Castable ceramic allows small business to add jobs, increase sales

Magneco/Metrel
Addison, IL

Magneco/Metrel, Inc., and Argonne have worked together to make better ceramic liners for pipes and molds used in iron- and steelmaking. Argonne has used its world-class laboratories and scientific equipment to study "real-world" ceramic materials provided by Magneco/Metrel.

Initial efforts, supported by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs, focused on materials characterization. That work led to a CRADA and the development of a ceramic material that can be pumped into place, much like concrete is pumped. The new material has a longer lifetime and performs better than the materials it can replace. There is a significant advantage in being able to pump a ceramic material into place to create liners for iron- and steelmaking molds.

As a result of this successful partnership, Magneco/Metrel has added 15 new jobs and significantly increased sales. The pump industry also benefits, since the new ceramic material is pumped into place.

The basic research on which the CRADA was based was supported by DOE's Office of Fossil Energy, Advanced Research and Technology Development, Fossil Energy Materials Program. The CRADA was supported by DOE's Office of Energy Research, Laboratory Technology Transfer Program.

Working with Argonne

Argonne has many types of contractual agreements to meet the needs and interests of industry, state and local governments, federal agencies and other organizations.

For More Information

For more information, contact Argonne's Technology Development and Commercialization (800-627-2596, partners@anl.gov).