramics and Powder Metallurgy, taking place every 3rd year in Munich, Germany. The TG Materials takes this opportunity to especially promote the technology transfer in the field of ceramics as an official partner of the CERAMITEC 2006. The following pages comprise a selection of ceramics related Technology Offers of the TG Materials and of other Innovation Relay Centres, that might be of interest for the clientele of the CERAMITEC 2006. The TG Materials will be glad to bring visitors and exhibitors of the CERAMITEC interested in any of these technologies in contact with the other party, preferably in form of a bilateral meeting at the CERAMITEC 2006 fair in an especially reserved meeting room on the 16th of March 2006. Please use the attached Expression of Interest Form to let us know your meeting requests. Dr Uwe Schüssler IRC Bavaria Chairman TG Materials




Technology Offers of the Thematic Group Materials

Belgium:

Processing of porous ceramic components .................................6

France: Ceramics balls production process .............................................9

Germany: Induction high-temperature processing of non-metallic/ceramic materials ..................................................................................12

Greece:

New method for the production of NZP ceramic bodies ............15

Special Ceramic Products .........................................................18

Superconducting Ceramic powders...........................................21

Thermal spraying of advanced nano-phased materials.............24

Nano-particle ceramic powder and nano-structured coating production using the sol-gel technology...................................27

Utilisation of industrial by-products and industrial wastes for manufacturing of new ceramic products...................................30

Development of Ceramic Membranes........................................34




Italy: New processes for shaping and densification of technical ceramics ...................................................................................37

Ceramic materials sensors for monitoring oxygen partial pressure (e.g. in Kilns) .............................................................40

Inertisation of heavy metals into ceramic materials.................43

Sweden: Freeze Granulation - Homogeneous Granules of Ceramic, Nano or Diamond Powders ................................................................46

The Netherlands:

Method to produce a durable ceramic material with an extreme low friction ...............................................................................49

Synthesis of ceramic coatings using Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) .......................................................................................52




Additional Technology Offers of other Innovation Relay Centres

Automatic control of the bulk density of a ceramic body made by pressing (Spain).......................................................................55

Highly durable fibre-reinforced ceramics for mechanical and chemical engineering applications (Germany)..........................59

Rapid Prototyping of low-temperature co-fired ceramics (LTCC) multilayer modules for electronics applications (Germany).....62

Spray pyrolysis for preparation of high-quality ceramic powders (Norway)..................................................................................65

Sludge Valorisation in ceramic materials (France) ...................68

Innovative hydrogen-based oven for ceramic cooking (Italy) ..71




Technology Offer

Processing of porous ceramic components

Reference: 04 BE FLIW 0AVE

Country: Belgium

Entry Date: Mon, September 06, 2004

Last Update: Thu, April 14, 2005

Deadline:

Abstract:

A Belgian research institute has developed and optimised a technology for the production of porous and technical ceramics. The process is environmentally friendly and the ceramic components have an increased mechanical strength. Potential partner companies may be interested in the industrialisation of the process.

Description:

The Research Institute develops and optimizes porous and technical ceramics for application in the fields of environment, catalysis and filtration. Considered products are a.o. porous ceramic supports for micro- and ultrafiltration, ceramic (hot) gas filters, dust filters, catalyst carriers and porous ceramics for filtration of molten metals. The research institutes ceramic materials group has developed a technology for the fabrication of porous ceramics/ceramic foams by the PolyUrethane (PU-) replica technique. The technology uses the combination of water-based reaction bonding (RB-) technology and the PU-replica technique. This results in a process with the following features: - the technology allows to use several materials like RB-alumina and RB-mullite, - excellent control of the cell size - an environmentally friendly (water-based) fabrication technique with non-toxic binder system This leads to: - ceramic foams of high purity materials like alumina and mullite - ceramic foams with well controlled cell sizes ranging from 100µm to 5mm (25 to 5 ppi (pores per inch)): the cell size can be adjusted to the real needs of the application - ceramic foams with high mechanical strength: the mechanical strength is a multiple of the (non-RB-) foams, e.g. 5 MPa for an RB- aluminium oxide-foam of 20%TD. - products that cover a wide range of dimensions (mm to meters) Innovative Aspects: - Use of natural binders: environmental friendly, non-toxic and safe technology with regard to gelcasting with carcinogenic chemicals - Combination of PU-replica technique and reaction-bonding leads to porous ceramic components with increased mechanical strength that is a multiple of conventionally processed porous ceramics Main Advantages: The technology is considered a sustainable technology in the long term. The fabrication technique is environmentally friendly (is water-based and a non-toxic binder system, in contrast to existing technology that uses toxic and carcinogenic binders).




A further advantage of this technology is its low cost due to economic consumption of materials. In addition, the technology can provide in products for several markets

Technology Keywords: • Ceramic Materials and Powders

Current Stage of Development: Development phase - Laboratory tested

Exploitation of RTD Results: PRIVATE RESEARCH

Intellectual Property Rights: Patent(s) applied for but not yet granted

Comments Current Stage of Development: Development phase - Laboratory tested prototypes are available Intellectual Property Rights: Patent(s) applied for but not yet granted patent currently pending for all European countries and USA Exploitation of RTD Results: PRIVATE RESEARCH national funded projects and FP projects

Organisation/Company Type: Research institute/University

Organisation/Company Size: 250-500

Brief Market Application Codes: Comments




Detailed Market Application Codes (VEIC):

Keywords

• Other medical/health related (not elsewhere classified)

• Automobile parts • Ceramics • Air filters and air purification and monitoring

equipment • Chemical and solid material recycling

Highlights Ceramic foams can be used for filtration of liquid metals, as gas filters, as catalyst carriers and as scaffolds to replace human bone.

Collaboration Type: • Technical Co-operation • License agreement

Comments - preference for industrial partner, both SME and large company - Partner is expected to be active in the field of processing of ceramics on an (semi-) industrial scale or to be an important user who can collaborate in further industrialisation - license agreement : exploitation of the technology - technical cooperation : scaling-up and industrialization of the technology, development and adoption of further applications

Preferred Countries for diffusion: ALL

Associated Thematic Group:

Responsible IRC Partner:

Organization: Instituut voor de Aanmoediging van Innovatie door Wetenschap en Technologie in Vlaanderen

Contact Name: Parent

Contact First name: Magali




Technology Offer

Ceramics balls production process

Reference: 05 FR SOAL 0D30

Country: France

Entry Date: Wed, September 07, 2005

Last Update:

Deadline: Mon, July 31, 2006

Abstract:

A French company has developed a new process for producing glass or ceramics balls at lower prices. In this process, glass or ceramics wastes can be used as raw products. They are looking for industrial companies to run this process under license.

Description:

Due to their high resistance, ceramic or glass balls are used in industrial processes: as grinding or abrasive media, oil drilling material (proppant products pumped into the fractures for expanding them), filtration or catalyst materials for the petrochemical plants for example. Today these balls are produced in several stages, including the shaping of powder followed by thermal treatment. Expensive equipments are required for this process. The new process starts with crushing of bulky raw material to a size similar to that of the balls. The originality of this process comes from the choice of the machines used to get the crushed material spherical. This process can be used even with the hardest materials. Innovative Aspects: In this process the balls do not undergo a thermal treatment. This process uses in a new way cheap machines that have been designed and used, until now for other applications. Main Advantages: The absence of thermal treatment leads to lower consumption of energy; the production equipments are cheaper and there are fewer stages in the process. Thus the production cost of the pebbles is lower. Furthermore, this process allows the recycling of the wastes from the ceramics industry. The ceramics pebbles undergoing thermal treatment are subject to shrinkage due to the sintering. This shrinkage increases the porosity of the ball at its periphery. This leads to lower hardness of surface of the balls obtained by the classical process when compared with the hardness of the ball obtained through crushing of a bulky material. An investment worth 100 000 euros would allow the production 3 metric tons of pebbles per day.

Technology Keywords: • Machining (turning, drilling, moulding, milling, planning, cutting)

• Ceramic Materials and Powders

Current Stage of Development: Available for demonstration - field tested

Exploitation of RTD Results: None




Intellectual Property Rights: Secret know-how

Comments Current Stage of Development: Available for demonstration - field tested The balls have been produced at an industrial scale. A production of 10 metric tons has been made. Samples are available under request. Intellectual Property Rights: Secret know-how

Organisation/Company Type: Industry

Organisation/Company Size: <10



Keywords

• Ceramics • Machine tools, other metal working equipment

(excluding numeric control) • Other industrial process machinery for textile,

paper and other industries • Other industrial equipment and machinery

Highlights grinding and abrasive media; oil-drilling material (proppant products pumped into the fractures for expanding them); filtration or catalyst materials for petrochemical plants

Collaboration Type: • Joint venture agreement • License agreement • Financial resources

Comments - Type of partner sought: industrial company - Specific area of activity of the partner: * Either a ceramic or glass balls producer * Other industries that may be interested are companies using large amounts of pebbles, and companies producing large amounts of ceramics or glass wastes - Task to be performed: * Balls producer: production and marketing of the balls under license of this know-how * Company using large amounts of balls: either production of the balls under license for its own use or purchase of the pebbles to a factory that would be set up * Producer of ceramics or glass wastes: production and marketing




of the balls under license of this know-how


Associated Thematic Group: • MATERIALS


Organization: Oseo anvar - Limousin

Contact Name: Rigaud

Contact First name: Jean-Marie




Technology Offer

Induction high-temperature processing of

non-metallic/ceramic materials

Reference: 06 DE NSUH 0E1R

Country: Germany

Entry Date: Wed, January 18, 2006

Last Update:

Deadline: Tue, January 09, 2007

Abstract:

A German institute has developed an innovative induction skull melting technology that provides a wide range of processes like synthesis of high-purity materials, single crystal growing and melting of non-metallic materials like glasses and ceramics. This unique technique allows to melt low-conductive materials by high-frequency electromagnetic fields and to overheat the melt on 500K above the melting point with an extremely low pollution. Partners for technical co-operation are sought.

Description:

Induction skull melting technology (ISMT) is a unique process based on contactless transfer of energy to the melted material by high-frequency electromagnetic fields of high intensity. In contrast to conventional induction melting technologies, ISMT is also oriented to melt materials, which are not electrically conductive in solid phase. Because of a strong cooling of the crucible, a thin layer of the material remains solid at the wall of the crucible and protects the melt against pollution. This effect makes it also possible to overheat the melt up to 3000 °C and higher, without destroying the crucible. In addition to melt materials or combinations of materials and afterwards casting or growing crystals, it is also cogitable to use this technology as a hot chemical reactor for two or more components. The application fields are chemical synthesis, single crystal growing and melting materials at 3000 °C. As materials nearly all kinds of glasses, aluminium, magnesium, zirconium oxide, carbide and silicates can be used. In principal two different types of crucibles are known and used: a so called “cold crucible” and an “inductor-crucible”. Examples for applications are the production of monocrystals (especially zirconia crystals are used for jewellery, laser crystals and abrasives), high-purity glasses for optical applications and cleaning of materials (e.g. purification of an oxide from metals). Innovative Aspects: The described contactless melting method makes it possible to melt and process materials with low pollution, which prevailing technologies like electric arc furnace cannot offer. Also with conventional melting technologies it is not possible to overheat especially oxides up to 3000°C.




Main Advantages: - No expendable items are needed like for example in arc furnaces. - Only electrical power and water are necessary. - The technology offers a high electrical efficiency; especially the inductor-crucible has efficiency up to 98 %.

Technology Keywords: • Materials Technology • Ceramic Materials and Powders • Glass • Optical Materials • Process Plant Engineering


Exploitation of RTD Results: NATIONAL PROG.


Comments Current Stage of Development: Development phase - Laboratory tested Intellectual Property Rights: Secret know-how Exploitation of RTD Results: NATIONAL PROG.





Keywords




• Chemicals and Materials • Speciality/performance materials: producers and

fabricators • Ceramics • Other speciality materials

Highlights Production of materials of a high quality standard with an outstanding economic efficiency is possible. Possible application fields are the production of monocrystals, high-purity glasses for optical applications and cleaning of materials.

Collaboration Type: • Technical Co-operation • Joint Venture Agreement

Comments - Type of partner sought: industry, research organisation - Specific area of activity of the partner: manufacturer of the described materials (e.g. glasses, different kinds of ceramics) - Task to be performed: production of the described materials, manufacturing of equipment, joint development of new applications, etc.




Organization: Universität Hannover

Contact Name: Bruhne

Contact First name: Annelies




Technology Offer

New method for the production of NZP ceramic bodies

Reference: 06 GR IHCR 0EGH

Country: Greece

Entry Date: Tue, February 28, 2006

Last Update:

Deadline: Fri, February 23, 2007

Abstract:

A Greek technological development company has developed a new method for the production of NZP ceramic bodies having high porosity and high mechanical strength. The company now seeks partners for technical co-operation, license or those interested in purchasing the know-how.

Description:

A Greek technological development company has developed a new method for the production of NZP ceramic bodies. These structures exhibit high porosity and high flexural strength without using sintering agents and pore formers. Specifically, this invention refers to the production of NZP-type structures with a new method, using ammonium hydrogen phosphate as a source of phosphorus. The new method comprises of two steps whereby the raw materials react to form a NZP precursor powder in the first step. The precursor powder is then shaped and fired, forming the final NZP structure. This method results to the formation of an NZP structure that combines a melting point of at least 1700 degrees Celsius (oC), with a thermal expansion coefficient between 1 x 10-6 oC-1 and 1 .5 x 10-6 oC-1, with an open porosity of at least 20% and with flexural strength of at least 1500 psi without the use of any sintering agent or pore former. Innovative Aspects: The NZP ceramic material can be adjusted to the demands of a specific high-temperature application by tailoring its thermal and mechanical properties. Main Advantages: The NZP compounds have lately been receiving attention for their potential use in high anti-thermal shock applications, the automobile industry, space and telescope technology, etc. These NZP structures are suitable for many applications such as high temperature filtration applications (as in diesel soot filtration). Also, they can be used as catalyst supports, fast ionic conductors, hosts for immobilising radioactive waste etc…

Technology Keywords: • Materials Technology • Ceramic Materials and Powders







Comments Current Stage of Development: Development phase - Laboratory tested Intellectual Property Rights: Patent(s) applied for but not yet granted Patent Application No: 20050100137 (Greece) Exploitation of RTD Results: PRIVATE RESEARCH

Organisation/Company Type: Technical Centre/Technology transfer Centre




Keywords

• Chemicals and Materials • Speciality/performance materials: producers and

fabricators • Ceramics

Highlights The materials can be used in different applications where a low or zero thermal expansion coefficient is necessary or in applications where high thermal shock resistance is necessary.

Collaboration Type: • Technical Co-operation • License Agreement

Comments - Type of partner sought: industry or research centres - Specific area of activity of the partner: Anti-thermal shock applications - Task to be performed: The tasks expected from the partners that relate to Technical Co-operation are joint further development and adaptation of the technology to specific requirements.







Organization: Ceramics and Refractories Technological Development Company - CERECO S.A.

Contact Name: Kanatsoulis

Contact First name: Nikos




Technology Offer

Special Ceramic Products

Reference: 04 GR IHCR 0BCN

Country: Greece

Entry Date: Mon, December 06, 2004

Last Update: Fri, February 17, 2006


Abstract:

A Greek technological development company has developed and studied a whole family of special ceramic products such as porous ceramics, ceramic powders and custom-made ceramics. The company now seeks partners for technical co-operation, for license, or those interested in purchasing the know-how.

Description:

A Greek technological development company has developed and studied a whole family of special ceramic products. POROUS CERAMICS 1. Porous Structure Technology The materials used are: Alumina, Zirconia, Cordierite, Tialite, Tialite-mullite, NZP (Sodium Zircon Phosphate) Catalytic converters · Manufacture of monolithic ceramic substrate (honeycombs) · Synthesis & impregnation of wash-coat on the ceramic substrate · Improved catalysts using selected nanophase materials Ceramic filters · Diesel soot filters · Candle filter elements for hot gas filtration · Ceramic foam filters 2. Ceramic Membrane Technology for micro-filtration, ultra-filtration and nano-filtration. The materials used are: gamma-Alumina, Ceria, Silica, Zirconia, Titania, Perovskites SPECIAL CERAMICS Materials: Alumina, Zirconia, Tialite, Tialite-mullite, NZP (Sodium Zircon Phosphate) Yttrium Boron Copper Oxides, Bismuth Sulphur Copper Oxides, Perovskites · High-purity ceramic powders of custom designed composition · Thermal spray powders & coatings · Ceramic components available in many sizes and shapes · Custom-designed geometries · Ceramic tubes, rods, discs · Ceramic crucibles and boats · Ceramic nozzles, components of extrusion dies · Ceramic targets for sputtering




CUSTOM-MADE CERAMIC PRODUCTS The company can provide assistance for special ceramic requirements. The capabilities for custom-designed powders and components are extensive and include the following processes: - Synthesis of Raw Materials: solid-state reactions, wet chemistry methods (sol-gel co-precipitation), particle size reduction, mixing, homogenisation-agglomeration (spray drying, coat-mix). - Raw Materials Evaluation: chemical and mineral composition, particle size distribution, specific surface area. - Shaping: uniaxial pressing, cold isostatic pressing, slip casting, tape casting, gel casting, extrusion, injection moulding, pelletising, and briqueting. - Sintering: pressure-less sintering in oxidizing and controlled atmosphere furnaces (800° - 2600°C) - Ceramic Coatings: thermal plasma spraying (atmospheric plasma spraying, vacuum plasma spraying, high-velocity oxygen fuel). Innovative Aspects: Ceramic materials of custom-designed composition with tailor-made thermal and mechanical properties, which can be adjusted to the demands of a specific high-temperature application. Main Advantages: - Tailor-made porous structures - Optimised membrane systems (graded structures) - Custom-designed composition - High-purity ceramic powders of custom-designed composition - Ceramic components available in many sizes and shapes



Exploitation of RTD Results: EU RTD results (FP4/FP5)


Comments Current Stage of Development: Available for demonstration Intellectual Property Rights: Secret know-how Exploitation of RTD Results: EU RTD results (FP4/FP5) BRITE-EURAM, GROWTH








Keywords

• Chemicals and Materials • Membranes and membrane-based products • Speciality/performance materials: producers and

fabricators • Ceramics • Other pollution and recycling related

Highlights The materials can be used in different applications.

Collaboration Type: • Technical Co-operation • License Agreement • Financial Resources

Comments - Type of partner sought: industry or research centres - Specific area of activity of the partner: Filtration technolgogy, membrane technology, thermal spray coatings - Task to be performed: The tasks expected from the partners with regard to Technical Co-operation are: - joint further development - adaptation of the technology to specific requirements.










Technology Offer

Superconducting Ceramic powders

Reference: 04 GR IHCR 0BC6

Country: Greece

Entry Date: Mon, December 06, 2004

Last Update: Fri, February 17, 2006


Abstract:

A Greek technological development company has set up an innovative technology for developing superconducting powders. The company produces high-performance superconducting materials that can be used as sputtering targets and laser ablation sources for research and commercial applications of superconductors. The company now seeks partners for technical co-operation, or for licensing, or those interested in purchasing the know-how.

Description:

A Greek company has developed superconducting YBCO (Yttrium Barium Copper Oxide) powders, bulk targets and thick coatings. In the field of powders, two processes are used for manufacturing high-Tc (Critical Temperature) YBCO Ceramic Powders: the conventional solid-state reaction and a spray-drying technique. The powders can be made in arrangements of particle sizes to best fit each application. In the field of bulk materials, the company has developed superconducting YBCO ceramic targets for use in sputtering and laser ablation systems in various dimensions. Bulk flat circular targets up to 10-cm diameter have been manufactured as well as rods and cylinders. Using the plasma-spraying technique, the company has developed industrial-sized rotatable cylindrical high-power YBCO - thick coatings on stainless steel substrate - and has acquired the know-how for developing thick coatings on various substrates and geometries. Innovative Aspects: Development of superconducting YBCO Ceramic powders for use in sputtering and laser ablation systems. Main Advantages: The superconducting powders can be adjusted to meet the special product needs of various applications.








Comments Current Stage of Development: Available for demonstration Intellectual Property Rights: Secret know-how Exploitation of RTD Results: EU RTD results (FP4/FP5) FP4, BRITE EURAM II, "MUST"





Keywords

• Chemicals and Materials • Ceramics

Highlights The company continues the development in order to meet the product needs of various applications and is looking for customers from R&D as well as Industry to offer its special powders.

Collaboration Type: • Technical Co-operation • License Agreement • Financial Resources

Comments - Type of partner sought: industry or research centres - Specific area of activity of the partner: High-tech materials production, using sputtering and laser ablation systems. - Task to be performed: The tasks expected from the partners with regard to Technical Co-operation are: - joint further development - adaptation of the technology to specific requirements.








IRC Name: IRC Hellenic






Technology Offer

Thermal spraying of advanced nano-phased materials

Reference: 05 GR IHCR 0D8N

Country: Greece

Entry Date: Thu, September 22, 2005

Last Update:

Deadline: Fri, September 15, 2006

Abstract:

A Greek company has developed a technology for thermal spraying of nano-phased materials (grain sizes less than 100 nm), by adapting to each other both the powder materials and the spraying technology. The company now seeks partners for technical co-operation, license or interest in purchasing the know-how.

Description:

Development of the technology of thermal spraying of nano-phased materials (grain sizes less than 100 nm), by adapting to each other both the powder materials and the spraying technology. Coatings are specifically designed for the protection of industrial components operating under severe and extreme wear and/or corrosion conditions. The nano-structured coatings are developed with the aim to be applied to selected industrial components. The proposed process in principle can provide coatings of a wide variety of materials (metallic, ceramic, cermets etc) in nano-structured form. It has to be noted that each material presents its own particularities and its transformation to nano-structured, as well as its thermal spraying, has to be investigated. Up to now the following materials have been deposited as nano-structured coatings: ceramic (aluminium oxides), metallic (iron, copper, aluminium, chrome), carbides (tungsten carbide), as well as many combinations of these materials. Industrial scaling-up of these coatings has also been performed already. In general, scaling up is a rather easy procedure, since thermal spraying is a well-established technology. Innovative Aspects: • Optimised deposition strategies lead to nano-phased coatings (grain size < 100 nm) • Fully engineered powders allowed to get the best performances • Abrasive wear and sliding wear are dramatically improved in nano-based coatings versus the best "conventional" benchmark. Main Advantages: The specific thermal spraying technology is suitable for a wide variety of engineering applications.

Technology Keywords: • Coatings • Materials Technology • Ceramic Materials and Powders




• Properties of Materials, Corrosion/Degradation




Comments Current Stage of Development: Development phase - Laboratory tested Intellectual Property Rights: Secret know-how Exploitation of RTD Results: None

Organisation/Company Type:




Keywords

• Chemicals and Materials • Coatings and adhesives manufactures • Speciality/performance materials: producers and


Collaboration Type: • Technical Co-operation • Commercial Agreement with Technical Assistance • Financial Resources

Comments - Type of partner sought: Industrial partners for development of new applications for wear and corrosion protection or for enhancing specific surface properties - Specific area of activity of the partner: Industrial end-user from any industrial sector - Task to be performed: The tasks expected from the partners that relate to technical co-operation are joint further development of the technology.




In case of commercial agreement with technical assistance the company can provide technical consultancy and technical training.










Technology Offer

Nano-particle ceramic powder and nano-structured coating

production using the sol-gel technology

Reference: 05 GR IHCR 0D8M

Country: Greece

Entry Date: Thu, September 22, 2005

Last Update:

Deadline: Fri, September 15, 2006

Abstract:

A Greek company has developed and studied a nano-particle ceramic powder and nano-structured coating production using sol-gel technology. The company now seeks partners for technical co-operation, license or interest in purchasing the know-how.

Description:

The design of advanced ceramics depends on the availability of powders with outstanding properties in terms of composition, purity, size, and size distribution. Sol-gel processes allow synthesis powders to have a more elaborate structure. Preparation of nano-sized oxide powders by sol-gel method represents, for the time being, an important goal for the scientists working in the field. Many attempts to obtain individual and multi-component oxide powders in several systems were achieved. The sol-gel process is based on the hydrolysis and condensation of molecular precursors such as metal alkoxides or salts in aqueous solutions. Precursors are mixed at the molecular level and single-oxides or multi-component materials may be formed at much lower temperatures than is possible by traditional methods of preparation. The hydrolysis and condensation of precursors leads to the formation of an oxide network. The thermal treatment of these networks is the last step of the method and leads to the final product, which can be powder, monolith, film or fibres. Innovative Aspects: Through the sol-gel process, homogeneous inorganic oxide materials with desirable properties of hardness, optical transparency, chemical durability, tailored porosity, and thermal resistance, can be produced at room temperatures, as opposed to the much higher melting temperatures required in production of conventional inorganic glasses. Main Advantages: Many specific applications include optics, protective and porous films, optical coatings, window insulators, dielectric and electronic coatings, high-temperature superconductors, reinforcement fibres, fillers, and catalysts.

Technology Keywords: • Industrial Manufacture • Coatings • Materials Technology




• Ceramic Materials and Powders • Properties of Materials, Corrosion/Degradation




Comments Current Stage of Development: Development phase - Laboratory tested Intellectual Property Rights: Secret know-how Exploitation of RTD Results: None





Keywords

• Chemicals and Materials • Coatings and adhesives manufactures • Speciality/performance materials: producers and

fabricators • Industrial chemicals

Collaboration Type: • Technical Co-operation • Commercial Agreement with Technical Assistance • Financial Resources

Comments - Type of partner sought: Industrial partners for development of new applications for wear and corrosion protection or for enhancing specific surface properties - Specific area of activity of the partner: Industrial end-user from any industrial sector - Task to be performed: The tasks expected from the partners that relate to technical co-operation are joint further development of the technology.




In case of commercial agreement with technical assistance the company can provide technical consultancy and technical training.




IRC Name: IRC Hellenic






Technology Offer

Utilisation of industrial by-products and industrial wastes for

manufacturing of new ceramic products

Reference: 05 GR IHCR 0C39

Country: Greece

Entry Date: Wed, March 23, 2005

Last Update:

Deadline: Sat, March 11, 2006

Abstract:

A Greek technological development company has developed a series of innovative solutions for utilisation of industrial by-products and industrial wastes for manufacturing of new ceramic products. The company now seeks partners for technical co-operation, license, or interested in purchasing the know-how.

Description:

For a Greek company, protection of the environment is a subject of major importance. Modern technology can be utilised to provide solutions for severe environmental problems. The company maintains considerable activity on this subject aiming towards the following research directions. - Ceramic filters development for applications in hot gas or liquid filtration - Utilisation of industrial by-products and industrial wastes for manufacturing of new ceramic products More specifically: • The company is experienced in production of ceramics with controlled porosity (ceramic filters, cell structures). In collaboration with industrial partners it has produced ceramic monoliths suitable as substrates in automobile catalytic converters. • Considerable activity in the area of ceramic membranes also exists. The conditions for good adhesion of the membranes to the ceramic substrates are studied and special techniques are developed (powder technology, sol-gel techniques) for production of membranes with specific porous structure depending on the application. • Important experience has been acquired regarding management and utilisation of solid industrial wastes including metallurgical slag, by-products of mining or dressing operations, flying ash from coal incineration, solid residues from water purification, etc. In all these cases the possibility of successful wastes utilisation and the production of materials with improved properties and low cost are studied. Innovative Aspects: The company has a good experience with solid waste utilisation: • Large variety of solid waste • Several practical applications Main Advantages: Development of new products: • Structural ceramics (bricks, roofing tiles) • Cement (Portland, refractory) • Refractory (shaped, unshaped)




Technology Keywords: • Materials Technology • Building materials • Ceramic Materials and Powders • Environmental Engineering / Technology • Recycling, Recovery




Comments Current Stage of Development: Development phase - Laboratory tested Intellectual Property Rights: Secret know-how Exploitation of RTD Results: PRIVATE RESEARCH





Keywords

• Chemicals and Materials • Membranes and membrane-based products • Ceramics




• Industrial Equipment and Machinery • Chemical and solid material recycling

Highlights The company is looking for customers from R&D as well as industry to offer its special services related to utilisation of industrial by-products and industrial wastes for manufacturing of new ceramic products.

Collaboration Type: • Technical Co-operation • License agreement • Financial resources

Comments - Type of partner sought: industry or research centres - Specific area of activity of the partner: Building materials manufacturers, metallurgical slag producers - Task to be performed: The tasks expected from the partners that relate to Technical Co-operation are joint further development and adaptation of the technology to specific requirements.

Preferred Countries for diffusion: • Austria • Belgium • Bulgaria • Chile • Cyprus • Czech_Republic • Denmark • Estonia • Finland • France • Germany • Greece • Hungary • Iceland • Ireland • Israel • Italy • Latvia • Lithuania • Luxembourg • Malta • Netherlands • Poland • Portugal • Romania • Slovakia • Slovenia • Spain




• Sweden • Switzerland • Turkey • United_kingdom









Technology Offer

Development of Ceramic Membranes

Reference: 05 GR IHCR 0C2G

Country: Greece

Entry Date: Mon, March 14, 2005

Last Update:

Deadline: Thu, March 09, 2006

Abstract:

A Greek technological development company has developed a technology for production of supported asymmetric ceramic membranes consisting of several layers with tailored-made pore sizes. Such asymmetric membranes can be used in separation processes of the petrochemical or the food & beverages industry. The company now seeks partners for technical co-operation, license or interested in purchasing the know-how.

Description:

A Greek technological development company has developed a technology for production of supported asymmetric ceramic membranes consisting of several layers with tailored-made pore sizes. The company has long experience in developing such membranes. The alumina-made membrane supports can be of flat or hollow tubular geometry and can have pore sizes from several micrometers up to 100 nm. On top of the substrate, membranes of different compositions (Al2O3, ZrO2, TiO2 or SiO2) can be deposited with pore sizes in the nanometre scale. Such asymmetric membranes can be used in separation processes of the petrochemical or the food & beverages industry. A few examples of such processes are: - Dehydration of organic solvents - Separation of aromatics from hydrocarbon mixtures - Separation of milk in fractions of proteins, lipid, casein and lactose - Clearness of beer or wine - Concentration of tomato or fruit juices For specific processes, the company can provide research services for materials optimisation in membranes. Innovative Aspects: - Ceramic membranes with tailored-made pore sizes up to nanometre scale can be used in different industrial separation processes. - Optimisation of membrane adhesion on the porous substrate (graded structures) Main Advantages: In comparison with other types of membranes, ceramic membranes can withstand high temperatures, high pressures, thermal or pressure shocks and have a high chemical stability over a range of acids, bases or organic solvents. Moreover, ceramic membranes can be easily regenerated thermally if there is an organic residue on the membrane.

Technology Keywords: • Industrial Manufacture • Materials Technology




• Ceramic Materials and Powders • Chemical Technology and Engineering • Environmental Engineering / Technology




Comments Current Stage of Development: Development phase - Laboratory tested Intellectual Property Rights: Secret know-how Exploitation of RTD Results: EU RTD results (FP4/FP5) BRITE EURAM II, GROWTH





Keywords

• Chemicals and Materials • Membranes and membrane-based products • Speciality/performance materials: producers and


Highlights The company continues the development in order to meet the product needs of various applications and is looking for customers from R&D as well as industry (petrochemical, food, biotechnology, environment) to offer its special membranes.

Collaboration Type: • Technical Co-operation • License agreement • Financial resources

Comments - Type of partner sought: industry, reserach institute - Specific area of activity of the partner: materials, chemical, biotechnology, environmental protection and




food-agro industries, and research centres. - Task to be performed: The tasks expected from the partners that relate to Technical Co-operation are joint further development and adaptation of the technology to specific requirements.










Technology Offer

New processes for shaping and densification of

technical ceramics

Reference: 06 IT LOAS 0E9Z

Country: Italy

Entry Date: Mon, March 06, 2006

Last Update:


Abstract:

A small Italian company developed a new technology for producing technical ceramics by a new shaping and densification process that involves the use of thermohardening resins and the infiltration with melted metals. The main advantage of this technology is the possibility to produce large pieces of ceramic materials at low cost and without any defect. The company is looking for partners operating in the field of ceramics interested in producing under a license or manifacturig agreement.

Description:

Technical ceramics offer considerable opportunities of applications in all areas where the actual features of ceramic materials are essential, such as wear resistance, mechanical resistance at high temperatures, chemical stability or combination of these properties. The main limits of the present products and production processes are: the cost of raw materials and production process and the defects of the products obtained by traditional shaping methods (i.e. custing), that are difficult to be extended to technical ceramics. These limitations grow in exponential manner as the dimensions of the samples increase. As a result, the accomplishment of pieces of large dimensions is almost impossible. The new process is based on two fundamental pillars that allow scalability and versatility in the fabrication of articles with complex and large sizes that are: the shaping by means of hot-pressing ceramic powders mixed with thermohardening resins and the carbonization of the hot-pressed preformed pieces with subsequent densification by infiltration of melted metals. Innovative Aspects: The innovative aspects of the technology relates primarily to the use of thermohardening resins that guarantees the preservation of the shapes during the successive thermal treatments, giving back the possibility to achieve tight geometrical tolerances; secondly, the densification by means of infiltration with melted metals allows to obtain dense pieces without proceeding to high temperature sintering. Main Advantages: The new technology requires low pressures for shaping the ceramic samples and therefore permits to form pieces of large dimensions using relatively small machines.Moreover it enables to make very complex shapes and in great series by means of the “injection moulding” technology.

Technology Keywords: • Forming (rolling, forging, pressing, drawing)




• Moulding, injection moulding, extrusion, sintering • Ceramic Materials and Powders









Keywords

• Homogeneous injections/extrusions • Non-homogeneous injections/extrusions • Ceramics • Other speciality materials

Highlights The company focuses on producing technical ceramics components for civil and industrial applications as bulletproof plates, crucibles, seals.

Collaboration Type: • License Agreement • Commercial Agreement with Technical Assistance • Manufacturing Agreement (Subcontracting & Co-

contracting)

Comments - Type of partner sought: industry - Specific area of activity of the partner: Industrial partners already operating in the area of technical ceramics components with a well assessed presence on the market. - Task to be performed:




Application of the innovative process for the production of technical ceramics




Organization: Federazione delle Associazioni Scientifiche e Tecniche

Contact Name: Pulvirenti

Contact First name: Angela




Technology Offer

Ceramic materials sensors for monitoring oxygen

partial pressure (e.g. in Kilns)

Reference: 06 IT LOAS 0E8O

Country: Italy

Entry Date: Wed, February 15, 2006

Last Update:

Deadline: Wed, January 31, 2007

Abstract:

A small Italian company developed a new kind of sensor, based on ceramic materials, for determination of oxygen partial pressure in industrial environment (steelworks, kilns). Oxygen partial pressure monitoring is made possible by the colour change of the ceramic sensor. These innovative sensors must be intended as a low-cost, disposable tool for process monitoring. The company is looking for partners interested in a license or joint venture agreement.

Description:

Oxygen detection in gaseous mixtures, usually at high temperature, is very important in the area of gas sensing. Many industrial processes are heavily biased by the solid-gas interaction and several different types of oxygen sensors have been developed for this kind of application. Nowadays, the most diffused pO2 sensors involve the measurement of an electromotive force. An Italian company developed a new type of oxygen partial pressure sensor based on a compacted ceramic material that, when heated in oxygen containing atmosphere, produces through a reactive sintering process a transformation of the ceramic material, recognised and identified simply by its colour. The correlation between the pO2 and the colour has been pre-investigated and indexed for a wide range of temperatures and pO2 values. On the base of these correlations the characteristic chromatic variations of the sintered ceramic can be immediately evaluated and connected with the pO2 value. These sensors are mainly intended for industrial process monitoring (kilns) in the fields of production of technical ceramics, traditional ceramics as porcelains, refractory ceramics. Innovative Aspects: No similar industrial products or descriptions of devices can be found in the scientific literature whereby the reactions between solids and gas containing oxygen induce changes in their phase compositions and produce chromatic variations, which are utilised to measure the oxygen partial pressure. Main Advantages: The main advantages of the this type of sensors are low cost, independence from any electric measurement system, and independence from reference samples or systems commonly adopted by conventional sensors. Moreover, the use of these ceramic sensors presents the notable advantage of making possible a space mapping of pO2 variation in industrial environments or processes, where oxygen-containing gases are employed and/or emitted, for example, in kilns for firing and sintering ceramic materials or in combustion process. The sensors can be positioned inside the atmosphere that is to be monitored in different ways, since




they can be moulded in different shapes and sizes according to specific requirements.

Technology Keywords: • Sensory/Multisensory Technology, Instrumentation related to construction technology

• Analyses / Test Facilities and Methods • Sensor Technology related to measurements




Comments Current Stage of Development: Development phase - Laboratory tested Intellectual Property Rights: Patent(s) applied for but not yet granted Exploitation of RTD Results: PRIVATE RESEARCH





Keywords

• Ceramics • Other speciality materials • Other industrial equipment and machinery

Highlights The company focuses on producing ceramics components for civil and industrial applications

Collaboration Type: • Joint Venture Agreement • License Agreement • Commercial Agreement with Technical Assistance

Comments - Type of partner sought: Industry - Specific area of activity of the partner: Industrial partners already operating in the area of sensors for industrial process monitoring - Task to be performed: The company is looking for partners to sign commercial




agreement with technical assitance, joint venture agreement or license agreement. Support in refining the described technology according to customer’s needs and technical assistance could also be provided.










Technology Offer

Inertisation of heavy metals into ceramic materials

Reference: 06 IT LOAS 0E8H

Country: Italy

Entry Date: Thu, February 23, 2006

Last Update:

Deadline: Wed, January 31, 2007

Abstract:

A small Italian company developed a new technological process for inertisation of heavy metals present in industrial wastes. The process is based on the insertion of metal elements into a definite crystal site of minerals. The main advantage of this technology is complete stabilisation of the contaminants and the possibility to reuse the minerals as raw materials for further industrial processes. The company is looking for partners interested in a license agreement.

Description:

Extremely toxic sledges, containing heavy metals (Cr, Pb, Cd, Ni, Zn, etc.), are produced in large quantity (thousands of tons/year) by a variety of industrial processes (metallurgical industry, tanneries, etc.). The classical approach to the problem of the digestion of highly toxic and harmful wastes aims at reducing the pollution effect through reduction of the concentration. A typical example is retardation of the contaminant diffusion by encapsulation into concrete or glass. On the contrary, thanks to this transformation technology the toxic element is absolutely and permanently immobilised inside ceramic materials. The company developed an industrial inertisation process able to thermally stabilise heavy metals into ceramics, as oxides and silicates. These recycled ceramic materials can be reused as raw materials. The technology achieves this goal by introducing specific toxic elements in specific crystal structures. Applying proper procedures an element can be placed into a definite crystal site of a mineral (i.e. chrome inside spinel, nickel inside olivine). The element is chemically bound for definite intervals of pressure and temperature, wide enough to enable the use of the material in industrial processes. Innovative Aspects: This novel technology allows definition of the chemical compositions and processing parameters in order to achieve complete and efficient inertisation of the polluting elements. Main Advantages: The main advantages are the complete stability of the toxic elements stabilised into the minerals, and the revaluation of industrial wastes that, for example, can be reused as ceramic pigments. The economical advantages are both the elimination of the digestion costs and the exploitation of the raw matter produced.

Technology Keywords: • Colours, dyes related to Chemical Technology and engineering

• Hazardous Materials • Recycling, Recovery












Keywords

• Ceramics • Other speciality materials • Chemical and solid material recycling

Collaboration Type: • Joint Venture Agreement • License Agreement

Comments - Type of partner sought: Industry - Specific area of activity of the partner: Industrial partners operating in the area of waste treatment. - Task to be performed: Industrial application or further development of the technlogy













Technology Offer

Freeze Granulation - Homogeneous Granules of Ceramic, Nano or

Diamond Powders

Reference: 05 SE WSIV 0DRK

Country: Sweden

Entry Date: Fri, December 09, 2005

Last Update:

Deadline: Sat, November 25, 2006

Abstract:

A Swedish SME has developed a new granulation method, called freeze granulation, mainly used to granulate ceramic, nano or diamond powders and to dry chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Freeze granulation of powders or chemicals ensures high-quality granules with homogeneous distribution of particles, polymeric pressing aids and other additives. The company seeks partners interested in any kind of marketing, license or manufacturing agreement.

Description:

Freeze granulation of powders is based on instant freezing of sprayed drops (granules) and subsequent freeze-drying. This technology ensures high-quality granules with homogeneous distribution of particles, polymeric pressing aids and other additives. The solids content of the powder suspension (slip) and the processing parameters (pump speed and airflow) control the granule density and granule size. Migration of the constituents that is common in other granulating processes such as spray drying is avoided in freeze granulation. Excellent pressing performance with easy break down of the granules is achieved. This results in homogeneous compacts with enhanced sinterability and optimal material properties. Innovative Aspects: Freeze granulation offers, compared with spray drying, high-quality granules with homogeneous distribution of particles, polymeric pressing aids and other additives for improved mechanical and microstructural properties of the final component, especially for nanopowders and diamond powders. Main Advantages: Freeze granulation has the following advantages: · Granule density can be controlled (solid content of the slip) · No cavities in the granules · No migration of small particles and/or binder gives higher degree of granule homogeneity · Lower granule density and softer granules ensures that all granules are broken during compaction · Pressed components have good sinterability through an even pore size distribution and lack of big pores remnant from uncrushed granules · Low waste of material (high yield)




· Besides large quantities also very small experimental batches (50-100 ml slip) can easily be processed · The equipment is easy to clean · Possibility to recycle organic solvents (freeze point < -55ºC)

Technology Keywords: • Drying • Ceramic Materials and Powders • Colours and varnish • Composite materials • Fine Chemicals, Dyes and Inks




Comments





Keywords

• Pharmaceuticals/fine chemicals • Ceramics • Other speciality materials • Industrial chemicals • Speciality/performance chemicals

Highlights The main applications are within the ceramic, nano, powder metal, diamond powder industry but also within chemical and pharmaceutical industry.

Collaboration Type: • Technical Co-operation • Joint venture agreement • License agreement • Commercial Agreement with Technical Assistance

Comments - Type of partner sought: Industry, academy or research organisation with interest in granulation/drying of powders or chemicals. - Specific area of activity of the partner: R&D or manufacturing of ceramics, nanomaterials, PM (Powder Metals), drying of chemicals or pharmaceuticals. - Task to be performed:




The company seeks partners with knowledge on granulation or drying of powders/chemicals, especially: testing of new applications, e.g. to change from spray-drying to freeze granulation of powders and adaptation of the technology to specific needs, e.g.for nanomaterial or nanopowders. In the case of a Commercial Agreement with Technical Assistance, the company is looking for a partner that could assist with one or more of the following ares: assembly, engineering, technical consultancy, technical training, quality control, or maintenance within its region. The type of technical support that is meant to be provided by the offerer to the partner: technical training, quality control, maintenance and market/application support.


Associated Thematic Group: • BIOTECHNOLOGY • MATERIALS • MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY • Nano & Microtechnology


Organization: IVF Industrial Research and Development Corporation

Contact Name: Rundgren

Contact First name: Kent




Technology Offer

Method to produce a durable ceramic material with an

extreme low friction

Reference: 06 NL NLSE 0EFO

Country: Netherlands

Entry Date: Tue, February 28, 2006

Last Update:

Deadline: Tue, February 20, 2007

Abstract:

A Dutch Research group has developed a new method for the production of extreme low friction ceramic material. This material may replace systems where lubricants are needed and can now be applied in fields where the ceramic materials could not be applied because of their friction behaviour. Partners are sought for implementing this method and material in their own manufacturing processes and products.

Description:

A Dutch university department is active in the development of ceramic materials. As a result of a project a new method for production of ceramic materials with low friction is available for manufacturers. Innovative Aspects: The low friction ceramics may very well replace the use of lubricants and thus prevent maintenance and environmental pollution. The use of ceramic materials had a strong growth the last period. The biggest threshold for the further growth is the large friction coefficient of this material. Especially application for which there is contact (friction) with other materials (like ceramic or metal materials) the movement is hindered or limited. To overcome this drawback (solid) lubricants are used like graphite and Copper Oxide. Lubricants have to drawback that this is a short term solution and therefore regular maintenance is necessary. This invention gives a method to produce ceramic material with a friction coefficient of less than 0.4. Main Advantages: The main advantage of this invention is that: 1) owing to the lower friction coefficient ceramic material can be used in a wider spectrum of applications, 2) the use of lubricant in combination with ceramic material can be reduced. This way the invention is a carrier for innovation for product development.





• Properties of Materials, Corrosion/Degradation

Current Stage of Development: Available for demonstration



Comments Current Stage of Development: Available for demonstration Intellectual Property Rights: Secret know-how Exploitation of RTD Results: NATIONAL PROG.





Keywords

• Consumer Products • Industrial Equipment and Machinery • Other Industrial Products (not elsewhere

classified)

Highlights The technology can be applied for ceramic materials that suffer from friction, processes where ceramic materials with lubricants are present, and application were ceramic materials are the best candidates but owing to the high friction not applied.

Collaboration Type: • Technical Co-operation • License Agreement

Comments - Type of partner sought: The University is looking for cooperation with a company (institute) with an expertise in ceramic materials. The partner must be interested to test / implement these low friction materials in their products or is willing to further optimise these materials for commercial use or for new applications.




Organization: SenterNovem




Contact Name: Reijn

Contact First name: Tom




Technology Offer

Synthesis of ceramic coatings using Chemical Vapour Deposition

(CVD)

Reference: 05 NL NLSY 0CN6

Country: Netherlands

Entry Date: Tue, June 07, 2005

Last Update:

Deadline: Thu, June 01, 2006

Abstract:

A small Dutch company is specialised in chemical vapour deposition (CVD). Using this technology surfaces can be given almost any desired property. One can think of optical, electrical, mechanical and hydrophilic or hydrophobic properties. The technology has been developed for application of ceramic coatings on specific substrates, like (ferrous and non-ferrous) metals or other ceramics, glass and quartz. The company is interested in technical co-operation and joint ventures.

Description:

The main activity of a Dutch company is development, testing and production of ceramic coatings with desired properties. One can think of optical (transmittance, reflection), electrical (conducting, insulating), mechanical (wear resistance, extremely smooth) chemical (inert) or e.g. hydrophilic or hydrophobic properties. The coatings are applied by means of Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD). The coating is formed out of gaseous species that react with and on the substrate, including internal surfaces of the product. Not all ceramics can be coated on every substrate; however, some interesting combinations have been produced, with unexpected good results. Coatings are applied in a furnace; the technology is referred to as thermal CVD (another related technique is plasma-enhanced CVD). Innovative Aspects: Complete products can be coated, also internally. As the complex process is figured out carefully and there is good control of the coating process on various substrates many specific applications come into reach. Materials that are difficult to form, but do have certain interesting characteristics, can now be applied as a coating. Thereby gaining best of both: the mechanical properties of the substrate and the desired properties by the coating. Main Advantages: The features of ceramic coatings are used e.g. to get good prevention against corrosion or chemical attacks, and hard and smooth surfaces resulting in long lifetimes and possibility for exposure to heavy mechanical loading. Furthermore, the surface can be given almost any desired property: insulating, conducting, transparent to certain wavelengths of light, absorbing of certain wavelengths, hydrophilic or hydrophobic.

Technology Keywords: • Coatings




• Surface treatment (painting, galvano, polishing, CVD, PVD)




Comments Current Stage of Development: Available for demonstration Intellectual Property Rights: Secret know-how Exploitation of RTD Results: PRIVATE RESEARCH





Keywords

• Coatings and adhesives manufactures • Membranes and membrane-based products • Speciality/performance materials: producers and

fabricators • Semiconductor materials (eg silicon wafers) • Ceramics

Highlights The proposed coating technology enables metal parts at high temperatures (>200°C) to be electrically insulated, lower friction between moving parts and longer lifetime of (metal) parts used in harsh chemical environments.

Collaboration Type: • Technical Co-operation • Joint Venture Agreement

Comments - Type of partner sought: industry - Specific area of activity of the partner: high-tech metal and ceramic parts production - Task to be performed




* joint further development of new applications * adaptation of the technology to specific needs implementation




Organization: Syntens

Contact Name: Asselbergs

Contact First name: Paul




Technology Offer

Automatic control of the bulk density of a ceramic body made by

pressing (Spain)

Reference: 06 ES SERT 0EIK

Country: Spain

Entry Date: Fri, March 03, 2006

Last Update:

Deadline: Thu, March 01, 2007

Abstract:

A Spanish research centre from the ceramic sector has developed an innovative system to control automatically the pressing process in the ceramic industry. The developed system allows keeping mean dry bulk density of industrially compacted ceramic tiles constant. The significance lies in the fact that bulk density determines tile behaviour during manufacture, and the technical and aesthetic characteristics of the final product. A license or a commercial agreement is desired by the centre.

Description:

The ceramic tile manufacturing process consists of a series of successive stages, which can be summarised as follows: raw materials preparation, pressing and drying of the green body, firing, with or without glazing, additional treatments and sorting and packing. Dry pressing (at 5-7% moisture content) with hydraulic presses is the most common tile forming method. Forming takes place by mechanically compressing the powder bed in the die, which is one of the most cost-efficient forming methods for making ceramic ware with a regular geometry. In pressing, the oil-hydraulic press system drives the rams into the powder bed in the die. The main hydraulic press characteristics are as follows: high compaction force, high productivity, easy adjustment and consistency in holding the set pressing cycle schedule. The importance of the pressing process lies in the fact that it determines both the bulk density distribution in the tile and means bulk density. This bulk density will determine ceramic tile behaviour during manufacture and the technical and aesthetic characteristics of the end product. The control method used at present in the pressing process is discontinuous, performed by hand and uses mercury, making it inefficient and involving health risks for the workers. Therefore, an on-line control system, which is non-destructive and risk-free, has been developed and implemented. The developed method consists of a system which, using on-line non-contact measurement of the ceramic compacts, allows adjusting pressing pressure in order to keep dry bulk density




constant in the pressed tiles. Before installing the control system it is necessary to know the compaction diagram of each composition, the target bulk density and the maximum admissible margins of variation in the bulk density of each product. The moisture content of the pressed compact is determined directly by on-line non-contact measurement on the compact with an infrared sensor, when the compact is ejected from the press. The sensor measurement is used as a variable in a specifically designed software application in which the interdependence functions (previously obtained in the laboratory between the moisture content measured by the sensor and the pressure that the press shall apply to keep tile dry bulk density steady) are programmed, adapted to industrial practice. The computer is connected to the press to control press pressure, and it enables plotting and recording the evolution of the operation variables, programming alarm dialogues, entering settings, and communicating with the corresponding press PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) and with the industrial data network of the manufacturing plant. Innovative Aspects: - No mercury is used. - Keeps dry bulk density constant in ceramic tiles by on-line measurement of tile body moisture content. Main Advantages: Compared with the traditional method the system provides the following advantages: 1.Reduces production problems: By keeping tile bulk density constant. As bulk density determines tile porosity, constant tile bulk density reduces or avoids numerous production problems, such as breakages, curvature, etc. 2.Reduces costs: As the number of defective tiles is reduced, store management is simplified and less space is needed to store products, thus lowering production and storage costs. 3.Enhances end product quality: End product quality is enhanced by improved control of the manufacturing process. 4.Improves store management and reduces store space: Obtaining tiles with a single size improves store management of end products, and reduces the space required to store these products, as a result of having a single size for each model. 5.Improved customer service: Complaints from lack of tile dimensional stability and possible errors in preparing the lots to be dispatched to customers are eliminated.Compared with the traditional method the system provides the following advantages: 1. Reduces production problems: by keeping tile bulk density constant. As bulk density determines tile porosity, constant tile bulk density reduces or avoids numerous production problems, such as breakages, curvature, etc. 2. Reduces costs: as the number of defective tiles is reduced, store management is simplified and less space is needed to store products, thus lowering production and storage costs. 3. Enhances end product quality: end product quality is enhanced by improved control of the manufacturing process.




4. Improves store management and reduces store space: obtaining tiles with a single size improves store management of end products, and reduces the space required to store these products, as a result of having a single size for each model. 5. Improved customer service: complaints from lack of tile dimensional stability and possible errors in preparing the lots to be dispatched to customers are eliminated.

Technology Keywords: • Automation, Robotics Control Systems • Forming (rolling, forging, pressing, drawing) • Process control and logistics • Ceramic Materials and Powders • Sensor Technology related to measurements

Current Stage of Development: Already on the market


Intellectual Property Rights: Patent(s) granted

Comments Current Stage of Development: The system is already on the market, installed in several presses. Intellectual Property Rights: Patent(s) granted Exploitation of RTD Results: NATIONAL PROG.





Keywords

• Other measuring devices (including ifrared gas analysers, moisture analysers)

• Ceramics • Industrial measurement and sensing equipment • Process control equipment and systems • Manufacture of building materials

Highlights The system’s field of application encompasses all ceramic tile manufacturers, since the measure allows automatically controlling the press operation, reducing production problems, enhancing end product quality and lowering manufacturing costs.

Collaboration Type: • License Agreement




• Commercial Agreement with Technical Assistance

Comments - Type of partner sought: ceramic tile manufacturers, research centres, machinery builders - Specific area of activity of the partner: ceramic tile sector - Task to be performed: License the patent to machinery manufacturers interested in selling the system and install it themselves. The technical assistance perfomed by the centre will be the device adaptation and installation according to the client characteristics.




Organization: Red de Institutos Tecnológicos de la Comunidad Valenciana

Contact Name: Carrión Salvador

Contact First name: María




Technology Offer

Highly durable fibre-reinforced ceramics for mechanical and chemical

engineering applications (Germany)

Reference: 05 DE DSTA 0CWU

Country: Germany

Entry Date: Wed, July 27, 2005

Last Update:

Deadline: Thu, July 20, 2006

Abstract:

A SME in Saxony/Germany is offering a new technology in the field of composite materials. Its main business is coating of ceramic high-performance fibres for production of fibre-reinforced ceramic and metallic composites. Fibre-reinforced ceramics are used in the area of mechanical engineering for such components that cannot be made satisfactorily from metallic materials. The company is looking for technical co-operation.

Description:

Fibre-reinforced ceramics are in contrast to monolithic ceramics not only highly stable, but also fracture-tolerant, which makes them also suitable for supporting components. Their first applications were heat shields and body flaps in spacecrafts. The basis of this fracture tolerance is the combination of a ceramic matrix (e.g. SIC) with coated fibres (e.g. C-, SIC- or AL²O³-fibres), they are filtrated with the organic precursor of the ceramic matrix by lamination and winding techniques. Pyrolysis of the resulting pre-form yields the final component. These composite ceramics reduced the final mechanical processing to a minimum. Different properties of the final material can be realised by using either long fibres in form of roving, knitted or woven fabrics, short-coated fibres or felts. The manufacturing process allows production of complex components in addition to plates, rods, tubes or simple connecting elements. The composite ceramics show in contrast to monolithic ceramics a much higher resistance against thermal shock a higher fracture and damage tolerance as well as a better fracture strain. Innovative Aspects: Fibre-reinforced ceramics provide the advantages of ceramic materials without the problems of the brittleness experienced with monolithic ceramics. The properties that distinguish the composite ceramics from their monolithic counterparts include their high stability against thermal shock, their high fracture toughness, their large crack-growth resistance and their high stability against erosive and corrosive wear or dynamic stresses. Main Advantages:




These properties are a great advantage not only for the function of the corresponding components but also for the assembly of complex systems. The excellent tribological properties of these materials as well as their stability against corrosive chemicals are of great importance for the construction of bearings or different sealings. Components that are exposed to mechanical stress in form of gas abrasion and vibration due to turbulent gas streams in addition to high temperatures can successfully be replaced by composite materials if the live time of conventional materials is too short. One example of this are exposed to high temperatures (e.g. lighting equipment can also be made with success from these materials).

Technology Keywords: • Materials Technology • Adhesives • Ceramic Materials and Powders • Composite materials • Advanced Textile Materials




Comments Current Stage of Development: Already on the market Intellectual Property Rights: Patent(s) applied for but not yet granted Exploitation of RTD Results: NATIONAL PROG.





Keywords

• Coatings and adhesives manufactures • Ceramics

Highlights - tough and fracture-tolerant material - high resistance against thermal, chemical and corrosive stresses - non-toxic and recyclable - parts are easily assembled and agglutinated - resistance against thermal shock - optional protection against oxidation

Collaboration Type: • Technical Co-operation




• Commercial Agreement with Technical Assistance

Comments - Type of partner sought: The company is seeking partners in industry - Specific area of activity of the partner: mechanical or chemical engineering as well as car industry. - Task to be performed testing of new applications. The company is able to provide: * engineering * technical consultancy * technical training * quality control If requested by the partner, the company can organise assembly and maintenance, too.


Associated Thematic Group: • ENVIRONMENT


Organization: TAC Technologieagentur Chemnitz GmbH

Contact Name: Wieloch

Contact First name: Marghitta




Technology Offer

Rapid Prototyping of low-temperature co-fired ceramics (LTCC)

multilayer modules for electronics applications (Germany)

Reference: 05 DE NRXE 0CNI

Country: Germany

Entry Date: Tue, June 07, 2005

Last Update:

Deadline: Wed, June 07, 2006

Abstract:

A German company offers rapid prototyping and small-volume manufacturing of low-temperature co-fired ceramics (LTCC) type of multi-layered ceramic circuits to integrate active and passive electronics as well other functionalities, e.g. thermal, mechanical, into products. This allows for very short development cycles in electronics, while keeping the costs low. Applications are in automotive, telecommunication and automation electronics. Partners are sought for technical co-operation.

Description:

A German company manufactures LTCC (low-temperature co-fired ceramics) samples to customer specification. Several materials as well as processes ready for production are available for the rapid prototyping of samples for various developments. The LTCC processes feature capabilities for the integration of active and passive components, while acting as a circuit carrier and a housing for the circuits respectively. Some of the passive functions such as resistors, capacitors, etc. can be buried in the stacked layers of the LTCC. In addition, several functionalities, e.g. thermal, mechanical, fluidic, etc. can be integrated, too. The advantages are short turnaround times and additional support for layout features. Samples of the prototyping process can easily be transferred to mass production processes elsewhere. However, the German company’s strength are custom-tailored, small-series manufacturing of samples at competitive prices with a high added value for R&D and industrial organisations. Innovative Aspects: Short turnaround cycles for prototyping of a multi-layered ceramics technology for high-density circuits with demands for resistance against environmental stress. Main Advantages: Rapid prototyping, easily transferable to volume production, high degree of integration, low cost.




Technology Keywords: • Electronic circuits, components and equipment • Design and Modelling / Prototypes • Process control and logistics • Ceramic Materials and Powders




Comments Current Stage of Development: Already on the market Intellectual Property Rights: Secret know-how Relevant know-how was acquired in several projects Exploitation of RTD Results: EU RTD results (FP4/FP5) The know-how was acquired in national, regional and EU projects: 4M – nationally funded project, RAMP – EU FP5 project, Wireless Competence - NRW project





Keywords

• Data communication components • Electronic Components • Industrial Automation

Highlights All types of electronics, e.g. automotive, telecommunication, automation electronics, process control, medical electronics with environmental demands for mechanical, thermal and chemical resistance.




Collaboration Type: • Joint Venture Agreement

Comments Industrial and or research partners for implementation according to their specifications and carrying out of joint projects and further development.




Organization: ZENIT - Zentrum für Innovation & Technik in Nordrhein-Westfalen GmbH

Contact Name: Wodrich

Contact First name: Sabrina




Technology Offer

Spray pyrolysis for preparation of high-quality

ceramic powders (Norway)

Reference: 05 NO NOSI 0CHA

Country: Norway

Entry Date: Thu, May 12, 2005

Last Update:

Deadline: Tue, May 09, 2006

Abstract:

A Norwegian university has installed a spray pyrolysis unit for preparation of high-quality ceramic oxide powders from a solution. Spray pyrolysis gives powders with small particle size down to nm range with a high degree of purity and crystallinity. The powders can be used for preparation of high-quality ceramics, as particle additives and in catalysis. Partners in academia and research institutions are being sought to use these powders in new and existing applications.

Description:

Bulk ceramic materials are produced by compaction of fine, sub-micron powders followed by heat treatment at elevated temperatures. The heat treatment at high temperatures is called sintering and may result in a high density, single-phase material with a favourable microstructure. Successful densification and properties of end product lends itself to the quality of the ceramic powders. The most important powder properties are: • Particle size: Should be sub-micron (10 nm – 1 µm) • Particle size distribution: Preferably monodisperse. • Homogeneity: High-purity single-phase composition even with a high number of cations present. • Degree of agglomeration: Preferably low. There are a number of synthesis routes meeting the above specifications: spray drying, freeze-drying, sol-gel based methods, citrate route, glycine-nitrate, co-precipitation etc. However, only spray pyrolysis as a method can meet all the specifications and at the same time exhibit a relatively high production rate superior to any other method. Sub-micron (nanosized) oxide-based ceramic powders can be produced directly from a homogeneous aqueous solution of metal salts (precursor). The method is based on atomising the precursor and injecting the spray into a high temperature chamber (furnace). The atomised droplets of the precursor are converted to nanosized oxide crystallites during their flight through the furnace. The powder is normally collected in a cyclone. Hence, spray pyrolysis is a powerful method for production of high-quality oxide powders for production of high-quality ceramics. Fields of applications may be structural (mechanical properties) as well as functional (electric, magnetic, etc. properties).




Keywords: ceramic technology, ceramic powder, spray pyrolysis Innovative Aspects: High-quality ceramic oxide powders can be offered. The composition of the powders can be designed to partners’ request with a wide variation in compositions and substitution degrees. Main Advantages: Powder production by spray pyrolysis offer high production rates (0.5 to 1 kg per day) and demonstrates a particularly high flexibility with respect to composition. Economically spray pyrolysis is advantageous compared with other traditional methods offering high-quality ceramic powders.

Technology Keywords: • Coatings • Mixing (powder, etc.), separation (sorting,

filtering) • Surface treatment (painting, galvano, polishing,

CVD, PVD) • Foil, fils • Materials Technology


Exploitation of RTD Results: Others

Intellectual Property Rights: Others

Comments Current Stage of Development: Development phase - Laboratory tested Intellectual Property Rights: Others Free technology, applications of some compositions are patented. Exploitation of RTD Results: Others: Network of Excellence, 6th Framework Programme Priority 3. Project acronym: NanoMemPro (500623 (NMP3-CT-2004-500623)


Organisation/Company Size: >500



Keywords

• Ceramics




Collaboration Type: • Technical Co-operation

Comments - Type of partner sought: Industry - Type of collaboration: Co-operation to implement the technology to the customer's specific need.




Organization: SINTEF Technology and Society

Contact Name: Lukkedal

Contact First name: Bjorn




Technology Offer

Sludge Valorisation in ceramic materials (France)

Reference: 05 FR NMAH 0CDG

Country: France

Entry Date: Mon, May 09, 2005

Last Update:

Deadline: Sat, April 15, 2006

Abstract:

A French SME has developed a process of sludge valorisation in ceramic materials. The ceramic products obtained are inert, durable and commercial. They can be used either as lightweight concretes prefabricated materials or technical fill. The French company is seeking to reach a license agreement with industrial companies in the field of ceramic industry in order to introduce the product on the European market and to perform further development. Joint venture can also be considered.

Description:

The process developed by the French company consists of a mixture of partially dried, industrial or municipal, sludge (about 65 % of dryness) with clay, followed by a shaping of the desired ceramic products (bricks or expanded clay aggregates). This rough material occurs a 1000°C burning, which will allow the development of porosity in materials. The process lightens them and confers good properties of heat insulation and soundproofing. The burning of expanded clay aggregates could be carried out in revolving kilns as those used in the cement works. Moreover, the heavy metals present in sludge are blocked in the ceramic matrix. It proved to be an interesting alternative to the other processes of treatment, under satisfactory sanitary, environmental and economic conditions. The ceramic products are inert, durable and commercial. They are usable in building and public work’s domains to produce lightweight concretes and prefabricated materials. They are also usable as technical fill of for urban utilization. The burning of bricks could be carried out into traditional brickyard kilns. Manufacturing can be used in an existing installation under the condition the fume treatment will have to be adapted. Innovative Aspects: Valorisation of sludge in inert, durable and commercial ceramic materials. The process is an alternative to the other processes of sludge treatment, under satisfactory sanitary, environmental and economic conditions. The ceramic products have good properties of heat insulation and soundproofing. Main Advantages: The process of the French company is an alternative to the other processes of sludge treatment, under satisfactory sanitary, environmental and economic conditions. Produced materials are in compliance with the standards of building and public work’s domains. Produced expanded clay aggregates are in compliance with the NF EN 13055-1 standard "light Aggregates". The produced ceramic materials can be used in High Environmental Quality




constructions. Indeed, the produced materials are lighter and offer, due to their porosity, better properties of heat insulation and soundproofing. Moreover, sludge valorisation is in keeping with the Sustainable Development policy. Sludge is recycled and its calorific value reduced the consumption of energy during burning.

Technology Keywords: • Drying • Building Materials, Components and Methods • Environment • Environmental Engineering / Technology




Comments Current Stage of Development: Available for demonstration Intellectual Property Rights: Patent(s) granted Patent deposited in France - 2004/03/04 (n° FR 04 02288). Exploitation of RTD Results: None





Keywords

• Ceramics • Other Industrial Products (not elsewhere

classified)

Highlights Produce lightweight concretes and prefabricated materials used in building and public works domains. Burning of bricks could be carried out into traditional brickyard kilns. Burning of expanded clay aggregates could be carried out in revolving kilns.

Collaboration Type: • Technical Co-operation • License Agreement • Manufacturing Agreement (Subcontracting & Co-

contracting) • Financial Resources

Comments - Type of partner sought: The French company will be interested by all collaborations that




enable sludge valorisation units to be created on various territories defined with partners. Technical co-operation and manufacturing agreement involve: * building or modifying existing brick kiln in partner's facilities * license agreement for using the process of integration of sludges in the production of new types of ceramics. The incorporation of sludge in these building materials can confer new physical properties (thermal, strength, lightness, acoustic absorption, etc.) * because gas and electricity represent 50% of the production costs, the energy equation has to be studied in order to validate the cost-effectiveness of the whole process. - Specific area of activity of the partner: Industrial companies in the ceramic industry - Task to be performed: Introduce the product on the European market Perform further development




Organization: Agence Nationale de Valorisation de la Recherche - Haute Normandie

Contact Name: DUVAL

Contact First name: Stéphane




Technology Offer

Innovative hydrogen-based oven for ceramic cooking (Italy)

Reference: 05 IT MESP 0CH9

Country: Italy

Entry Date: Tue, May 10, 2005

Last Update:

Deadline: Tue, May 09, 2006

Abstract:

A small Italian company has patented a new hydrogen-based oven able to generate high temperature and to minimise time for cooking ceramic. The company is looking for industrial partners interested in developing the oven under license agreement or joint technical cooperation.

Description:

The oven developed by an Italian company is connected to a water receiver in which the process of electrolysis will occur. In this way, hydrogen and oxygen will be separated and put into two different generators connected to the oven. After being put into the oven, the oxygen and the hydrogen compound together and they burn by producing the heat for cooking ceramics. The oven has two main entries and it has also a spy hole for cooking control. The oven use is safe and it can work without any hood for conveying exhalations. Furthermore, the possibility of mixing hydrogen and oxygen in different required quantity (i.e. by increasing O2 an oxidant effect will take place) allows cooking in different ways for different effects (i.e. enamel effect on the ceramic surface, or varnish, etc.). Innovative Aspects: The most important advantage of this oven is related to the fact that hydrogen and oxygen, produced by the electrolysis do not release toxic substances like traditional ovens that release often carbon monoxide, a highly toxic gas. In this way, the oven use is safe and it can work without any hood for conveying exhalations. Main Advantages: - Energy saving: the oven can reduce consumption of electricity and other fuel thanks to the use of water (H2O) for power supply. - Cost reducing. - Safe: The oven use is safe and it can work without any hood for conveying exhalations.

Technology Keywords: • Plant Design and Maintenance • Ceramic Materials and Powders







Comments Current Stage of Development: Development phase - Laboratory tested Intellectual Property Rights: Patent(s) granted Numb. of Patent (at Italian level) CZ 2001A00002 Exploitation of RTD Results: None





Keywords

• Ceramics

Collaboration Type: • License Agreement

Comments - Type of partner sought: SMEs, large industries: the oven can be developed by industries involved in technology application for ceramic production. - Task to be performed: The company is looking for partners interested in acquiring the patent.




Organization: Spin - Consorzio di Ricerca in Tecnologie dell'Informazione e della Comunicazione scrl'

Contact Name: Rossi

Contact First name: Giuseppe

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