You are browsing the archives of 2011 January.

Here’s what we are hearing:

Hybon 2026 fiber glass by PPG qualified for wind turbine blades by Aerodyn

New Energy researchers develop technology targeting improved efficiency and lower production costs of SolarWindow

Setaram offers new brochure about its activities, its products, its thermal analysis, calorimetry techniques and gas sorption solutions and services.

IPG Photonics strengthens commitment to growing Asian market; appoints Trevor Ness vice president, Asian operations

Thermal Technology launches commercial 90 kg Kyropoulos sapphire crystal grower

Asylum Research sets annual sales record

Ceramaterials moves to central headquarters and main warehousing facilities to Port Jervis, NY; expanded warehouse operations allows increased inventory level sand improved transportation resources

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Researchers at Missouri University of Science and Technology believe that increasing the amount of fly ash in concrete up to 70 percent can result in excellent concrete in terms of both strength and durability. And it could prevent millions of tons of the waste product from ending up in landfills.

“Traditional specifications limit the amount of fly ash to 35 or 40 percent cement replacement,” says Jeffery Volz, assistant professor of civil, architectural and environmental engineering at Missouri S&T in a university press release. “Recent studies have shown that higher cement replacement percentages - even up to 70 percent - can result in excellent concrete in terms of both strength and durability.”

Fly ash is commonly used as a concrete additive, but increasing the amount used will cut CO2 emissions, but it also brings its own set of challenges.

“Construction workers might refuse to work with it,” Volz says. “And there’s also the issue of at what point is it not a hazardous material when used for beneficial reuse. Is it once it is added to the ready mix truck, which means it is a hazardous waste in the silo at the ready mix plant? Or is it once the concrete hardens, which means it’s a hazardous waste up to that point?”

The EPA supports adding fly ash to concrete, however the agency is considering designating fly ash as a hazardous waste. And although it has been proven that adding fly ash to concrete renders is chemically altered and unable to leach toxic material, a hazardous waste label would make it more difficult to garner wide acceptance.

Volz is working with the Missouri Department of Transportation to develop guidelines for the proper application of high-volume fly ash concrete in infrastructure components.

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Maybe a bargain here (from company press release):

“Solar cell manufacturing machinery and equipment is being sold exclusively by Mohr Corporation on behalf of Motech Americas LLC’s facility in the State of Delaware in the USA as some manufacturing operations are discontinued at this location. This was formerly GE Energy’s solar manufacturing business which processed silicon carbide through crushing, screening and forming operations. The late model high tech surplus assets include laboratory and R & D through production including equipment manufactured by Harper, LECO, Baccini, Kason, Micro-Tech, Torit, BTU and others.

There is a list of the assets in this liquidation available from the Mohr Corporation. Contact the company via email or call/fax at (+1) 810.225.9494 * Fax (+1) 810.225.4634.

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Argonne National Lab has licensed its cathode technology to Envia Systems. (Credit: Argonne.)

Earlier this month we reported that Argonne National Lab had reached a licensing agreement with GM Ventures and LG Chem to allow the two businesses to use a special cathode technology for lithium batteries, specifically those used in GM’s Volt.

Argonne has just announced that it is also licensing its cathode technology to Envia Systems, based in Newark, Calif. That brings the total number of businesses to five, including BASF and Toda Kogyo.

Envia Systems was also recently awarded $3.65 million from the U.S. Advanced Battery Consortium, a research collaboration group composed of Chrysler, Ford and GM, to develop a high-energy cathode material for vehicle applications and pouch cells.

According to a GM press release, Envia’s advanced cathode technology uses inexpensive materials that store more energy per unit of mass than current cathode materials. Since the cathode is a key driver for the overall battery cost, the more energy the cathode delivers, the lower the battery cost because fewer cells are needed.

Envia says its HCMR cathode material enables batteries that are distinct in five primary ways: using low cost safe materials, delivering unmatched energy density, providing excellent cycle life and offering an inherent ability to customize battery size and output in order to meet the demands of a variety of applications, particularly EVs and PHEVs.

Below is a promotional video by Argonne highlighting the joint venture.

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Arkema and the French National Institute for Solar Energy (INES) are teaming up to create a private/public mixed research lab focused on the development of PV module technology.

Arkema develops polymers used in photovoltaic panels. According to their press release, this new joint laboratory will pool Arkema’s expertise in polymers, polymer films and nanomaterials, with the expertise of the INES CEA teams in design and in development processes for innovative photovoltaic modules, silicon and thin layers. This cooperation venture will be in place for an initial 4-year period.

This structure will help expand the technological offering of the photovoltaic sector in France, as well as its competitiveness in this strategic area.

The INES promotional video below highlights the innovations in solar research at the facility.

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