In February of 2023, Akron-based company MemPro USA Ltd visited the Air Force Research Laboratory's Materials and Manufacturing Directorate (AFRL/RX) to see a demonstration of the technology titled "Extruded Ceramic Nanofibers and Derived Materials." MemPro’s focus is reducing the cost of critical metals, including rare earths and catalysts. Demand for such metals is growing, while supply is limited. Thus, increasing the effective surface area is a good way to better satisfy demand with limited supply.
In the fall of 2022, Rene’ Meadors, WBI's Commercialization Program Manager carefully evaluated some new AFRL/RX inventions that were disclosed for commercial potential and selected “Extruded Ceramic Nanofibers and Derived Materials” for further active marketing efforts. A deep dive market assessment identified MemPro as a potential partner for the laboratory. Meadors connected MemPro President, John M. Finley to AFRL/RX Office of Research and Technology Applications representative Jeremy Gratsch and AFRL inventor, Matthew Dickerson, to start the conversation.
As a result, a non-disclosure agreement was executed between MemPro and AFRL/RX and a laboratory visit was arranged. MemPro’s goal was to determine if the AFRL technology could augment their current manufacturing process that will scale to global demand for new catalysts. WBI also gave MemPro insights into additional patents in other DoD labs that could diversify MemPro’s intellectual property portfolio for future projects. MemPro is currently in negotiations with RX to pursue a licensing agreement for the ceramic nanofiber technology.
“We are very grateful for WBI’s help. Without that assistance, we would not have known about the impressive research being carried out at WPAFB’s Research Laboratory. Because of those efforts, we want to explore a licensing agreement with AFRL,” said Finley when asked about his experience with WBI.
To learn more about MemPro, visit https://noxfox.com/