The American University in Cairo

<h3 id="overview">Overview</h3>
<p>The American University in Cairo was founded in 1919 by Americans devoted to education and service in the Middle East.</p>
<p>In line with the liberal arts approach to education to which the University is committed, the School of Sciences and Engineering (SSE) offers degree programs in natural sciences (biology, chemistry and physics), Mathematics and actuarial science and computer science and engineering, as well as a number of engineering programs (architectural and construction, electronics, mechanical and petroleum).</p>
<h3 id="research">Research</h3>
<p>AUC is committed to actively transfer research and innovation through technology licensing and collaborative partnerships delivering tangible benefits to the community.</p>
<p>The university boasts 16 research centers that promote collaborative research across a wide array disciplines.</p>
<p>The Yousef Jameel Science and Technology Research Center was established to promote research at AUC. Bringing together a qualified group of scientists and engineers since its inception in Fall 2003, the Center has experienced a spectacular rate of growth. It is now a very visible feature of AUC and is increasing gaining national and international recognition. The Center supports a variety of nanoscience and technology-oriented projects that make use of its state-of-the-art equipment. The center aims to attract high-caliber researchers from around the world who, together with AUC faculty, contribute to the center’s research themes and help steer its future research activities. </p>
<h3 id="industry-partnerships">Industry Partnerships</h3>
<p>AUC is committed to actively transfer research and innovation through technology licensing and collaborative partnerships delivering tangible benefits to the community.</p>
<p>The Technology Transfer Office (TTO) works with the University’s researchers and inventors to accelerate the process of bringing their developed technologies to the community. The office supports research at all stages and helps establish a connection between companies and the commercialization of intellectual property.</p>


<h1 id="background">Background</h1>
<p>The primary challenge in the synthesis of clay-polymer nanocomposites lies in the limited chemical compatibility between the clay layers (inorganic in nature) and the polymeric chains (organic in nature). In order to overcome this, clays are commonly “treated” with organic modifiers, typically alkylammonium ions of different structures and sizes.</p>
<p>In addition to influencing the interaction with the polymer matrix, different organic modifiers are used in different concentrations in order to increase the gallery spacing between the clay layers. An expanded spacing is found to facilitate the exfoliation process (delamination of the clay layer).</p>
<p>Organically modified clays (such as Cloisite 15A, Cloisite 20A, and Na+ montmorillonite) proved to be challenging in producing nanocomposites due to lower (or for the case of Na+ montmorillonite, no) compatibility with polymeric matrices. In this respect, novel approaches are desirable to aid the exfoliation of clays in order to facilitate the formation of nanocomposites with polymeric matrices.</p>
<h1 id="technology-overview">Technology Overview</h1>
<p>The invention is a new solution blending process for the fabrication of nanocomposites based on nylon 6 and montmorillonite clays. The process uses a flushing medium to ensure solvent-free material. It leads to improved exfoliation and dispersion of montmorillonite clay layers within the nylon 6 polymer matrix, overcoming the possible problem of polymer degradation, as well as the limitation of low/no compatibility between the montmorillonite clays and the nylon 6 polymer.</p>
<p>The process can also be combined with conventional polymer processing techniques to produce molded parts of any shape as well as thin films (<img src="https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/assets.in-part.com/figures/RsZSU6WEQheXfNE2d2Lk_A Solution based method for the fabrication of Nylon 6 Figure 1.png" alt="Figure 1" />).</p>
<h1 id="benefits">Benefits</h1>
<ul>
<li>Enhanced exfoliation and dispersion of clay layers</li>
<li>Enhanced mechanical properties (stiffness, yield strength, wear resistance,..) with very low clay content.</li>
<li>Improved resistance to organic solvents</li>
<li>Increase in the heat distortion temperature and reduction in the thermal expansion coefficient.</li>
<li>Flame retardant properties.</li>
<li>Good optical properties.</li>
</ul>
<h1 id="applications">Applications</h1>
<p>The Nylon 6 nanocomposites can be used in high-barrier-packaging applications in the food and beverage industry, for gears, fittings and bearings in the automotive industry, and in making pipe and wire/cable coatings.</p>
<h1 id="opportunity">Opportunity</h1>
<ul>
<li>Available for exclusive and non-exclusive licensing</li>
<li>Exclusive/non-exclusive evaluation for defined period (set up for options).</li>
<li>Collaborative/supportive research</li>
</ul>
