AIR Option 1: Technology Translation - Computationally Designed Shrinkage Reducing Admixtures for Concrete

这个PFI: AIR技术翻译项目的重点是翻译减少收缩的外加剂配方，以填补建筑行业的技术空白，因为建筑行业需要更耐用的混凝土来维修、维护和建设新的基础设施。翻译后的技术具有以下独特的特点：快速识别具有高活性的新目标化合物，以减少混凝土的收缩和相关裂缝，从而在开发阶段提供典型的成本节约，以及与该市场领域的领先竞争技术相比，能够为特定应用识别新的和非直观的分子结构，并提高性能。该项目通过应用计算机辅助分子设计（CAMD）技术来实现这一目标，从而识别出具有改进特性的新化合物，用于混凝土中减少收缩的外加剂；其效果将在原型规模的混凝土板上进行演示。该合作伙伴关系包括田纳西理工大学（TTU）、阿克伦大学（UA）和技术顾问Hugh Cameron先生，为混凝土建筑材料行业以及与市场开发、许可、业务规划和融资相关的其他方面提供指导，因为它们涉及将新技术转化为可能导致竞争性商业现实的道路的潜力。预计潜在的经济影响将是在未来五年内减少现有外加剂销售的合理市场份额，这将有助于美国在混凝土外加剂市场空间中的竞争力。从长远来看，其社会影响将是改善混凝土基础设施的性能，从而节省未来数十亿美元的潜在时间和能源消耗，因为避免了早期和过早的维修和维护。

This PFI: AIR Technology Translation project focuses on translating shrinkage reducing admixture formulations to fill technology gaps in the construction industry wherein more durable concrete is needed for repair and maintenance and construction of new infrastructure. The translated technology has the following unique features: rapid identification of new target compounds with high activity for reducing shrinkage and associated cracking of concrete that provides exemplary cost savings in the development stage as well as the ability to identify new and non-intuitive molecular structures for a given application with improved performance when compared to the leading competing technology in this market space. The project accomplishes this goal by applying computer aided molecular design (CAMD) technology resulting in the identification of new compounds with improved characteristics for use as shrinkage reducing admixtures in concrete; the efficacy of which will be demonstrated on a prototype-scale concrete slab. The partnership engages Tennessee Technological University (TTU), the University of Akron (UA) and technology consultant Mr. Hugh Cameron to provide guidance in the concrete construction materials industry and other aspects related to market development, licensing, business planning and financing as they pertain to the potential to translate the new technology along a path that may result in a competitive commercial reality. The potential economic impact is expected to be a reasonable market share of the existing shrinkage reducing admixture sales in the next five years, which will contribute to the U.S. competitiveness in the concrete admixture market space. The societal impact, long term, will be to improve the performance of concrete infrastructure and thereby save potentially billions of future dollars in lost time and energy consumption due to avoided early and premature repair and maintenance.