Prof Ian Reaney DHH Case Study - University of Sheffield

Sarantel Test Suitability
of New Material for Novel
Mobile Application in the
Communications Sector
Project partners
EPSRC Knowledge Transfer Account,
University of Sheffield
Dr Ros Schwarz and Dr Simon Forster,
Development Hot House Scientists –
Materials characterisation, analytical
chemistry, design of apparatus, protocol
development.
Department of Materials Science and
Engineering, University of Sheffield
Professor Ian Reaney and Dr Iasmi
Sterianou - Ceramics and Composites
Laboratory. Expertise includes the study
of the structure and microstructure
of electro-ceramic materials for
sensor/actuator applications and
dielectric resonators for microwave
communications.
Research &
Innovation
Services.
KTA Development Hot House Case Study
Sarantel Ltd Dr Oliver Leisten, CTO and
Founder (www.sarantel.com). Sarantel,
designs high-performance, antennas
for portable wireless applications such
as gps systems, satellite phones and
tablets. Sarantel products can offer:
clearer signal, better range and 90%
reduction in signal radiation to the
body, over competitor antennas. They
can also be miniaturised making them
suitable for MIMO technology (Multiple
In/Multiple out) – where one item, e.g. a
mobile phone, will be fitted with multiple
antenna, each for different application,
such as voice, bluetooth, gps, Wi-Fi,
without interference.

Strategic need
Recent research activity between the
University and Sarantel had identified
a new material with potentially suitable
properties for the next generation of
miniaturised antenna. It was necessary
to characterise the material with
appropriate geometry and develop a
production protocol as soon as possible
to convince antenna manufacturers to
invest in set up tooling, as part of the
route to market.
Technical request
Simon and Ros were asked to fabricate
true size ceramic components in the
material: including designing the die,
processing the materials to characterise
for shrinkage and densification while
maintaining the dielectric constant and
developing a documented, repeatable
process to deliver antenna cores with
appropriate permittivity levels.
Project activities
The Development Hot House Team
dedicated approximately 40 days on
this project, including 50% laboratory
work. After an initial literature review to
familiarise themselves with the materials
and application, they optimised the
die design, sourced a supplier of die
components, processed and tested trial
pucks and final form antenna, testing and
measuring the material at each stage, to
ensure a robust and repeatable process
that delivered the required output.
Benefits
• Development Hot House involvement
provided a reliable resource to a
time-dependant project.
• Bringing together expertise from
different disciplines, including:
analytical chemistry, electro-ceramics
and surface engineering, produced
a unique team of problem solvers,
equipped to understand the task,
devise solutions and to validate
findings.
• Sarantel have benefitted from
a continuous delivery from the
University, between a gap in longerterm
collaboration activities.
• Continuity of work has been
maintained following a detailed
handover to the new researcher
and the production of clear
documentation.
Contact us
T: 0114 2221331
Professor Ian Reaney,
Department of Materials
Science and Engineering
said: “The support from the
Development Hot House has
saved us over a year´s worth
of work.”
E: KTAenquiries@sheffield.ac.uk
KTA website: www.sheffield.ac.uk/ris/kta
EPSRC website: www.epsrc.ac.uk
EPSRC Impact World:
www.impactworld.org.uk
Twitter: www.twitter.com/KTA_Sheffield