Tech Licensing Opportunity: Advanced Bonding Method for Heterogeneous Systems

Closed Special Notice Posted

Solicitation number
BA-1444
Agency
Responses due
Set-aside
No set-aside

Opportunity facts

NAICS code
562920 Materials Recovery Facilities
Place of performance
Idaho Falls, Idaho 83415, United States

Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .

About this opportunity

This Special Notice outlines a technology licensing opportunity from the Department of Energy (DOE) for an advanced bonding method for heterogeneous materials. The method was developed by researchers at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and allows for seamless bonding of similar and dissimilar materials while maintaining the grain structure and enhancing the overall material properties and integrity.

The purpose of this Special Notice is to make this innovative bonding technology available for licensing to interested parties. The method has been demonstrated using Electric Field Assisted Sintering (EFAS) but can be adapted for use with various sintering technologies, providing versatility for different manufacturing contexts. Key advantages include enhanced durability, energy efficiency, and the elimination of the need for additional interface materials, resulting in cost and complexity reductions. The technology is applicable across industries such as electronics, nuclear, aerospace, and ceramics manufacturing, and is currently at a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 6. Interested parties can learn more about the licensing opportunities and support provided by INL through the contact information provided.

Notice text

2 versions

Update #2 · Latest ·

Advanced Bonding Method for Heterogeneous Systems

An advanced method for seamlessly bonding similar and dissimilar materials, maintaining grain structure to minimize disruptions at the bond interface and enhancing material properties and integrity.

The Challenge:

In the high-stakes realms of aerospace, electronics, and nuclear industries, the integrity of material bonds can mean the difference between success and catastrophic failure. Traditionally, bonding similar and dissimilar materials often involves using interlayers or powders, which unfortunately creates visible bond lines that can become points of weakness. Researchers at INL have pioneered a groundbreaking method to achieve bonding of dissimilar materials through a multi-stage sintering process.

How it Works:

This innovative bonding method is much less energy intensive relative to other diffusion welding type technologies. The process also eliminates the need for additional interface materials to achieve material bonding. It removes the weaknesses associated with visible bond lines, providing a stronger, more reliable bond for a range of materials including ceramics, metals, and various combinations. The method has been demonstrated using Electric Field Assisted Sintering (EFAS) technologies, but it is adaptable for use with multiple sintering technologies, offering flexibility across different manufacturing contexts.

Key Advantages:

  • Enhanced Durability: Bonding without visible bond lines significantly reduces potential failure points, resulting in stronger and more reliable materials.
  • Energy Efficiency: When coupled with Electric Field Assisted Sintering, the method reduces processing time by an order of magnitude vs. hot press, providing an eco-friendly alternative to traditional methods
  • Versatility: The technology is applicable not only in EFAS furnaces but can also be adapted for hot press, hot isostatic press, and conventional box or tube furnaces.
  • No Additional Materials Needed: Eliminates the use of interlayers or powders, reducing material costs and complexity in the bonding process.
  • Improved Material Properties: Bonding partially sintered materials allows for increased deformation at the bonding interface, enhancing overall quality of the bond.

Problems Solved

  • Elimination of detectable grain structure alterations (bond lines) at the interface, which can lead to inferior material properties.
  • Addresses limitations in bonding dissimilar materials
  • Reduced energy consumption relative to traditional bonding methods
  • Capable of joining materials with complex geometries

Market Applications

  • Electronics manufacturing for enhanced component durability
  • Nuclear industry for improved material reliability under extreme conditions
  • Aerospace industry for stronger structural materials
  • Manufacturing of ceramics with complex shapes and high strength requirements
  • Development of composite materials with superior mechanical properties

Development Status: TRL 6

US Provisional Patent Application No. 63/593,137, “METHODS OF BONDING OF SIMILAR AND DISSIMILAR MATERIALS AND RELATED ARTICLES,” BEA Docket No. BA-1444

INL Tech Partnerships: Your Gateway to Innovation

INL offers strategic access to proprietary technology, enhancing small business growth and contributing to economic and public advancement. We cater licensing terms to each business we work with, ensuring mutually beneficial agreements. Engage with our diverse technology offerings to propel your company forward.

Learn more about our licensing opportunities and the support we provide at https://inl.gov/technology-deployment/. For specific discussions on how your business can benefit, please contact td@inl.gov.

INL’s Technology Deployment department focuses exclusively on licensing intellectual property and partnering with industry collaborators capable of commercializing our innovations. Our goal is to commercialize the technologies developed by INL researchers. We do not engage in purchasing, manufacturing, procurement decisions, or providing funding. Additionally, this is not a call for external services for the development of this technology.

Update #1 ·

Advanced Bonding Method for Heterogeneous Systems

An advanced method for seamlessly bonding similar and dissimilar materials, maintaining grain structure to minimize disruptions at the bond interface and enhancing material properties and integrity.

The Challenge:

In the high-stakes realms of aerospace, electronics, and nuclear industries, the integrity of material bonds can mean the difference between success and catastrophic failure. Traditionally, bonding similar and dissimilar materials often involves using interlayers or powders, which unfortunately creates visible bond lines that can become points of weakness. Researchers at INL have pioneered a groundbreaking method to achieve bonding of dissimilar materials through a multi-stage sintering process.

How it Works:

This innovative bonding method is much less energy intensive relative to other diffusion welding type technologies. The process also eliminates the need for additional interface materials to achieve material bonding. It removes the weaknesses associated with visible bond lines, providing a stronger, more reliable bond for a range of materials including ceramics, metals, and various combinations. The method has been demonstrated using Electric Field Assisted Sintering (EFAS) technologies, but it is adaptable for use with multiple sintering technologies, offering flexibility across different manufacturing contexts.

Key Advantages:

  • Enhanced Durability: Bonding without visible bond lines significantly reduces potential failure points, resulting in stronger and more reliable materials.
  • Energy Efficiency: When coupled with Electric Field Assisted Sintering, the method reduces processing time by an order of magnitude vs. hot press, providing an eco-friendly alternative to traditional methods
  • Versatility: The technology is applicable not only in EFAS furnaces but can also be adapted for hot press, hot isostatic press, and conventional box or tube furnaces.
  • No Additional Materials Needed: Eliminates the use of interlayers or powders, reducing material costs and complexity in the bonding process.
  • Improved Material Properties: Bonding partially sintered materials allows for increased deformation at the bonding interface, enhancing overall quality of the bond.

Problems Solved

  • Elimination of detectable grain structure alterations (bond lines) at the interface, which can lead to inferior material properties.
  • Addresses limitations in bonding dissimilar materials
  • Reduced energy consumption relative to traditional bonding methods
  • Capable of joining materials with complex geometries

Market Applications

  • Electronics manufacturing for enhanced component durability
  • Nuclear industry for improved material reliability under extreme conditions
  • Aerospace industry for stronger structural materials
  • Manufacturing of ceramics with complex shapes and high strength requirements
  • Development of composite materials with superior mechanical properties

Development Status: TRL 6

US Provisional Patent Application No. 63/593,137, “METHODS OF BONDING OF SIMILAR AND DISSIMILAR MATERIALS AND RELATED ARTICLES,” BEA Docket No. BA-1444

INL Tech Partnerships: Your Gateway to Innovation

INL offers strategic access to proprietary technology, enhancing small business growth and contributing to economic and public advancement. We cater licensing terms to each business we work with, ensuring mutually beneficial agreements. Engage with our diverse technology offerings to propel your company forward.

Learn more about our licensing opportunities and the support we provide at https://inl.gov/technology-deployment/. For specific discussions on how your business can benefit, please contact td@inl.gov.

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