Research Terms
Researchers from the University of Central Florida and Illinois Institute of Technology have invented a new process that creates carbon nanotube (CNT)—non-oxide structural ceramic nanocomposites through the laser sintering of a mixture of CNTs and non-oxide structural ceramic powders (such as carbide, nitride, or boride), compared to the currently available processes such as hot pressing or thermal spraying. This novel technique provides improved hardness and fracture toughness to ceramic nanocomposites.
This technology can potentially produce ceramic nanocomposite surface coatings with little thermal damage—difficult to achieve with hot pressing. This process can be used on critical mechanical parts that are subjected to harsh environments, which need enhanced surface wear or corrosion resistance, such as turbine blades, pump shafts, hydraulic piston and connecting rods, automobile brake pads, and so on.
Technical DetailsThis novel process involves placing the mixture in an inert atmosphere during laser sintering, which occurs in a chamber, to avoid a reaction of the mixture with the ambient atmosphere and undesirably absorbing or scattering the laser beam??s energy. The chamber, comprised of a gas application shield which permits the transmission of a laser beam without significant alteration, is equipped with at least one flow system and a filtration system to permit at least one periodic gas medium flow, continuous gas medium flow, periodic gas medium filtration, and continuous gas medium filtration. A quantity of CNTs is combined with a non-oxide structural ceramic powder, comprised of chromium carbide (CnC2), boron carbide (B4C), or molybdenum carbide (Mo2C), to form a mixture, and is then laser sintered to form a CNT - non-oxide structural ceramic nanocomposite.
Researchers at the University of Central Florida have invented a revolutionary way for existing fossil fuel-fired power plants to significantly reduce their maintenance costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and produce even more electricity in the process. By simply retrofitting their turbine systems with UCF's specially designed recuperators and hot gas path components, companies can operate at peak efficiency much longer and harness their CO2 exhaust gas to operate a supercritical carbon dioxide (S-CO2)-based power cycle to increase energy production. Made of a unique polymer-derived ceramic composite (PDCC) material, the new components are smaller, lighter, and much stronger than traditional hot gas path components and recuperators.
The invention consists of a power generation system that includes a turbine with ceramic-based recuperators (heat exchangers) and hot gas path components (such as combustion liners, transition pieces and sealings). All components are made of an innovative, inexpensive PDCC material. Compared to superalloys found in turbines today, PDCC fibers have twice the strength and can handle much higher operating temperatures (more than 2,200 F). The invention also comprises configurations for high and low temperature recuperators, each with multiple matrix panels that interconnect to define hot and cold fluid channels. For example, the hot fluid channels can be adjacent to cold fluid channels and arranged in a counterflow and stair-step configuration. Companies can use the invention to retrofit both closed and semi-closed Brayton power generation systems.
The University of Central Florida invention is a material that can help to improve radiotherapy accuracy. It includes a method for making the material with radiological and mechanical properties equivalent to those of human lungs. Radiation treatment of cancer typically involves the use of high energy X-ray beams focused on the location of the tumor. A typical lung radiotherapy procedure takes approximately 15 minutes, during which the patient cannot be expected to hold breath to keep the tumor stationary. The tumor motion associated with patient breathing usually results in under-treatment and over-exposure of the surrounding healthy tissue to harmful radiation.
To minimize such tumor localization errors, UCF researchers developed a method for synthesizing alginate-based porous hydrogel material with mechanical and radiological properties equivalent to human lungs. The UCF invention thus provides a pathway to physically assess radiation dosage on human tissues and organs, as well as to validate the motion of a human lung and a lung tumor to improve radiotherapy accuracy.
Technical Details: The UCF invention comprises a porous hydrogel material and the method for making the material, which is mechanically and radiologically equivalent to a human organ. The method is relatively easy to implement and environmentally friendly. Naturally derived, the material includes a foamlike alginate hydrogel mixed with appropriate chemicals. Based on established alginate hydrogel preparation procedures, the method includes the addition of surfactants followed by mechanical mixing. Chemicals include sodium alginate, calcium carbonate (CaCO3), glucono delta-lactone (GDL), and sodium lauryl ether sulfate. The material properties can be readily adjusted by changing the alginate concentration as well as the solution volume.
Partnering Opportunity: The research team is seeking partners for licensing, research collaboration, or both.
Stage of Development: Prototype available.
