Ultrahard Stishovite

Lehigh University Office of Technology Transfer
posted on 03/10/2011

Description :

Stishovite is the hardest oxidic material known. It can be incorporated into machine tools for processes such as cutting, milling and grinding, as well as used for other applications such as coatings. Its composition means it does not suffer oxidization problems.

Lehigh University has developed a low cost, high pressure novel synthesis process for stishovite production at temperatures between 400-550°C and pressures of 10-12 GPa, using a multi anvil reactor. The raw materials are low cost. The material is synthesized in minutes. The process results in a controlled morphology (i.e. creation of dispersed individual nanocrystals rather than a synthetic conglomerate). The process means that scaling to large reactors is feasible so long as pressure is maintained. Additional research will explore production at pressures on the order of 5-6 GPa, more commonly used in industry.

A United States patent application, US61148588, has been filed on this technology.

The Market:

Stishovite nanoparticles can be incorporated into work tools and sanding/abrasion disks. By 2011, the US abrasive materials market will be sized at $5.3 billion. It is anticipated that ultrahard materials such as diamonds and cubic boron nitride will be the most demanded raw materials.[[1]] The world market for superhard coatings, growing at 14.3%, will be sized at $1 billion by 2012.[2]

The Opportunity:

Lehigh University is interested in licensing this technology.

About Lehigh University:

Lehigh University is a leading research university with an enrollment of approximately 8,000 undergraduate and graduate students.

For More Information on this Technology Contact:

Yatin S. Karpe, Ph.D.
Associate Director

Office of Technology Transfer
Lehigh University
354 Whitaker Laboratory
5 East Packer Ave.
Bethlehem, PA 18015

Phone: (610) 758-5841
Fax: (610) 758-5888 fax
Email: yatin.karpe@lehigh.edu
Web: http://www.lehigh.edu/ott

Claire Casola

Licensing Coordinator

Foresight Science & Technology

Phone & Email: 401-273-4844 ext. 17; claire.casola@foresightst.com

http://www.foresightst.com/index.html

[1] "Abrasives to 2011 - Market Research, Market Share, Market Size, Sales, Demand Forecast, Market Leaders, Company Profiles, Industry Trends." Freedonia Group web site. http://www.freedoniagroup.com/Abrasives.html (accessed July 19, 2010).

[2] "Diamond, Diamond-like and CBN Films & Coating Products." BCC Research web site. http://www.bccresearch.com/report/AVM025F.html (accessed July 19, 2010).

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Innovation Details

File Number: 012809-01

IP Protection

License Online

This innovation currently is not available for online licensing. Please contact Yatin Karpe at Lehigh University Office of Technology Transfer for more information.

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