September/October 2010 Edition - University of Dayton Research ...

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010
New contract
Roger Wills (Metals and Ceramics)
will serve as principal investigator
on a new contract from Sundrop
Fuels Inc. of Louisville, Colo. UDRI
will provide materials related support
to help Sundrop Fuels scale up operations
to convert syngas created from
biomass into “green” gasoline, diesel
and aviation fuels. Sundrop uses
low-cost concentrated solar energy
to create temperatures of more than
1300 C, gasifying almost any biomass
material to renewable syngas
in just seconds. “Sundrop’s Director
of R&D conducted a very through
vetting process that pitted us against
some top universities,” said Chad
Barklay, group leader for Advanced
Ceramics and Glasses. “But Roger’s
extensive background and expertise,
coupled with the myriad capabilities
and applied R&D expertise at UDRI,
put us head and shoulders above the
competition.”
River campus now home to Caldwell
PAGE 5
About 45 Research Institute employees who worked in Caldwell Street Center were settled
into their new digs at 1700 S. Patterson Blvd. by the end of September. The Aerospace Mechanics
and Sensor Systems staff were the fi rst UDRIers to move west to the new space.
No. 1 (from page 1)
UDRI conducts research in the
development, characterization, production,
scale up, testing and qualification
of new materials. The Research Institute
has strong capabilities in material
substitution, corrosion, erosion, degradation
and failure analysis, as well as
composites, high-temperature materials,
coatings, material repairs, corrosion
protection, sealants, elastomers and
more, Allan said. UDRI is also a leader
in developing multifunctional nanocomposite
materials. “We provide a valuable
service to our federal and commercial
customers and have developed a national
reputation for innovative but practical
solutions to materials challenges.”
UDRI has held the number
two spot in federally funded
materials research since fiscal
year ’99 – with the exception
of ’05, when it was
also ranked number one.
Federal sponsors include
the Department of Defense,
Environmental Protection
Agency, National Institute of Standards
and Technology and numerous other
government agencies. Seventy six percent
of UD’s total research volume of
96.5 million in 2009 was federally funded.
In fiscal year 2002, UDRI jumped
from fifth place to second in the nation
in materials research sponsored by all
funding sources (industry, federal
and others combined), and
has held steady at number two
since.
Other notable rankings
include: number 11 in the
nation for federally sponsored
engineering research,
number eight in the nation
for research sponsored by
the Department of Defense,
number one in Ohio for allsponsored
materials research
and for federally sponsored
engineering research, and
number two in Ohio for allsponsored
STEM research.
Don’t forget!
...to set your clocks back one hour
Sunday, Nov. 7, when Daylight Saving
Time ends, and then...
You’re
Invited!
...join the good folks in the Purchasing
offi ce for food, beverages and camaraderie
at UDRI’s annual Christmas
Party Thursday, Dec. 16, at the Hope
Hotel and Conference Center.