Technology transfer at UA… … a real life example Ignacio Martin-Gullon Chemical Engineering Department
Mar 30, 2015
Technology transfer at UA…
… a real life example
Ignacio Martin-GullonChemical Engineering Department
Alicante, May 8 2006
Outline of the talk
1. Introduction 1.1. Brief overview to our former expertise 1.2. Brief introduction to Grupo Antolin (GA)
2. History of cooperation GA-UA
3. International Contacts
4. New contacts & plans from this cooperation
1. Introduction
Alicante, May 8 2006
Our expertise before 2003
Chemical Engineering DptC
A R
B O
N
M A
T E
R I
A L
S
AdsorbentsProduction
Applications
Carbonblacks
ProductionFiller for tyresCatalyst support
Carbon Fibers &Pitch
Production
Applications: Composites
Carbon nanotubes &nanofibers
5-100 nm
1
Fuel: Thermal processes
3
4UA
experience
2
Alicante, May 8 2006
Brief summary of our expertise
Chemical Engineering DptC
A R
B O
N
M A
T E
R I
A L
S
AdsorbentsProduction
Applications
Carbonblacks
ProductionFiller for tyresCatalyst support
Carbon Fibers &Pitch
Production
Applications: Composites
Carbon nanotubes &nanofibers
Fuel: Thermal processes
UAexperience
My personal experience
Ph.D. at UA (91-95)
Post-Doc in Universityof Kentucky (96-97)
NORIT (NL)
R&D dept. world leaderProductor carbon ads.
Prof at UA (99-02)
Alicante, May 8 2006
Grupo Antolin
Family company
Origin 50s Steering and suspension ball-joints
60s/70s: Product diversification strategy (first self supporting - rooflinings)
Nowadays: Multinational leader in the conception and manufacture of interior automotive components and modular systems
801957
1.120
1.2841.500
1.771
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
million €
1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006
Alicante, May 8 2006
Headliner
Sunvisors
Accessories
Pillars
Package tray
Sound insulation
Safety
Overhead System
Door panels
Window regulators
Accessories
Safety
Door Function
Seats
Seat frames
Seat covers
Mechanisms
Seat Function
Grupo Antolin
Alicante, May 8 2006
Grupo Antolin
Alicante, May 8 2006
Europe
Spain United Kingdom Germany Czech Republic Slovakia Portugal France Turkey
America
United States Mexico Argentina Brazil
Africa-Asia-Pacific-Japan
South Africa China South Korea India Thailand Japan
Grupo Antolin
HEADQUATERSDESIGN & TECHNOLOGY
R&D
Located in Burgos (SPAIN).over 300 graduated employees.
2. History of co-operation UA-GA
Alicante, May 8 2006
GA: Carbon Nanofiber Project
Up to mid 1990s: No industrial production of MWNT/CNF, only lab-scale.
Late 1990s. GM R&D and subsidiary companies led an active research program for producing Carbon Nanofibers and using them in conductive plastic based composites for exterior automobile parts.
Applied Sciences Inc. (with GM technology) became first CNF industry Showa Denko (Japan).
APPLICATIONS OF CONDUCTIVE PLASTICS
Mirror Housing Door handles
Bumpers
Petrol tank
UNDERHOOD COMPONENTS
Alicante, May 8 2006
2000. Grupo Antolin started Carbon Nanofiber Project: Production for using in new automobile parts.
Mid 2002. Grupo Antolin produced their first experimental CNF product at industrial scale.
So, GA started a search for a technology partner, and among others, UA.
GA Needed external knowledge to characterize
and purify
GA: Carbon Nanofiber Project
Purification A Purification B Purification C
Alicante, May 8 2006
First annual Contact UA-GA. 2003
Prof. Linares. GA proposed “Characterization and purification of CNF through method C”
Prof. Linares answered sincerely: “Not much experience in CNF”, “characterization” and “preliminars of purification C”. For purification C, support from Martin-Gullon
In my first meeting (summer 2003.) “I have no knowledge of CNF, but method C will never succeed…” and I agreed to make a deep literature review of CNF, and laboratory work to propose alternatives to method C.
A fluent communication began (phone contacts, two more meetings)
2003. First annual Contract GA-UA. Managed by Prof. Linares. 50 k€
Alicante, May 8 2006
Formation team UA-GA
A fluent & dynamic communication began (phone contacts, two more meetings)
Nov 2003. GA was invited to a European Research Consortium (Eureka) for MWNT/CNF. GA invited UA. Objetive of the meeting for us: Learn. Nevertheless…
We realize we were not so behind.
Objectives of project 2003: clearly attained.
Big efforts in literature review &
Lab work
I communicated conclusionsI made questions
They aswered inquiries. And asked questions
WORKING AS A TEAMMUTUAL SATISFACTION
Alicante, May 8 2006
2004. Second annual contract
Second consecutive annual contract, managed by myself. 40 k€.
With the same structure Characterization of product for optimizing production conditions. Purification of different products (D type) Post-treatment of carbon nanofibers for plastic composites.
Summer: GA produced an excellent CNF product (GANF1). UA-GA relation increased their activity. New science findings. GA began to present their product to the market.
September: We attended a Workshop in USA organized by Applied Sciences Inc. We convinced to ourselves that we were in a good level.
Strength, confiance
Required us one step forward:to introduce in plastic composites
Alicante, May 8 2006
2005/06. Biannual contract
Third private contract for two years managed by myself. 150 k€ (75 k€/year).
Objectives Optimization of production through characterization (new products as
GANF3) Purification and post-treatment of GANF1. Introduce in composite technology for support
Consortium of different Research Centers and companies:
Trainning period in University of Kentucky (USA) for half year, to get abilities in introducing CNFs into plastics
Alicante, May 8 2006
2007-2010. CENIT DOMINO Project
Participation in CENIT project Program Creation of a new consortium of companies and R&D Centers.
“USE OF NANOMATERIALS IN DIFFERENT PRODUCTION SECTORS”
Private contract with GA at around 200 k€. Developing new products. Optimizing production. To scale up post-treatments. Developing nanocomposites with polymers
Possible alliance among Grupo Antolin customers
Alicante, May 8 2006
Consortium with leader end-users in different industrial sectors
Nanoclays
CarbonNanofiber
CENIT DOMINO
Alicante, May 8 2006
CENIT DOMINOS1
Auto
S2Container
S3Textiles
S4Electr.
S6Coatings
S7Construc.
S5Ceramic
Horizontaltasks
S8Windmill,Aeronaut.
SispraSispra
Lehoiko BiotzLehoiko Biotz
LÍNEAS Y CABLES
BIOKERBIOKER
Alicante, May 8 2006
2008-2010. DISCOMNANO project
Special program (Ministry of Science) for transfering technology to companies. Spanish Government gives finnacial support, but a company must co-fund (10%) Leaded by UA. Budget 300 k€, GrupoAntolin supports with 50 k€
CompositesGANF – PA 66
Melt-mixing SolventIn-situ
polimerization
ElctricalProperties
Dispersionanalysis
Mechanicalproperties
3. International contacts
Alicante, May 8 2006
Apolynaire Consortium (2003-2007)
Country
Center
Switzerland Spain Germany United Kingdom
Academic
-SUPSI (leader)
Center for Polymer Engineering of Aargau
UA
AIMPLAS
IVW- University of Kaiserslautern
University of Cambridge
IndustrialMatSim GmbHTIMCAL
GAGrupo Repol
Two IP One IP
Ph.D. Exchange
Alicante, May 8 2006
FP7 Application 2007
NMP (Nanosciences and Nanotechnology) Large Scale Industrial Project
Alicante, May 8 2006
FP7 Application 2007. Innofun.
Innofun did not pass the thresolds
But we created a relevant groupfor future FP actions
4. Other local companies
Alicante, May 8 2006
Other local companies
Due to our partnership with Grupo Antolin, our work is interesting for small local end-users:
Avenida Plastics: Project for developing CNF-doped pultrusion
Sipem: Project for developing new resistant polymer nanocomposite
Nanobiomatters: Nanoclay productor. Possible cooperation project
Ferro: Polymer compounder. Possible cooperation project
AIJU. Toy Research Institute. Interests in cooperation
Summary
Alicante, May 8 2006
Before 2003 No experience with carbon nanofiber at all.“What is a Carbon Nanofiber? What is done for? Price?”
2008UA is the main technological-scientific partner of the first European
CNF productor (Grupo Antolin).2 Patent application of GANF product
Conclusion
The technology developed in the last three years could be neverproduced without the intensive cooperation and understanding
between the research teams