Akron-founded resilient titanium production outfit Precision Surface Science is sounding out potential angel investors as it looks to target industries including automotive, transport and medical devices.
University of Akron has officially spun out US-based Precision Surface Science to produce a resilient coating for titanium metal, Crain’s Cleveland Business reported on Sunday.
Founded in 2018, Precision Surface Science is working on a material forging process that creates a slim oxide layer providing wear-resistance to titanium metals that typically bruise easily.
The approach involves exposing the titanium component to a blend of nitrogen and oxygen in a special kiln capable of heating to 600 to 800 degrees Celsius. The metal’s surface oxidises as a result, forming a robust dark coating around the titanium core left inside.
Precision Surface Science believes the concept could win business in industries including automotive, transport and medical devices, where resilient titanium may have an inherent advantage over other materials for its lightweight and unreactive nature.
The idea for the coating came from Precision Surface’s two co-founders – Brandon Strahin, a postdoctoral research associate at Akron who produced a dissertation on the technology, and Gary Doll, Timken chairman of surface engineering at the same institution.
Precision Surface Science is in negotiations with unnamed angel investors in the Akron ecosystem over the possibility of raising funding, with the figure of $500,000 mooted to help fund purchases of new equipment.
Brandon Strahin told Crain’s Cleveland Business: “Right now, we have a few companies that are evaluating it for commercialisation, and we have a company we are working with on commercial research and development.
“Our target is companies where it is a game changer — like an increase in the efficiency of automotive engines. If an automaker uses titanium in an engine and that increases efficiency by 25%, that is a game changer.”
