November 2005
Spark Sets the Way for Complex Curves
Results of a research project undertaken by Applied Functional Materials
(AFM) Ltd., could lead to a lucrative commercial deal worth approximately
£200k, thanks to a project funded as part of the SPARK award programme,
run by the PowdermatriX Faraday Partnership.
AFM, a spin-out company from the University of Birmingham at the cutting
edge of manufacturing complex shaped ceramic devices, recently undertook
feasibility studies into establishing an efficient manufacturing process
for creating curved piezo-composites.
Piezo-composites are widely used in ultrasonic applications such as
SONAR, non-destructive testing and biomedical imaging.
In ultrasonic, piezo-composites have proven to perform better than
just using a sintered ceramic block. However, the manufacturing process
is quite slow and wasteful of material. AFM believed that a more efficient
method could be used to create curved piezo-composites and was awarded
the SPARK funding to test its theory.
The positive results from the feasibility studies have shown that manufacture
of curved piezo-composites is possible, and have generated a great deal
of commercial interest.
On top of this, the SPARK award study has led to the development of
a new moulding technique that has great potential for a number of applications
both in those areas that AFM is currently supplying into ( e.g. satellite
communications) and in applications new to AFM.
SPARK awards are given to fund problem solving, proof-of-concept, technology
demonstration and other development activities for companies that are
members of PowdermatriX, the Faraday Partnership based at CERAM, which
is responsible for promoting advanced ceramics and powder technology.
For further information about SPARK awards, please click
here
or contact stuart.maclachan@ceram.com
For further information about Applied Functional Materials Ltd, please
contact Nina Woodman, Business Development Manager, nina.woodman@afm-ltd.com
or visit the website www.afm-ltd.com
PRESS CONTACT: Catherine West-Robinson, Marketing Co-ordinator
Tel: 01782 764344 Fax: 01782 412331 Email:
catherine.west-robinson@ceram.com
