[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 119 (Wednesday, June 20, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 28625]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-13225]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Notice of Availability of Government-Owned Inventions; Available
for Licensing
AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The invention listed below is assigned to the United States
Government as represented by the Secretary of the Army and is being
made generally availability of exclusive, partially exclusive or non-
exclusive licenses by the Department of the Army.
U.S. Army Case Number ARL 17-33 entitled ``Aluminum Based
Nanogalvanic Alloys for Hydrogen Generation,'' and a provisional patent
application filed at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on
July 24, 2017 and assigned USPTO PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION No. 62/
536,143.
In order to support a better understanding of the material, ARL has
established the following website to host details on the technology and
a review the process that will culminate in the granting of a patent
license(s) around September 2018; www.arl.army.mil/AlNanogalvanicPowder. On this website, you can register your interest
to be contacted about further developments, post general questions,
learn about Inventor webex's, and download background technical
information, as well as, templates for all the require documents that
will be used throughout the process.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: After registering on the website
above, requests for additional data, powder samples, and other
inquiries can be directed to Brian Metzger telephone: 406-994-7782,
[email protected], TechLink, 2310 University Way Technology
Blvd., Suite 2-2, Bozeman, MT 59715. TechLink is an authorized DoD
partnership intermediary.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Description of the Technology--Aluminum Based Nanogalvanic Alloys
for Hydrogen Generation.
It has long been known that aluminum (Al) reacts with water to
produce hydrogen (H2) gas and aluminum oxide via a hydrolysis reaction.
Aluminum metal oxidizes when in contact with water, rapidly producing a
passivating oxide layer which prevents the hydrolysis reaction
(evolution of H2). Further, hydrolysis to evolve H2 can only occur if
the native oxide layer is actively removed. This is usually achieved by
adding hazardous corrosive compounds (caustic soda, hydrochloric acid,
etc.) which dissolve in water, toxic and expensive metals (such as
gallium, platinum, etc.), or by forcing the reaction by additional
external energy (electric current and/or superheated steam).
The U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) has invented a novel
nanogalvanic structured aluminum based particulate material which is
capable of generating hydrogen very rapidly by hydrolysis reaction with
water and any liquid that contains water (e.g., naturally scavenged
water, coffee, energy drink, urine, etc.) at room temperature without
chemicals, catalysts or externally supplied power. These patent pending
powders produce hydrogen at a rate that currently is one of the fastest
reported for Al and water reactions without the need of hazardous and
costly materials or additional processes. The reaction results in the
production of hydrogen and heat with only inert residual materials. ARL
has demonstrated that hydrolysis will occur with virtually any water
containing liquid.
Licensing Process--The U.S. Army Research Laboratory intends to
move expeditiously to license this provisional patent. The process will
consist of two stages; Phase 1: Solicit Interest & Phase 2: Request for
Patent License Application.
Phase 1--Solicit Interest: Phase 1 will open on 18 JUN 2018.
Companies may obtain technical information, samples, and speak with
inventors for the purpose of technical due diligence.
Phase 2--Request for Patent License Application: Phase 2 will open
on 25 JUL 2018. Phase 2 will allow all interested parties to conduct an
evaluation of the powder, ask the inventors questions about the non-
provisional patent application, and work with TechLink to develop a
National/Worldwide Commercialization Plan which will form the basis for
the Patent License Application.
On or around 1 SEP 2018, the U.S. Army Research Laboratory will
evaluate the Patent License Applications that have been received to
date for possible granting of Patent License Agreement(s). In its
decisions concerning the granting of license(s), the U.S. Army Research
Laboratory will give special consideration to small business firms, and
consortia involving small business firms. While the Army intends to
insure that its licensed inventions are broadly commercialized
throughout the United States, a PCT application is planned to be filed
for the patent noted above. The Army intends that licensees interested
in a license in Europe, Canada, China, and Japan will assume foreign
prosecution and pay the costs of such prosecution.
(Authority: 35 U.S.C. 207, 37 CFR part 404)
Collaborative Research Opportunity--The U.S. Army Research
Laboratory is also open to engaging in negotiations with licensee(s) to
establish a parallel Collaborative Research and Development Agreement
to mutually continue the development of the material.
Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-13225 Filed 6-19-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-03-P