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

2. 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

3. 1. Introduction

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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. Grupo Antolin
Alicante, May

9. 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

10. 2. History of co-operation UA-GA

11. 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

12. GA: Carbon Nanofiber Project
2000. Grupo Antolin started Carbon Nanofiber Project: Production for using in new automobile parts.
Mid 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

13. 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

14. Formation team UA-GA WORKING AS A TEAM MUTUAL SATISFACTION
A fluent & dynamic communication began (phone contacts, two more meetings)
Nov 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 3. International contacts

22. 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

23. FP7 Application 2007
NMP (Nanosciences and Nanotechnology) Large Scale Industrial Project
Alicante, May

24. FP7 Application 2007. Innofun.
Innofun did not pass the thresolds
But we created a relevant group
for future FP actions
Alicante, May

25. 4. Other local companies

26. 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

27. Summary

28. 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