University Times

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. has donated a technology portfolio consisting of more than 50 patents to Pitt.

The patents involve process technologies in the manufacture of N-vinylformamide (NVF) and its derivative products. NVF is a unique, low-toxicity monomer (a molecule that can be chemically bound as part of a polymer) for environmentally benign applications in regulatory-compliant products.

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. is an international supplier of industrial gases and related equipment and selected chemicals. The company recently discontinued development of NVF monomer and its manufacturing processes, refocusing its businesses on core technologies. Air Products then began searching for a university on which to confer the technology.

According to John C. Tao, corporate director, Technology Partnerships at Air Products, Pitt was selected through an intensive competition. "After careful evaluation of the potential research universities," said Tao, "the University of Pittsburgh was selected based on the strength of its proposal. Of the candidates considered, Pittsburgh had the strongest polymer application background in its chemical engineering department and the best commercialization strategy that would maximize the probability for early successful commercialization of this technology."

The chemical properties and low toxicity of NVF result in high potential for cost-effective applications across a broad range of end-use industrial products. Some of these applications include specialty papers (such as for ink jet printing), adhesives, industrial coatings, ion exchange resins (for separation-purification purposes), oil field and mining chemicals.

Pennsylvania authorized $250,000 for the project through the Pennsylvania Technology Infrastructure Authority.