Technical
and Economic Impacts
Through the ATP project,
the project participants were able to meet many of ambitious
technical goals to be able to manufacture a cyclic thermoplastic,
cyclic butylenes terephthalate (CBT). In addition, the GE-led
research team was able to generate 16 patents related to
cyclic thermoplastics. However, GE made a strategic decision to not continue developing the technology.
1 Consequently, some local entrepreneurs,
two former GE scientists, and the former head of GE’s Global R&D
unit convened a team to purchase the technology from GE, and
in 1999, they formed a company called Cyclics. Through
this private start-up company in Albany, NY, the ATP-funded
technology is being commercialized, with significant
impacts:
- Cyclics has raised more than $30 million dollars
from over 20 private investors and state funds and
continued to refine the technology developed through
the ATP project
- Cyclics has over 100 employees, including over 30
in Albany
- Cyclics has a 5.5 million lb capacity manufacturing
plant that opened in 2004. In addition:
- Plans
are in place to double capacity for this
plant by end of 2005.
- Cyclics is searching sites in North America
and Europe to have a second site operational
by 2009.
During the ATP project, the target market was automotive
components, and Cyclics has an alliance with Dow Automotive.
Jane Palmieri, new-business development manager for Dow
Automotive says:
“We have
a great deal of confidence in the potential for this
new technology, largely due to the fact that the
benefits are so wide-reaching,”
2
One example
of the benefits is that the unique processing advantages
of CBT resin can create new classes of materials,
with properties that were “previously not possible
with traditional engineering thermoplastics", such
as higher thermal stability and barrier to solvent and
gas penetration. 3
The numerous applications of CBT polymers from Cyclics
have many social benefits. For instance:
- The use of CBT resin will allow improved manufacturing
efficiencies and improved workplace safety through
the elimination of hazardous epoxy resin components.
- Alcan Composites
USA (St. Louis, MO) is using the CBT resin for
graphic arts, architecture markets, and general
industry infrastructure applications. They note, “CBT
resin with its unique characteristics will enable
a considerable improvement to both process productivity
and product performance.”
4
- Using a CBT resin system will provide the opportunity
for the world's first recyclable wind power blade.
The ability to re-use the 19 tonnes (42,000 pounds)
of wind blade materials per average wind turbine
at the end of its useful life is unprecedented in
the industry.
5
- Current tooling block materials, such as polyurethanes,
are not able to be recycled after use, but CBT resin,
being a thermoplastic, can be re-used in compounding
and injection molding applications.
6
____________________
1Chemical
and Engineering News, November 4, 2002.
2 "Dow
Automotive to Market Cyclic PBT Resins," Plastics
Technology Online, June, 2003.
3 "Cyclics’ Plastic
Supports Nano-composite Materials," Jobwerx
News, March 17, 2005.
4 "Alcan
and Cyclics Target Display, Architecture and Infrastructure
Markets with Global Cooperation Ag," Composite
News, June 10, 2004.
5 "Irish Company
Signs Agreement with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and
Cyclics to Cooperate in Development of Thermoplastic
Composite Wind Turbine Blades," LivePower
News, October 12, 2004.
6 "Cyclics
Supports RAMPF in Development of Tooling Blocks
Castings; Cyclics' Plastic Brings Advantages to Cast
Block for Prototyping," The
Auto Channel,
March 16, 2005.
Date
created: June 1, 2005
Last updated:
August 21, 2006
|
