Most important, however, acrylamide is a cumulative neurotoxin, and safety concerns had prevented the technology's widespread use. AlliedSignal's innovation in this ATP project was to develop a low-cost, nontoxic alternative that retains acrylamide's excellent process characteristics. In addition, the new gelcasting process has potential applications in energy, chemicals, aerospace, electronics, advanced materials and telecommunications. Early Commercialization Expected Development of the technology is continuing. The company received additional funding for this effort from the Department of Energy in 1997, and it has made substantial progress toward a commercially viable manufacturing process.
Marketable products have yet to be sold.
But commercial production is expected to begin in the very near future, with annual sales projected to be several million dollars. AlliedSignal has constructed a new plant for manufacturing ceramics parts, including those made with the gelcasting technology. In addition, based explicitly on the successful completion of the ATP project, it received funding from the Department of Energy and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to advance gelcasting technology into commercialization. Cost Reductions and Improved Performance Users of vehicles and other equipment using gelcast ceramic parts instead of metal ones will benefit from cost reduction and improved performance - in the case of some applications, to a considerable degree. Since Oak Ridge National Laboratory holds the underlying intellectual property for gelcasting, additional spillover benefits are likely to accrue.