## Metal materials

# R&D for Small and High Performance Devices for Industries Using Metallic Glasses

Keyword: Innovative material from Japan, Centralized R&D system, Collabo. of univ.'s intelligences & company's specialties

Organizations Involved

Akihisa Inoue, Director of IMR, President, Tohoku University

O Kazuo Wakana, Patent & Legal Div. Manager, Namiki Precision Jewel Co., Ltd.

O Hiroshi Nagasaka, AM Sensor Div. Manager, Nagano Keiki Co., Ltd.

## 【Abstract】

Tohoku University leads the world in fundamental & application R&D for “metallic glasses” that have the potential to achieve drastic improvement in strength, ductility, soft magnetism and corrosion resistance. To commercialize these excellent materials, Industry-academia-government collaboration has started. As a result, Namiki Precision Jewel Co., Ltd. and Nagano Keiki Co., Ltd. have succeeded in developing the world’s smallest microgeared motor, which is 1.5 mm in diameter, and small & high sensitivity pressure sensors.

## [Summary of the technology transfer]

## Technological Impact

• Prof. A. Inoue, who has led the field in R&D for metallic glasses, has succeeded in developing bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) that can be commercialized.

• Namiki Precision Jewel Co., Ltd. and YKK Corp. have succeeded in developing the world's smallest microgeared motor with a diameter of 1.5 mm that exhibits a life 300 times longer than a commercial product. The motor is expected to be used in applications for advanced medical equipment such as endoscopes and micro robots.

• Nagano Keiki Co., Ltd. has succeeded in developing pressure sensors using BMG diaphragms. The sensor has four times the sensitivity of commercial products. They are planning to commercialize it as their own products.

## Market Impact

• In an effort to use the developed motor in advanced medical equipment, sample supplies with start in FY-17 to -18. Mass production of the motor will start in FY-21. Market growth is expected to generate sales volumes of up to ¥2.5 billion.

• To promote practical use of pressure sensors using BMG diaphragms, semi-mass production and evaluation has already started in FY-17. A prospective market size is of 600 million yen is expected.

• Total market size for other applications, such as precision machine parts or parts for high accuracy measurement systems, is expected to reach 176 billion yen.

## ●Social Impact

• The development is estimated to lead to around 9000 new jobs in the new BMG industry in FY-22.

• Achievements in fundamental research and evaluation or analytic technologies will encourage corporate researchers.

## Project Background

Remarkable achievement in the popularization of fundamental research and materials by JST Exploratory Research for Advanced Technology, followed by collaborative R&D between industry, academia and government under the NEDO project that directs the commercialization of BMGs.

## Funding History

1. FY-09 to -14, JST Expolatry Res. for Adv. Tech., Inoue Superliquid Glass Project

2.FY-14 to -18, NEDO, Processing Technology for Metallic Glasses Project

3.FY-15 to -19, MEXT Mater. Sci. for BMG, Grant-in-Aid for Sci. Res. in Priority Areas

## I ntellectual property protection

Patents obtained : domestic212、foreign150「Amorphous alloys having superior processability, US5,032,129」etc.

Patents applied for: domestic555、foreign200「Super-precision gear mechanism and microgeared motor, 2005-325984」etc.

## World's smallest microgeared motor using BMG gears

## World's smallest & high sensitivity pressure sensor for automobiles using BMG diaphragm

2.5mm

## Turning point in the Project

Centralized R&D laboratory is established by IMR at Tohoku University, which is the Mecca for R&D on BMGs. Collaboration takes place not only from the laboratory, which acts as the headquarters; branch offices are also set up in specialized companies that are closely connected with the products division. This system means that the results of product evaluation can be fed back immediately to the materials R&D laboratory.