CSM -- Composite Sorbent Material (sea water surface treatment)/ Description

CSM -- Composite Sorbent Material Test (video)

DOP -- Destructor of Oil Pollutions (sea water deep layer treatment) / Description

Contacts more...

Laslo Olah President & CEO Phone Number: 972.907.2222 ext. 311   Hossein Pasvar Vice President, Research Programs Direct Dial Number: 214.570.7706   Todd Polk, Ph.D. Director, Research Programs Direct Dial Number: 214.570.7717

The main problems inherent in the modern production of tinplate are the tenfold cost increase within the last 50 years, and the use of highly toxic components. According to this new technology, a thin (1.5-2 g/sqm/side or 0.2-0.3 µm) protective texturally - composite tin coating is obtained using a low-toxicity sulfate electrolyte of increased stability. A passive film is then applied onto the tin coating in a chromium-free low-toxicity electrolyte instead of using the coating reflow operation.

The primary advantages of this technology include 1) the reduction of tin coating weight to 1.5-2 g/sq.m/side with the resulting reduction of tin and electric energy consumption, and 2) the elimination of highly toxic components during electrochemical deposition of tin coating onto steel sheet and subsequent release to the environment.

To learn more about how this technology can benefit you, please contact us at technology@txis.us.

Scientists affiliated with TxIS have developed a heat engine based on the Stirling cycle, which converts heat differences into usable energy. Changes in the design have improved the Stirling cycle and simplified the design of the machine. Utilizing a thermomechanical converter coupled with a linear electric generator, the generated energy is converted to electricity with an efficiency that is 3 times higher than that of wind turbines or solar panels.

The engine aims initially to generate electricity for mobile devices (phones and laptops) for use in the field where a ready supply of electricity is not available. Future applications, including those for home use, are being explored.

To learn more about how this technology can benefit you, please contact us at technology@txis.us.

Scientists affiliated with TxIS have created encapsulated biopolymers with the ability to remove heavy metals from both treated and untreated wastewater.To date, these novel adsorbents have been tested and have proven effective on heavy metals such as Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺, Cs⁺ and Sr²⁺.

The adsorption isotherms of metal ions on the adsorbents were determined and correlated with common isotherm equations, such as Langmuir and Freundlich models.The results revealed a significant adsorption capacity of the materials synthesized.

To learn more about how this technology can benefit you, please contact us at technology@txis.us.

Scientists affiliated with TxIS developed a wide family of composite welding wires based on a unified matrix. Utilizing non-traditional methods of microalloying and flux addition, these composite welding wires offer increased welding productivity, high stability for MIG/MAG welding, and minimize spattering and melting loss. Manufacturing costs are similar to those for traditional welding wire.

To learn more about how this technology can benefit you, please contact us at technology@txis.us.

Scientists affiliated with TxIS have developed a vapor deposition process that is ideal for both external and internal coating of axisymmetric/tubular surfaces. This technique utilizes ion-plasma devices that precisely match the surface shape, and can be used on surfaces as small as 25mm in diameter. The process is ecologically safe for use in coating surfaces of any length.

To learn more about how this technology can benefit you, please contact us at technology@txis.us.

The pump can utilize waste heat and very low temperature heat sources (such as a cold river) to generate power and heat commercial or residential districts. With this heat pump, every $1.00 invested into energy will return $8.00 worth of generated energy. Implementation of this technology provides a return on investment in 6 months.

To learn more about how this technology can benefit you, please contact us at technology@txis.us.

In vibratory-rotary drilling through hard rocks, high-frequency and high-intensity longitudinal vibration accelerations are imparted to the rock-cutting tool, which combines the advantages of vibratory drilling and rotary drilling. This vibratory-rotary drilling is implemented by mounting a cavitation hydrovibrator in the drill string. The hydrovibrator can be mounted either some distance from (e.g., over the core barrel) or just ahead of the rock-cutting tool. The hydrovibrator serves to transform the steady flow of drilling mud into a pulsating one. Depending on the hydrovibrator inlet pressure and the drilling depth, pulsation frequency can range from 100 to several thousand Hertz. The pulse pressure is 2 to 4 times higher than the steady pressure at the hydrovibrator inlet. The cavitation hydrovibrator sets up the longitudinal vibrations of the rock-cutting tool.

To learn more about how this technology can benefit you, please contact us at technology@txis.us.

Scientists affiliated with TxIS have developed a new Infinitely Variable Transmission (IVT) for use in several oilfield applications. The IVT may be used for top drives on drilling rigs, as a replacement for current transmissions used on mobile drilling rigs (for various drilling and hydraulic winches), and to drive mud pumps.

In all applications, the IVT provides a reduction in cost and weight, and simplifies maintenance and repair. IVT also offers infinitely variable operating speeds, reduces fuel consumption to lower overall operational costs.

To learn more about how this technology can benefit you, please contact us at technology@txis.us.

Scientists affiliated with TxIS recently developed several innovative advanced coating technologies. Two examples are highlighted below:

• Microarc Oxidation (MAO) for titanium, zirconium and aluminum alloys creates a coating that is highly resistant to corrosion in aggressive environments, is an excellent insulator and resists galvanic corrosion.
• High Temperature Flow of impulsive Plasma (HTFP) provides a coating for metallic and ceramic materials and coatings. It is a short cycle time plasma treatment that increases and improves corrosion resistance, hardness, wear and friction properties. HTFP can also be applied over a Thermal Barrier Coating to prolong the durability of engine parts.

To learn more about how this technology can benefit you, please contact us at technology@txis.us.

TxIS scientists have developed a new method to model the effects of stress deformation and their impact on hydrocarbon accumulation zones. The stress-deformed state has been modeled using structural-velocity models and refined through the use of actual seismic data, which allows improved computation of fluid dynamic properties. Permeability and capacity characteristics for reservoirs can be determined and utilized during prospecting for shale gas and coal-bed methane deposits.

To learn more about how this technology can benefit you, please contact us at technology@txis.us.

TxIS scientists are developing effective coagulants and flocculants for use by wastewater treatment companies. Work in this area is being carried out in two directions: synthesis of new macromolecular flocculants based on surfactants, and the modification and development of synergetic compositions based on different flocculants and coagulants, depending on the type of contaminants present in sewage. Several of these new flocculants have been tested with wastewater treatment plants and similar industries, where the wastewater contains fats and other organic matter. Our flocculants have shown equal to and in some cases, higher effectiveness than existing products.

To learn more about how this technology can benefit you, please contact us at technology@txis.us.

A team of scientists affiliated with Texas Institute of Science has recently developed an improved impeller design for use in hydraulic systems, impeller pumps and water turbines. This new design maintains high hydraulic efficiency over a wide operating range. The invention, which has been patented in the research team's home country and is available for licensing, has been field tested and is available for demonstration.

To learn more about how this technology can benefit you, please contact us at technology@txis.us.

By utilizing an array of piezoelectric transducers embedded in the wind turbine blade, this system provides early detection of potentially critical damage. The system uses both active and passive means of detection.

To learn more about how this technology can benefit you, please contact us at technology@txis.us.

TxIS scientists have developed a highly configurable software system for estimating evaporative losses from vertical cylindrical storage tanks (both fixed roof and internal floating roof tanks) for hydrocarbons and other chemicals such as Benzene, Toluene, Xylene (BTX). The software takes into account annual loading/unloading rates, as well as the physical characteristics and condition of the tank, and utilizes several pieces of meteorological data to optimize the results. All calculations conform to API specifications.

To learn more about how this technology can benefit you, please contact us at technology@txis.us.

All current wind turbine designs have one common feature – the turbine wheel lies in the unlimited air space. This leads to low efficiencies, in spite of extensive profiling of the turbine blades. A new design by TxIS-affiliated scientists eliminates this limitation and provides equivalent power production with a 35-40% smaller diameter wheel. Alternatively, 30-40% higher power can be generated by using the same size turbine wheel as current designs.

This new design also reduces overall noise levels by 10-15%, and eliminates the low frequency vibrations felt at ground level in current designs. And finally, the new design removes the possibility of exposure or harm to animals and birds.

To learn more about how this technology can benefit you, please contact us at technology@txis.us.

The biggest advantage of the proposed systems based on this material is that they can actively suppress combustion at source (both on the surface and inside an object) and put out the fire at its earliest stages. Such composite polymer extinguishers act independently of the alarms systems, automatic fire-fighting systems, emergency power supply shut-down systems, the human factor, etc. For the first time, the proposed material is not only passively barely combustible, but also reactive, it reacts to increased temperature or flame impact by immediate (inertia-free) release a powerful gasified fire extinguisher, resulting in a quick (normally within dozens of seconds) suppression of the fire. The composite polymer extinguisher material is a polymer matrix filled with micro capsules that contain a liquid high efficiency fire extinguisher. The diameter of the micro capsules is normally 150- 300 μm, and the fire extinguisher content is 94-96 % by weight. The presence of the micro capsule shells enables the liquid fire extinguisher to overheat to 70-100 °C above its boiling point, after which the shells burst, the liquid contents gasify and explode into the surrounding space. By altering the contents of the matrix and of the fire extinguisher material, the temperature of active response of the composite polymer extinguisher to external impact can be controlled within the temperature range from 160 °C to 230 °C.

To learn more about how this technology can benefit you, please contact us at technology@txis.us.

Technology is based on simple freezing of aqueous solution, subsequent irradiation with high power UV light for 2 – 5 minutes, thawing and freeze drying (optional). Among the major benefits of this method are:

1. extremely short time of cross-linking that leads to high productivity and very low capital outlay of product;
2. very efficient method of cross-linking (gel fraction yield approaching to 100%, initiator H2O2– the products can meet the requirements for application in biomedical areas without additional purification;
3. variety of polymer cryogels (biocompatible, biodegradable and/or temperature-responsive) can be synthesized from either polymer- or monomer precursors;
4. good durability at operation and long-time storage;
5. water-based system (no organic solvents are being used);
6. high loading capacity – 0.1-10 g/g with respect to the polymer network;
7. versatile method concerning the species that can be immobilized;
8. specific release profile can be designed;
9. Extraordinary mass, oxygen and heat transport.

To learn more about how this technology can benefit you, please contact us at technology@txis.us.

Interaction of every substance with an electromagnetic field induces an alternating potential difference with the same frequency as the frequency of the incident field. This effect is inherent to all solids, i.e. an alternating potential difference appears on any object illuminated with a modulated light. The frequency of the potential is equal to that of the modulation.

Applications
Using SPCE, one can:

• Irradiate solid surfaces to evaluate mechanical defects and imperfections, impurities and surface states, or the nature of surface electrical characteristics such as a type of conductivity, etc. One can also trace the shape of produced surface structures (i.e. ion implantation profiling).
• Remotely retrieve information on solid objects and their displacement.
• Analyze Gases, vapors and liquids – sensors based on SPCE can be developed to extract information from fluids and the processes taking place therein. (For example, it is possible to monitor the octane level in gasoline, determine impurities in liquids, or the concentration of gases.)
• Determine the level of a liquid (essentially by creating a level-meter with no moving parts).
• Monitor the deposition of materials from solution. (For example, such a change was observed when CaCO3 was deposited on a metal surface from water.)
• Perform express contactless chemical composition testing of samples. (For example, the identification of counterfeit coins – a cost-effective, compact detector could be designed that could be retrofitted into any coin-operated machine.)

To learn more about how this technology can benefit you, please contact us at technology@txis.us.

Electro-less nickel (EN) solutions require no external source of current to plate. EN baths utilize a chemical reducing agent built into the bath. The process provides a continuous build-up of deposit, since the metal being plated is itself a catalyst for the plating reaction. This is why EN is also known as autocatalytic nickel plating.

There is a large variety of EN coatings, typically defined by their alloy. They all share several properties, for example a high degree of deposit uniformity regardless of part geometry. Applications for EN can be found in virtually every industry due to a unique combination of deposit properties, including: excellent corrosion protection; superior wear resistance; uniform deposit regardless of part geometry; hard deposits as plated, with heat treatment available to increase hardness; plating on catalyzed non-conductors such as plastic; solderable deposits; ability to change the magnetic properties of a part and provide a diffusion barrier; and ability to provide salvage of worn or mis-machined parts.

EN is considered to be the simplest, yet the most versatile and cost effective method of coating.

To learn more about how this technology can benefit you, please contact us at technology@txis.us.

We are creating of an integrated package of reagents for the treatment of circulating water in waterblocks of oil refineries, chemical refineries and other companies. This package contains a number of substances that perform different functions, namely, corrosion inhibitors (complexing agents of iron ions), dispersants (ions of water hardness), stabilizers of suspensions and biocides. As a rule, all these substances are surface-active compounds. Corrosion inhibitors are developed on the basis of macromolecular and polyfunctional surfactants obtained. Substances have been tested on various waterblocks and have shown the best results among a test group of 20 different foreign and local corrosion inhibitors.

To learn more about how this technology can benefit you, please contact us at technology@txis.us.

We are developing effective corrosion inhibitors to protect refineries and similar equipment from vapor containing water, acid gases and low-molecular organic acids. Most of these inhibitors represent nitrogen-containing organic surfactants. Corrosion inhibitors as well as compositions based on them have been developed. These substances have been tested by an independent lab, and the degree of protection is greater than 90%.

To learn more about how this technology can benefit you, please contact us at technology@txis.us.

We are developing effective coagulants and flocculants for use by wastewater treatment companies. Work in this area is carried out in two directions: synthesis of new macromolecular flocculants based on surfactants, and the modification and development of synergetic compositions based on different flocculants and coagulants, depending on the type of contaminants present in sewage. Several of these new flocculants have been tested with wastewater treatment plants and similar industries, where the wastewater contains fats and other organic matter. Our flocculants have shown equal or, in some cases, higher effectiveness than existing products.

To learn more about how this technology can benefit you, please contact us at technology@txis.us.

The electromagnetic spectrum between visible light and microwaves (0.1 THz - 10 THz) is called terahertz (THz) radiation. This passes through clothing and packing material (paper, plastics, etc.), but will not pass through metallic materials. It is, therefore, highly suited for security applications. Normally THz spectroscopy produces fJ (femtojoule) energy pulses. We have developed a procedure that can create a 9 µJ (microjoule) energy pulse utilizing an electric field of 1 MV/cm.

THz pulses have been proven to be safer than X-rays due to their longer wavelength. This makes them suitable for several different medical applications as well. In addition, many organic molecules have characteristic THz absorption spectra, which allow their usage for drug identification.

To learn more about how this technology can benefit you, please contact us at technology@txis.us.

Duplex coating is a process that forms a thin ceramic and/or metallic film (e.g. TiN, TiAlN, AlTiN, CrN, AlCrN, and DLC – diamond like carbon) on a pre-treated metallic or non/metallic substrate by plasma nitriding. The process improves adhesion to the substrate and load bearing capacity of the coating (thanks to more favorable hardness vs. Young modulus (H/E) ratio at the coating inter-phase). Chemical composition can be varied in a wide range to modify required physical properties. In general, properties such as fatigue in bending, thermal fatigue, friction and wear, corrosion resistance are enhanced. For example, this leads to a substantial improvement in service time of tools and machine elements: e.g. dies for casting of light weight alloys (improved thermal fatigue), cold working tools (lower abrasive and adhesive wear), aluminum extrusion (adhesive and corrosion resistance), injection molding tools (improved corrosion, erosion resistance). Furthermore, the technology enables development of functionally graded nanostructure coatings (e.g. CrN/Cr, TiN/Ti, CrN/TiN nanolayers), super-lattice coatings (10nm sub-layers) with improved fracture toughness and high wear resistance coatings for highly demanding tribological applications.

To learn more about how this technology can benefit you, please contact us at technology@txis.us.

In the future such materials may be also used in technology for flexible electronics since polymer and composite layers may be fabricated on flexible substrates using casting or screen printing.

For electroluminescent devices the utilization of high-k polymers is especially important, since with all other conditions the same, brightness is in direct dependence on k value. Moreover, an increase of k value allows decreasing operating voltage and power consumption of the device. Such polymers should also have good light transmittance in the visible range, stability of properties, good adhesion to substrate, and high dielectric strength. It is also important to have suitable elasticity and stability of mechanical properties over a wide range of temperatures.

To learn more about how this technology can benefit you, please contact us at technology@txis.us.

An Electroluminescent Device (ELD) is a flat flexible source of cold light with very low power consumption. An ELD is basically a luminescent capacitor. ELDs are not subject to catastrophic failure and are resistant to mechanical influences - impacts, vibration, and bends. By applying alternating voltage to the electrodes, the phosphor crystals dispersed in the dielectric binder are excited and emit a cool even light. The emission spectrum is determined by the type of phosphor utilized, and by the applied operation frequency. Possible colors range from blue to red, including white. Brightness may be regulated by operating voltage and frequency. ELDs are environmentally friendly and don’t require any disposal - unlike luminescent lamps they do not contain mercury. Any size and shape of ELD may be created. It is possible to manufacture samples with complicated images of different colors. ELDs are extremely vibration and shock resistant, and they do not emit IR or UV.

To learn more about how this technology can benefit you, please contact us at technology@txis.us.

Taking into account the growing demand on highly luminescent semiconductor nanocrystals for light-emitting devices and tagging applications, a method for the fabrication of high quality CdSe nanocrystals is being developed: arrested nanocrystals precipitation in fluorate phosphate glasses with extraction of the nanocrystals from the glass by solution in different solvents. These nanosized phosphors represent a typical example of quantum dots (QD), in which atomic-like electronic energy levels are formed due to the confinement of charge carriers. In very small dots, the spacing of the electronic states is much greater than the available thermal energy (strong confinement). Upon UV-excitation these quantum dots show strong fluorescence that is a pronounced function of size, providing the advantage of continuous spectral tunability over a wide spectral range simply by changing the size of the nanocrystals. Because of strong luminescence (“band edge emission”) in combination with their high chemical flexibility (colloidal nanocrystals can be handled like ordinary chemical substances), luminescent semiconductor nanocrystals are currently being investigated as emitting materials for thin film light-emitting devices, optical amplifier media for telecommunication networks, and for biological labeling. This research deals with the development of advanced synthetic routes aimed at the development of advanced luminescent nanomaterials. Particularly high quality CdSe nanocrystals will be synthesized by a novel method: arrested precipitation in fluorate phosphate glasses. Analysis of the effect of the synthesis upon the nano-objects composition, structure and defects will be performed.

To learn more about how this technology can benefit you, please contact us at technology@txis.us.

A vacuum ion-plasma method for the deposition of transparent conductive Zinc oxide (ZnO) coatings allows coating of large size substrates and is applicable in the technology of displays, solar cells, anti-reflective coatings, etc. Substrate temperature is below 50^oC.

Achieved results:

• Specific volume resistance:~10^-5 Ohm*m.
• Transmittance of visible light: 0.8 – 0.85 (glass with coating).
• High stability of resistance over a large period of time. In ambient conditions samples were kept for 500 days; during that time resistance changed only 3-5 % (decreased).
• High thermal stability of resistance. Heating to 120-130^oC does not change the film’s resistance.
• Good adhesion to substrate.
• High reproducibility of properties.

To learn more about how this technology can benefit you, please contact us at technology@txis.us.

A technology overview of non-metallic conducting materials is presented in an available whitepaper. Materials discussed include intrinsically conducting polymers (ICP), plasma treated polymers, composites and nanocomposites, and ceramics. The use of nanoparticles dispersed in metallic and intermetallic alloys is also covered.

Aluminum alloys and in particular binary alloys are reviewed as well. An extensive summary table listing 52 different conducting materials is presented, including information on conductivity and mechanical properties.

To see a list of all available whitepapers, go to www.txis.us/txis/business/intelondemand/whitepapers.aspx.

To learn more about how this technology can benefit you or to purchase a copy of the whitepaper, please contact us at technology@txis.us.

A novel method for developing Aluminum-based Metal Matrix Composites (MMC) is introduced. These Aluminum/Carbon Nanotube composite conductors exhibit increased strength and reduced density when compared to copper, aluminum or aluminum alloys. These MMC also show excellent conductivity, and if properly manufactured can be higher than conductivity values for aluminum.

The multistage manufacturing process for producing Al/CNT composites is outlined and described in an available whitepaper. To see a list of all available whitepapers, go to www.txis.us/txis/business/intelondemand/whitepapers.aspx.

To learn more about how this technology can benefit you or to purchase a copy of the whitepaper, please contact us at technology@txis.us.