SPECIAL NOTICE
A -- TECHNOLOGY/BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Fabricating Structure Particles via Rapid Hardening and Tailored Collection Methods - Graphic
- Notice Date
- 4/10/2018
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 238990
— All Other Specialty Trade Contractors
- Contracting Office
- Department of Energy, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (DOE Contractor), Industrial Partnerships & Commercialization, 7000 East Avenue, L-795, Livermore, California, 94550
- ZIP Code
- 94550
- Solicitation Number
- FBO380-18
- Archive Date
- 5/11/2018
- Point of Contact
- Connie L Pitcock, Phone: 925-422-1072
- E-Mail Address
-
pitcock1@llnl.gov
(pitcock1@llnl.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Image of Fabrication Method Opportunity : Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), operated by the Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS), LLC under contract no. DE-AC52-07NA27344 (Contract 44) with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is offering the opportunity to partner on development for commercialization of a novel technology for fabricating functional polymer-based particles. Background : The synthesis and fabrication of particles and capsules with tailored microstructures have received significant attention in the last 15 years owing to their potential applications in drug delivery, electronic displays and biotechnology. There has been a fundamental transition in viewing particles as material feedstock for the fabrication of large objects to individual units with their own form and function. The driving force for this transformation is the development of new processing techniques to fabricate these materials with enhanced properties, such as high surface area, narrow particle size distribution, total porosity, shell thickness and permeability. In many advanced applications such as drug and gene delivery, photonics and catalysis, the distribution and organization of matter play an important role in providing new functionalities. Development of new fabrication methods for new and old materials is essential to the growth in this area. D escription : Livermore researchers have developed a method of fabricating functional polymer-based particles by crosslinking UV-curable polymer drops in mid-air and collecting crosslinked particles in a solid container, a liquid suspension, or an air flow. Particles could contain different phases in the form or layered structures that contain one to multiple cores, or structures that are blended with dissolved or emulsified smaller domains. Particles can be spherical, oval-shaped or irregularly shaped with a size range of 1 μm - 10 mm. Hardening of the particles is achieved by crosslinking the polymer precursor drop, which are generated by co-axial nozzles, with UV when the drops travel through the exposure window. Particles can also be obtained through thermal setting and solvent extraction after collection. Crosslinked particles will be gathered with different collection methods depending on their properties. Final products can be used for carbon dioxide capture, display material, chemical sensing and bio reaction. Advantages : LLNL's method eliminates the need of having a carrier fluid during emulsion generation by making drops in air through injection. Drops' movement is affected by gravity, the angle of the nozzle, and the flow rate of the fluids. By using polymer precursor that can cure within seconds of UV exposure, encapsulation is completed by the time particles are collected, greatly reducing the fabrication time. Single unit production rate is 50x-1000x more than that shown in typical microfluidic-based production, and the production apparatus can be parallelized for even higher production. Potential Applications : This technology is useful for applications such as carbon capture, display material, chemical sensing, bio reaction, enzyme scaffold, and other applications that uses functional particles/capsules. Development Status: LLNL has filed for patent protection on its novel method for fabricating functional polymer-based particles. LLNL is seeking industry partners with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Moving critical technology beyond the Laboratory to the commercial world helps our licensees gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. All licensing activities are conducted under policies relating to the strict nondisclosure of company proprietary information. Please visit the IPO website at https://ipo.llnl.gov/resources for more information on working with LLNL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process. Note: THIS IS NOT A PROCUREMENT. Companies interested in commercializing LLNL's method for fabricating functional polymer-based particles should provide a written statement of interest, which includes the following: 1. Company Name and address. 2. The name, address, and telephone number of a point of contact. 3. A description of corporate expertise and facilities relevant to commercializing this technology. Written responses should be directed to: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Innovation and Partnerships Office P.O. Box 808, L-795 Livermore, CA 94551-0808 Attention: FBO 380-18 Please provide your written statement within thirty (30) days from the date this announcement is published to ensure consideration of your interest in LLNL's method for fabricating functional polymer-based particles.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DOE/LLNL/LL/FBO380-18/listing.html)
- Record
- SN04884132-W 20180412/180410230810-89bd3362da1f2489f1ef2b4e3819f344 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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