immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: Verbundwerkstoffe

  • Revolution in materials technology

    Revolution in materials technology

    Epoxy resins are indispensable for numerous industrial applications, from adhesives to coatings and composites. While conventional two-component epoxy resins require precise mixing and fast processing, one-component epoxy resins offer simplified handling and consistent quality.

    However, previous solutions had weaknesses. They could often only be stored at low temperatures and had insufficient flame-retardant properties. This limited their potential applications in safety-critical areas such as the construction, electronics and telecommunications industries.

    Breakthrough from Korea
    A research team from the Korea Institute of Science and Technology in collaboration with Sungkyunkwan University has overcome these hurdles. Under the leadership of Dr Jaewoo Kim and Professor Chongmin Koo, they developed the “Epoxy/MXene One-Component Solution”, a combination of epoxy resin, a new type of latent hardener and the two-dimensional nanomaterial MXene.

    This innovation enables a storage stability of over 180 days at 60 °C, a significant advance compared to previous products, which lose their properties within 40 days at room temperature of 25 °C.

    MXene as the key to stability and safety
    MXene, a state-of-the-art nanomaterial, not only improves the thermal and mechanical resistance, but also makes a decisive contribution to the flame retardancy (V0 class) and electrical conductivity of the new epoxy resin. This opens up a wide range of applications in the high-performance industry, particularly for electromagnetic shielding materials, industrial coatings and adhesives.

    Industrial applications and future potential
    The combination of extended durability, improved safety features and easy handling makes the new 1-component epoxy resin particularly attractive for industries with high demands on material stability and fire protection.

    Possible areas of application

    • Electronics: Protective coatings for components and printed circuit boards
    • Construction industry: flame-retardant adhesives for safety applications
    • Telecommunications: high-performance materials for antennas and shielding housings

    With this innovation, the South Korean research team could have a lasting impact on materials technology and set new standards for single-component epoxy resins.

  • SAEKI Robotics receives $2.3 million in funding

    SAEKI Robotics receives $2.3 million in funding

    SAEKI Robotics has received $2.3 million from investors. The early financing round of the spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich(ETH), founded in 2022, was led by the Zurich-based investment firm Wingman Ventures. In addition, the two venture capital firms Vento from Turin and GETTY from New York as well as angel investors participated.

    According to a SAEKI announcement on LinkedIn, the funding will “support our mission to build a network of decentralised automated factories that combine digital manufacturing and robotics to produce large parts at the speed of light”, such as wind turbine blades, components for concrete building parts or aircraft and car parts.

    According to a Techcrunch article linked by SAEKI in the release, the three founders are focusing on building fully automated factories with independent robotic cells that can be booked by customers. “What we hear over and over again from people and companies is the desire for faster and more sustainable solutions for their parts,” co-founder Andrea Perissinotto is quoted as saying there. “The mere offer of savings from a multi-million dollar machine that requires a lot of space and additional resources, including hiring people who know new processes and materials, is not attractive to them.”

    The company also reportedly plans to collaborate with the composites industry for lightweight but strong parts in aircraft, cars and bicycles. SAEKI’s technology is expected to eliminate the time-consuming and expensive production of complex moulds from metal or composites, and thus a bottleneck for companies.