A physics professor, Dr. Khaled Saoud, has been given a Technology Development Fund (TDF) award from Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) for his creation of an aerogel resin for additive manufacturing. Saoud works at the Liberal Arts and Science Program, VCUarts Qatar in Education City.
This technology will enable the manufacture of customized pharmaceutical services and products like prosthetic legs, hands, joints, hearing aids, and dental implants. This is as stated by a press release.
“I am excited about this project and expect that this technology will solve many problems in the medical field and aerospace industry by providing a robust aerogel resin formulation, which makes ultralight, strong materials that can be applied in a multitude of ways,” explains Saoud. He also said that he intends to advance and enhance the resin. This is dependent on a silica aerogel/polymer compound, for stereolithography-based additive manufacturing technology.
The resin will allow the additive manufacturing of a tough, ultra-light, adjustable, extremely permeable, biocompatible, biodegradable merchandise with the least depreciation. This is by the use of accelerated prototyping ability, the release said. Additionally, It will set the stage for additive manufacturing of various kinds of permeable materials. This includes graphene aerogel and also metal-organic structure.
The TDF offers passage funding for early-level, encouraging technologies that might be more developed to raise their marketing capability. The goal is also to create a sturdy, valuable rational property collection in Qatar’s preference research fields.
The president of Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and the VCU Health System, Dr. Michael Rao, hailed Saoud for his commitment.
“This is an outstanding accomplishment and I know you are as proud and excited as we all are for you. Thank you for all that you do on behalf of VCU and again, congratulations on the award.”
“The objective of the Technology Development Fund is to make market-driven technologies less risky and more attractive to potential licensees,” stated Abeer al-Hammadi, director of Innovation and Economic Development, QF RDI.
He also added that “We are delighted to provide such funds to the state-of-the-art aerogel technology developed by Dr. Khaled at VCUarts Qatar. The technology so far has attracted many entrepreneurs and private players in different applications.”
