The company
Fulcrum is a nanotechnology company aimed to lead the use of nano-components in the fast growing, $21B markets of advanced composites. Fulcrum intends to provide proprietary solutions to high value-added fields particularly in sport products and equipment, aerospace, clean-tech and ballistic protection.
Fulcrum proprietary technology utilized genetically engineered protein for self assembly of complex organized nano-structures in composites, each with particular benefits to a specific application. The first nanostructures developed include carbon nanotubes (CNT) bound to fibers like carbon fibers or Kevlar, and CNT reinforced polymers (epoxy resins).
The opportunity
In the modern world, reducing soaring energy costs are critical to human survival. The aspiration of lightweight, fuel-saving technologies and the drive to go “green” has produced a tremendous upswing in demand for carbon fiber base composites, not only in aircraft but industrial and leisure applications as well.
Clean-tech application for Fulcrum's technology includes glass coating of windows, doors and skylights with nano-particles to reduce and regulate harmful UV, light, glare and heat.
Advanced composites
"Advanced composites" refers to materials in which a polymeric matrix (epoxy) serves as a type of glue that holds reinforcing material (carbon-fiber, Kevlar™) in place. Advanced composites are used in applications relating to all aspects of life.
Carbon nanotubes (CNT), The Problem
Carbon nanotubes have extraordinary mechanical properties; 100 times stronger then stainless steel and 6 times lighter. CNTs are the ultimate reinforcement material for advanced composites, owing to their very small diameters, high aspect ratios, and exceptional strength.
As of now, carbon nanotubes reinforced composites are not produced at industrial levels of production, due to fundamental barriers:
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Dispersion – carbon nanotubes must be uniformly dispersed in order to achieve efficient load transfer and uniform stress distribution.
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Interfacial stress transfer - external stress applied must be efficiently transferred to the carbon nanotubes.
Composite Materials Market Potential
Aero space market: in civil aviation, Boeing’s new 787 "dreamliner" and Airbus A-340 are made mostly from composites, helicopters and military aircrafts, unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) are using composites in greater rate;
Ballistics market: composites are used in armor for military and civil vehicles.
Sport equipment: composites are widely used in sport equipment such as tennis rockets, gulf clubs, skies and much more;
Clean-tech: for example, propeller blades for wind generators are a fast growing market of over $1B.
The auto industry: lighter and stronger parts for vehicles save fuel and increase preformance.
The aviation and sports markets demand for composites based on carbon fiber is estimated at to be over 24,000 metric tones on 2010 and to double by 2015. Market value at 2010 is expected to be close to $23B.
Products
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CNT reinforced matrix (epoxy);
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CNT reinforced Carbon fiber;
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CNT reinforced Kevlar.
Technological results
Test results of CNT reinforced epoxy shows improvement of up to 45% of storage modulus, up to 57% in flexural strength and up to 31% in flexural modulus over neat epoxy.
In a ground breaking experiment, SP1/CNT reinforced composites parts showed 20% improvement in resistance to delamination. Stronger parts mean larger carrying capacity, longer range and longer life for products using composites.
Advantages over the competition
The main advantage of our products lays in the remarkable improvement to the strength to weight ratio of advanced composite materials.
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SP1 is stable under extreme conditions used in composites applications.
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Self assembled process.
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SP1 prevents aggregation of the CNT
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SP1 improves Interfacial stress transfer.
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SP1/CNT improves resistance to delamination and cracks.
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Compatible price of SP1.
The Team
Mr. Nimrod Litvak, CEO. Holds economist degree from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem; businessman, pilot and marine captain. Extensive knowledge and experience in composite materials applications for the aviation and marine markets. Founder and chairman of Fulcrum SP Ltd. founder and director of Bio-Group Technologies Ltd.
Dr. Amnon Wolf, CTO, Graduate of the Weizmann Institute and post doctorate fellow in UC Berkeley. 13 years experience in the biotechnology industry includes management of projects in the areas of protein chemistry, drug discovery and high throughput screening of chemical libraries. Co-founder of Fulcrum SP Ltd.
Dr. Galit Cohen Ben-Lulu, Scientist, Graduate and post doctorate fellow in the Weizmann Institute. Extensive experience in protein biochemistry and molecular biology.
Dr. Elena Grimberg, scientist, graduate of the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University and post doctorate fellow in Weizmann Institute. Experienced in the fields of cell and molecular biology, as well as protein biochemistry.
Prof. Oded Shoseyov, Advisory Board. Scientific founder of Fulcrum SP and NBP. Professor in the Faculty of Agriculture at the Hebrew University; scientific founder of CBD-Technologies Ltd. and scientific consultant to several biotechnology companies. Prof. Shoseyov holds 16 biotechnology-related patents.
Prof. Arie Altman, Advisory Board. Scientific founder of Fulcrum SP and Nano Bio Pharma Ltd. Chair of the Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics at the Faculty of Agriculture, the Hebrew University, visiting professor in other major research institutions; member of the Israeli National Committee for Biotechnology and Chairman of the National Sub-Committee for Plant Genomics.
Mechanical tests are conducted by:
Prof. Moshe Narkis, Dept. of Chemical Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology.
Dr. Ana Dotan, senior scientist at The Israel Plastics and Rubber Center - Shenkar College. Mr. Boaz Trudler, an expert in composites and a master builder, assists in the preparation of the composites products and parts.