United States. A professor and graduate student at Bowling Green State University has developed a new bio-based photocuring technology.
Dr. Jayaraman Sivaguru, distinguished research professor and associate director of BGSU's Center for Photochemical Sciences, and fifth-year PhD student, Sruthy Baburaj, developed an eco-friendly compound.
It can be used in photocuring systems to strengthen the surfaces of objects such as lenses, automotive coatings and semiconductors, and is an alternative to traditional fossil fuel-derived materials.
Through a grant from the National Science Foundation's (I-Corps) Innovation Corps program, Baburaj introduced the technology to more than 100 industrial professionals, including many at Fortune 500 companies in the United States, to assess its market viability.
"At many of the meetings, scientists expressed great interest in testing the technology," said Baburaj, who studies photochemical sciences at BGSU.
"They told me they needed our material and asked when it would be available for commercial use. It was inspiring to see that kind of response to our technology," he said.
The bio-based photoinitiator reacts with ultraviolet or visible light to quickly transform a dispensable fluid into a tough solid material.
Applications include semiconductor resins, material formulations for automotive coatings, and ophthalmic lenses, among many others. Its light source can be adapted according to the curing process of the end user.
Sivaguru and Baburaj said their customizable technology offers numerous advantages over current methodologies, including the use of non-toxic materials, increased safety during manufacturing, sustainability, cost savings and high performance.
