Jan 16 2008
nCoat, Inc. today announced that North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NC A+T) in Greensboro, North Carolina, and nCoat, Inc. have established a technical collaboration agreement for characterization and development of nanotechnology based materials and industrial coatings. The Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") was signed December 20th, 2007, with the Division of Research and Economic Development at the university's campus in Greensboro.
nCoat will be principally collaborating with NC A&T's Center for Advanced Materials and Smart Structures (CAMSS) in areas of advanced composites, carbon nanotubes, nano enhanced slurry coatings and metallic degradation from extreme thermal and chemical environments. CAMSS has an extensive track record in nano-science based advanced materials as applied to thin film research, nano-composites, tribological and environmental coatings.
CAMSS is an extensively equipped and staffed materials research facility located on the campus of NC A&T in Greensboro a few miles from nCoat's location in Whitsett. CAMSS is an NC A&T-wide umbrella center receiving support from the National Science Foundation (Center for Research Excellence in Science and Technology), Department of Energy, Department of Defense (Center for Nanoscience and Nanomaterials), Air Force, and many industries. The center has over $5 million in nano characterization equipment including recent multiple innovations in atomic and electron scanning microscopy and optical technologies. NC A&T has been recognized as one of the leading nano materials research and development centers in the United States. Dr. Jag Sankar, one of the first NC A&T Distinguished University Professors and a White House Millennium Researcher, is the Director of CAMSS.
"Both NC A&T and nCoat represent leading organizations in nanotechnology research and commercialization, respectively," said NC A&T Chancellor Stanley Battle. "This partnership will leverage the world-class expertise and state-of-the-art facilities at A&T, balanced by the commercial success and aggressive global expansion of nCoat."
Added N. Radhakrishnan, Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development at A&T, "This partnership is the clear, tangible result of the solid foundation that NC A&T has built in nanotechnology research over the past 12 years. Together we are well positioned to develop innovative solutions for the nano-coatings industry."
"This agreement was developed with the vision of revolutionizing nano-engineered materials and underlying technologies leading to engineered systems, coupled with the development of a vibrant workforce and economic development for the Triad region and North Carolina," said Dr. Sankar. "nCoat represents a very progressive nanotechnology development company with the business expertise to match the technical expertise here at CAMSS."
The new agreement outlines joint efforts between nCoat and NC A&T to identify, characterize, develop and commercialize new nano technology enhancements for functional coatings and materials with applications in aerospace, medical, energy, automotive, industrial, textile, advance composites, diesel engine applications and other industries.
Among other activities, the MOU is intended to establish a framework for conceptualization and implementation of R&D projects with subsequent commercialization. The agreement outlines governance of jointly and separately developed intellectual property and potential patent alliances for inventions. The agreement is also designed to establish joint revenues through technology licensing for commercial applications. Under the terms of the agreement, nCoat and NC A&T will jointly determine the appropriate source to commercialize technologies developed by NC A&T for any purpose.
Some of the initial collaborative commercialization activities will be in the nano-structured surface engineered systems to improve thermal barrier, corrosion, tribological properties, biocompatibility and creating surface technologies that create a cleaner environment.
Specific areas under investigation and/or commercialization at NC A&T are:
- New processes for fractionation of nano particles within a uniform range
- Development of nano-scale filters for particle filtration on combustion emission systems
- Protective coatings used in solar technology
- Hi temp-low temp cure, hybrid materials for the turbine and aerospace industries
- Specialized coatings for use in the medical industry
The MOU also allows nCoat to collaborate with CAMSS on testing, prototyping and development of materials specific to enhancing industry needs.
"This is a key agreement for nCoat," said Paul Clayson, CEO of nCoat. "Developing laboratory facilities like those in place at NC A&T would require extensive time and a budget unattainable at this stage in our corporate development. NC A&T has developed a very impressive materials lab, and the personnel have extensive credentials germane to our needs. This is a win/win agreement."