TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY Continuous Electric-Field Assisted Sintering (CEFAS) System
Closed Special Notice Posted
- Solicitation number
- BA-1488
- Agency
-
Department of Energy
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 562920 Materials Recovery Facilities
- Place of performance
- Idaho Falls, Idaho 83415, United States
- Points of contact
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
Idaho National Laboratory (INL), managed and operated by Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC, has issued a technology licensing opportunity through the Department of Energy for the Continuous Electric-Field Assisted Sintering (CEFAS) system. This Special Notice represents a government-to-industry technology transfer initiative designed to commercialize government-funded research developed at the national laboratory. The CEFAS system represents an advancement over traditional electric-field assisted sintering technology by introducing continuous processing capabilities rather than batch-based manufacturing methods. The opportunity was posted on October 31, 2023, with a submission deadline of July 1, 2026. No set-aside restrictions apply to this opportunity, meaning it is open to all eligible parties. This initiative aligns with the Department of Energy's broader effort to convert federally-funded research into commercial products, job creation, and economic benefits.
The CEFAS technology achieves significant performance improvements over conventional EFAS systems, including a 200-fold reduction in processing time and up to a 23-fold decrease in energy consumption while eliminating constraints on part length and enabling continuous industrial-scale production. Interested parties may pursue either a technology license agreement or a collaborative research agreement to commercialize the system. The opportunity targets material processing companies and industries where rapid scaling and time efficiency are critical operational factors, including those requiring advanced sintering solutions for manufacturing applications. While the Special Notice does not specify formal eligibility restrictions, participation is implicitly limited to organizations capable of commercializing or further developing the technology through licensing or research partnerships. Potential applicants should contact Idaho National Laboratory to express interest and explore the specific terms, intellectual property arrangements, and partnership structures available for this technology transfer opportunity.
Notice text
3 versions
Update #3 · Latest ·
TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY
Continuous Electric-Field Assisted Sintering (CEFAS) System
Revolutionizing traditional EFAS manufacturing with a continuous processing system.
Opportunity: Idaho National Laboratory (INL), managed and operated by Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (BEA), offers the opportunity to explore a license and/or collaborative research agreement to commercialize this Continuous Electric-Field Assisted Sintering (CEFAS) system. This technology transfer opportunity is part of a dedicated effort to convert government-funded research into job opportunities, businesses, and, ultimately, an improved way of life for the American people.
Overview: Electric-field assisted sintering (EFAS) has been the go-to technique for sintering materials through the application of uniaxial forces and electrical currents. However, its batch processing method limits the production volume and part geometries that can be achieved. Traditional EFAS devices are further constrained by factors such as die size, which imposes limitations on scale-up possibilities and part dimensions.
Description: The CEFAS system moves beyond the limitations of batch EFAS systems by introducing a continuous sintering process. Instead of employing uniaxial forces in a closed die setup, this invention leverages a form factor change: electricity now passes across rollers, which heat and compress materials as they travel through. This makes it feasible to produce theoretically infinite sample lengths and paves the way for increased rates of part production.
Benefits:
• Unprecedented 200-fold reduction in processing time compared to traditional EFAS.
• Up to 23-fold decrease in energy consumption.
• Eliminates limitations on part length, facilitating new part geometries.
• Enables seamless industrial scale-up by allowing for continuous processing.
Applications:
• Material processing companies requiring sintering solutions.
• Industries where scale-up and time efficiency are critical.
• Manufacturing processes requiring specialized part geometries.
Development Status: The technology is at a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4-5 with some validation work done in laboratory.
IP Status: Provisional Patent Application No. 63/502,358, “Sintering Assemblies and Associated Methods,” BEA Docket No. BA-1488.
INL seeks to license the above intellectual property to a company with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Exclusive rights in defined fields of use may be available. Added value is placed on relationships with small businesses, start-up companies, and general entrepreneurship opportunities.
Please visit Technology Deployment’s website at https://inl.gov/inl-initiatives/technology-deployment for more information on working with INL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process.
Companies interested in learning more about this licensing opportunity should contact Javier Martinez at 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 to assist in the development of this technology.
Update #2 ·
TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY
Continuous Electric-Field Assisted Sintering (CEFAS) System
Revolutionizing traditional EFAS manufacturing with a continuous processing system.
Opportunity: Idaho National Laboratory (INL), managed and operated by Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (BEA), offers the opportunity to explore a license and/or collaborative research agreement to commercialize this Continuous Electric-Field Assisted Sintering (CEFAS) system. This technology transfer opportunity is part of a dedicated effort to convert government-funded research into job opportunities, businesses, and, ultimately, an improved way of life for the American people.
Overview: Electric-field assisted sintering (EFAS) has been the go-to technique for sintering materials through the application of uniaxial forces and electrical currents. However, its batch processing method limits the production volume and part geometries that can be achieved. Traditional EFAS devices are further constrained by factors such as die size, which imposes limitations on scale-up possibilities and part dimensions.
Description: The CEFAS system moves beyond the limitations of batch EFAS systems by introducing a continuous sintering process. Instead of employing uniaxial forces in a closed die setup, this invention leverages a form factor change: electricity now passes across rollers, which heat and compress materials as they travel through. This makes it feasible to produce theoretically infinite sample lengths and paves the way for increased rates of part production.
Benefits:
• Unprecedented 200-fold reduction in processing time compared to traditional EFAS.
• Up to 23-fold decrease in energy consumption.
• Eliminates limitations on part length, facilitating new part geometries.
• Enables seamless industrial scale-up by allowing for continuous processing.
Applications:
• Material processing companies requiring sintering solutions.
• Industries where scale-up and time efficiency are critical.
• Manufacturing processes requiring specialized part geometries.
Development Status: The technology is at a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4-5 with some validation work done in laboratory.
IP Status: Provisional Patent Application No. 63/502,358, “Sintering Assemblies and Associated Methods,” BEA Docket No. BA-1488.
INL seeks to license the above intellectual property to a company with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Exclusive rights in defined fields of use may be available. Added value is placed on relationships with small businesses, start-up companies, and general entrepreneurship opportunities.
Please visit Technology Deployment’s website at https://inl.gov/inl-initiatives/technology-deployment for more information on working with INL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process.
Companies interested in learning more about this licensing opportunity should contact Andrew Rankin at 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 to assist in the development of this technology.
Update #1 ·
TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY
Continuous Electric-Field Assisted Sintering (CEFAS) System
Revolutionizing traditional EFAS manufacturing with a continuous processing system.
Opportunity: Idaho National Laboratory (INL), managed and operated by Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (BEA), offers the opportunity to explore a license and/or collaborative research agreement to commercialize this Continuous Electric-Field Assisted Sintering (CEFAS) system. This technology transfer opportunity is part of a dedicated effort to convert government-funded research into job opportunities, businesses, and, ultimately, an improved way of life for the American people.
Overview: Electric-field assisted sintering (EFAS) has been the go-to technique for sintering materials through the application of uniaxial forces and electrical currents. However, its batch processing method limits the production volume and part geometries that can be achieved. Traditional EFAS devices are further constrained by factors such as die size, which imposes limitations on scale-up possibilities and part dimensions.
Description: The CEFAS system moves beyond the limitations of batch EFAS systems by introducing a continuous sintering process. Instead of employing uniaxial forces in a closed die setup, this invention leverages a form factor change: electricity now passes across rollers, which heat and compress materials as they travel through. This makes it feasible to produce theoretically infinite sample lengths and paves the way for increased rates of part production.
Benefits:
• Unprecedented 200-fold reduction in processing time compared to traditional EFAS.
• Up to 23-fold decrease in energy consumption.
• Eliminates limitations on part length, facilitating new part geometries.
• Enables seamless industrial scale-up by allowing for continuous processing.
Applications:
• Material processing companies requiring sintering solutions.
• Industries where scale-up and time efficiency are critical.
• Manufacturing processes requiring specialized part geometries.
Development Status: The technology is at a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4-5 with some validation work done in laboratory.
IP Status: Provisional Patent Application No. 63/502,358, “Sintering Assemblies and Associated Methods,” BEA Docket No. BA-1488.
INL seeks to license the above intellectual property to a company with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Exclusive rights in defined fields of use may be available. Added value is placed on relationships with small businesses, start-up companies, and general entrepreneurship opportunities.
Please visit Technology Deployment’s website at https://inl.gov/inl-initiatives/technology-deployment for more information on working with INL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process.
Companies interested in learning more about this licensing opportunity should contact Andrew Rankin at td@inl.gov.
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