The Pennsylvania NanoMaterials Commercialization Center recently announced funding for a project involving Philadelphia-based Arkema Inc.
The center, in partnership with Lehigh University, has awarded Arkema $275,000 of Air Force Research Laboratory funding, and the company is providing an equal amount in matching funds. Arkema will use the award to develop and commercialize its Nanostrength block copolymer technology, called BlocBuilder, for efficient toughening of epoxies used in wind energy and electronic materials applications.
According to the company, the advantages of this technology are that it allows increased reliability of wind blades without sacrificing strength, and it provides higher resistance to crack formation in materials used in electronics. The company's BlocBuilder technology also will be valuable in a wide variety of adhesives, coatings and composites.
SOURCE: Pennsylvania NanoMaterials Commercialization Center
