Materials

Latest Innovations

Coating for Anti-fouling and Anti-corrosion on Metals

Dr. Nenad Miljkovic’s research group has developed a new technology to reduce the susceptibility of metallic surfaces to fouling/scaling. The invention is a thin (<~100...

Dr. Nenad Miljkovic’s research group has developed a new technology to reduce the susceptibility of metallic surfaces to fouling/scaling. The invention is a thin (<~100 nm) multi-layered solid-state coating that reduces the surface energy  and nucleation site density of metals such as aluminum, copper, and more. The technology has been demonstrated to reduce scale accumulation by 95% as compared to uncoated surfaces and eliminates the intrinsic durability issues of oil-based coatings.

Applications for the technology include the reduction of scale build-up on air conditioning and refrigeration systems and the prevention of coke deposition for aviation applications.

Rapid Fabrication of Elastomers

Researchers from the University of Illinois have developed a new technique for fabricating elastomeric materials, namely 1,4-polybutadiene and co-polymers of 1,4-...

Researchers from the University of Illinois have developed a new technique for fabricating elastomeric materials, namely 1,4-polybutadiene and co-polymers of 1,4-polybutadiene. The technique employs frontal ring-opening metathesis polymerization allowing for a rapid and energy efficient means of producing these materials. The materials produced by this technique may be used to fabricate a variety of products including tires, tubes, belts, gaskets, etc. This technology also allows for the rapid fabrication of elastomeric materials with shape memory properties.

Advanced Recycling Method for Polyethylene and Polypropylene Solid Wastes

Dr. Damien Guironnet from the University of Illinois has developed a chemical recycling method for upcycling propylene and isobutene solid wastes. This technique may be...

Dr. Damien Guironnet from the University of Illinois has developed a chemical recycling method for upcycling propylene and isobutene solid wastes. This technique may be used to produce higher value feedstock materials (e.g., propylene and isobutene) from polyethylene and polypropylene with high selectivity. This process achieves high yield, in comparison with other chemical recycling techniques, through a combination of reactor design, catalyst selection, and process optimization.

Shape Memory Polymer Adhesive Gripper

Dr. Seok Kim has developed a robotic gripper arm which has potential applications in many fields including aerospace, electronics, manufacturing, logistics, and micro-...

Dr. Seok Kim has developed a robotic gripper arm which has potential applications in many fields including aerospace, electronics, manufacturing, logistics, and micro-electromechanical systems industries. This invention improves on current technology because it has unique properties that can pick-and-place interacting only a single surface of a target object, work in a vacuum or porous surface objects and that can be cheaply and simply manufactured.  This design includes improvements to the adhesive's detachment capabilities.

A Method for Synthesizing Zeolites with Tunable Hydrophobicity

Dr. Flaherty has developed a method for synthesizing zeolites with controlled defect density. By controlling the defect density of the zeolite materials during synthesis,...

Dr. Flaherty has developed a method for synthesizing zeolites with controlled defect density. By controlling the defect density of the zeolite materials during synthesis, their hydrophobicity can be controlled. This is a first of its kind synthetic technique allows for the physical and chemical properties of a variety of zeolite materials to be finely tuned which may have a significant impact on their performance as catalysts and adsorbents. Moreover, this synthetic technique can be easily implemented into existing process streams with minor or no modifications to existing procedures.

Antibacterial Polymeric Coatings

Antibacterial Polymeric Coatings mimic the properties of cicada wings which allows them to induce bacterial necrosis mechanically by tearing the cell membrane. These...

Antibacterial Polymeric Coatings mimic the properties of cicada wings which allows them to induce bacterial necrosis mechanically by tearing the cell membrane. These polymer coatings are a broad-spectrum approach to limiting bio-fouling. Unlike conventional coatings these polymer coatings do not require the use of toxic chemicals or antibiotics which makes them ideal for use as coatings in medical device implants.

Spontaneous Patterning during Frontal Polymerization

Researchers from the University of Illinois developed a novel method to fabricate patterns on polymer substrate pDCPD and pCOD using frontal polymerization(FP). Unlike...

Researchers from the University of Illinois developed a novel method to fabricate patterns on polymer substrate pDCPD and pCOD using frontal polymerization(FP). Unlike traditional polymer manufacturing techniques, this technology does not rely on deterministic methods such as molds, inverse replicas. By introducing thermal instabilities, this invention generates patterns as the polymerization process takes place through FP with a significantly lower energy input and shorter curing process compared to the previously available technique. Notably, the patterning introduced in the polymer using this technology is not limited to the surface. It can also change the mechanical property of the polymer, specifically stiffness, opacity, and absorbance, to create volume patterning as well as color patterning.

This technology can be utilized to introduce unique designs in various applications. Furthermore, it can potentially improve surface functionalities as well as the mechanical function of the polymer used in various products including automotive body panels, aerospace applications, protective films, construction material, and many more.

New catalyst formulations for Frontal Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization (FROMP)

Researchers at Illinois have developed new catalytic systems to perform FROMP. Large-scale, energy efficient industrial polymerization syntheses are accessed with FROMP....

Researchers at Illinois have developed new catalytic systems to perform FROMP. Large-scale, energy efficient industrial polymerization syntheses are accessed with FROMP. So far, 2nd generation Grubbs catalyst has been extensively used for FROMP. Exploring new catalyst formulations resulted in polymers with varied mechanical properties and affected the polymerization process. These new formulations expand on previously developed synthesis to offer greater flexibility, tunability, and control of end products and the manufacturing process.

Benefits:

  • Energy efficient
  • Short reaction times
  • Resultant polymers with different mechanical properties
  • Unusually flexible polymer

Market Application:  

  • Varied applications including chlor-alkali production, automotive, construction industries

 

Image shows swelling behavior of the resultant polymersusing new catalyst formulations.

Ultra-scalable and Resilient Etched Metal Enhancements for Enhanced Refrigerant-Side Heat Transfer in HVAC Equipment

Dr. Miljkovic has developed microstructured aluminum (Al) tubes with increased heat transfer rates of 240% during refrigerant flow boiling. Highly conformal are generated...

Dr. Miljkovic has developed microstructured aluminum (Al) tubes with increased heat transfer rates of 240% during refrigerant flow boiling. Highly conformal are generated by a scalable etching technique. The cost-effective techniques used to create etched-Al microstructures stand to significantly reduce manufacturing cost and time required for current enhancement approaches such as extrusion, drawing, and welding. At the same time increased performance is ensured on the thermal side. In addition, the fabricated etched structures are highly durable due to structure formation based on the base metal, and therefore do not suffer from thermal expansion coefficient mismatch issues, as is the case with other enhancements.

Electrochemical Recycling of Homogeneous Catalysts

Professor Xiao Su and colleagues have developed an electrochemical system for the separation and reutilization of homogenous catalysts including Pt and Pd-cross coupling...

Professor Xiao Su and colleagues have developed an electrochemical system for the separation and reutilization of homogenous catalysts including Pt and Pd-cross coupling catalysts and many other noble metal homogenous catalysts. This catalyst recycling system allows for the direct capture of a homogenous catalysts from a reaction mixture, the captured catalyst can then be desorbed into a new reaction mixture. Notably, this catalyst capture and release system operates without chemically altering the catalyst species thus this system maintains the original catalyst activity. This electrochemical system utilizes redox polymer electrodes allowing for the >99% catalyst adsorption within a 5-minute period. The adsorption properties of this system can be easily adjusted by modifying the applied current and electrode dimensions. Furthermore, >99% of the catalyst adsorbed can be released from the redox electrodes resulting in a highly efficient catalyst recycling system.

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