29/07/2009

University of Leicester: Metal processing breakthrough could benefit transport sector businesses in the region

Companies can get free trial access to new technology

Processing metals using concentrated mineral acids and bases causes severe limitations to the metals that can be used. Scientists at the University of Leicester have developed a new type of solvent that gets around a lot of these problems.

These so-called ionic liquids are salts which are liquid at room temperature. They are inexpensive, easy to handle and environmentally compatible. The new technology has particular benefits for the automotive and aerospace industry as it allows novel processing of aluminium, magnesium and titanium and their alloys with other metals. It also enables the simple electrodeposition of aluminium and its alloys for the first time.

The Ionic Liquids Demonstrator (ILD) is a multi-application pilot plant facility to showcase the application of ionic liquids primarily in the area of metal processing. The ILD has been funded through the Leicester Shire Economic Partnership (LSEP) and allows companies free access to trial this new technology. The ILD project builds on the historic and ongoing research and development activities in the Green Chemistry group at the University of Leicester to transfer its ionic liquids applications know-how to local business. The Leicester ionic liquid applications have real potential to bring new value-added gains to existing businesses within the sub-region.

As an environmentally friendly, non-toxic substitute for current processes, their use would create both health and safety and environmental benefits, in addition to competitive product advantage achieved through better tailoring of product characteristics (hardness, corrosion resistance, adherence, etc.). By removing harsh acid-based processes, ionic liquid applications improve energy efficiency while decreasing the emission of chemicals in to the environment.

The project will work with local businesses to encourage end-users to explore and evaluate, in a tangible way, the benefits of industrial processes based on ionic liquids. The Ionic Liquids Demonstrator has the following technologies which can be accessed:

Immersion deposits (silver on copper, copper on aluminium or magnesium and a wide variety of others)

Chromium electroplating from Cr(III) based liquids

Aluminium electroplating

Nickel plating (with or without composite particles)

Electropolishing of stainless steel and Ni or Co alloys

Electroplating of zinc tin alloys

Copper composite electroplating

To find out more about this technology visit the web site http://www.leicester-ils.co.uk/

To book a free demonstration session contact Dr. Karl Ryder (ksr7@le.ac.uk) Tel: 0116 252 2088

ILD launch event press release can be found at: http://www2.le.ac.uk/ebulletin/news/press-releases/2000-2009/2009/06/nparticle.2009-06-01.1816418679

Notes to Editors: For more information on Ionic Liquids please contact Professor Andy Abbott, Head of the Department of Chemistry, Tel +44 (0) 116 252 2087, Email apa1@le.ac.uk

For general knowledge transfer enquiries about the University of Leicester please contact Ms Anjuu Trevedi, Head of Regional Business Engagement, Enterprise and Business Development office, University of Leicester, Tel +44 (0) 116 2523354 Email at220@le.ac.uk

Source: University of Leicester

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