Technology transfer at UA… … a real life example Ignacio Martin-Gullon Chemical Engineering Department

Outline of the talk 1. Introduction 2. History of cooperation GA-UA 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 Alicante, May 8 2006

1. Introduction

Our expertise before 2003 C A R B O N M A T E R I A L S Chemical Engineering Dpt Carbon nanotubes & nanofibers 5-100 nm 3 4 Carbon Fibers & Pitch Production Applications: Composites UA experience C A R B O N M A T E R I A L S Production Filler for tyres Catalyst support Carbon blacks 1 Production Applications Adsorbents Fuel: Thermal processes 2 Alicante, May 8 2006

Post-Doc in University Brief summary of our expertise Chemical Engineering Dpt Carbon nanotubes & nanofibers Carbon Fibers & Pitch My personal experience Production Applications: Composites UA experience Ph.D. at UA (91-95) C A R B O N M A T E R I A L S Production Filler for tyres Catalyst support Carbon blacks Post-Doc in University of Kentucky (96-97) NORIT (NL) R&D dept. world leader Productor carbon ads. Production Applications Adsorbents Prof at UA (99-02) Fuel: Thermal processes 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 Alicante, May 8 2006

Grupo Antolin Alicante, May 8 2006 Overhead System  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 Alicante, May 8 2006

Grupo Antolin Alicante, May 8 2006

Grupo Antolin HEADQUATERS DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY R&D America Europe  Spain  United Kingdom  Germany  Czech Republic  Slovakia  Portugal  France  Turkey HEADQUATERS DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY R&D Located in Burgos (SPAIN). over 300 graduated employees. America  United States  Mexico  Argentina  Brazil Africa-Asia-Pacific-Japan  South Africa  China  South Korea  India  Thailand  Japan Alicante, May 8 2006

2. History of co-operation UA-GA

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). Petrol tank APPLICATIONS OF CONDUCTIVE PLASTICS Mirror Housing Door handles UNDERHOOD COMPONENTS Bumpers Alicante, May 8 2006

GA: Carbon Nanofiber Project 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 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 WORKING AS A TEAM MUTUAL SATISFACTION 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. I communicated conclusions I made questions Big efforts in literature review & Lab work They aswered inquiries. And asked questions WORKING AS A TEAM MUTUAL 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 CENIT DOMINO Consortium with leader end-users in different industrial sectors Nanoclays                        Carbon Nanofiber Alicante, May 8 2006

CENIT DOMINO S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 Horizontal tasks Auto Container Lehoiko Biotz S2 Container S3 Textiles S4 Electr. LÍNEAS Y CABLES S5 Ceramic BIOKER S6 Coatings S7 Construc. Horizontal tasks S8 Windmill, Aeronaut. Sispra Alicante, May 8 2006

2008-2010. DISCOMNANO project Composites GANF – PA 66 Melt-mixing 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€ Composites GANF – PA 66 Melt-mixing Solvent In-situ polimerization Elctrical Properties Dispersion analysis Mechanical properties Alicante, May 8 2006

3. International contacts

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 Industrial MatSim GmbH TIMCAL GA Grupo 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 group for future FP actions Alicante, May 8 2006

4. Other local companies

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 Alicante, May 8 2006

Summary

The technology developed in the last three years could be never Before 2003 No experience with carbon nanofiber at all. “What is a Carbon Nanofiber? What is done for? Price?” 2008 UA 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 never produced without the intensive cooperation and understanding between the research teams Alicante, May 8 2006