This week in the lab, Connor Young has been working on a soy-based antistatic additive, or “antistat” for short. An antistat is a compound used to treat materials to reduce or eliminate the buildup of static electricity (i.e., the charge that builds up in your clothes or on your skin, resulting in a shock when you touch a conductive surface). This static charge can damage electrical components, such as computer hard drives, and even ignite… Read More

By Madi Layman Since the invention of computers, we’ve seen that they can be used to perform complex tasks. Some would say having an intelligence of their own — artificial intelligence (AI). Dr. Scott Shearer from the Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering at The Ohio State University says that “artificial intelligence attempts to emulate the human brain and the way we learn.” Just as human intelligence is developed through learning, reasoning and problem… Read More

This week in the lab, Trevor Holm has been working on a soy-based pour point depressant (PPD). PPDs are oil additives that allow for the use of oils at lower temperatures. PPDs are used to prevent frozen tank and oil lines, improve transportation properties of shale oil, and overall assist as a cold flow additive. PPDs are also employed for “cold starts.” People usually think of a cold start as trying to start the car… Read More

Airable Research Lab has developed a soy-based scale-inhibiting additive that prevents the buildup of calcium scale in water systems. The lab has licensed this technology and filed for a provisional patent. Airable’s licensing partner supports the oil industry, which has a significant need for scale inhibitors. When oil wells begin pumping, minerals in the reservoir water are precipitated and deposited in the system, creating “scale.” Over time, these deposits grow and harden, preventing fluid from… Read More

Airable staff attended the American Coatings Show (ACS) in early April. The show saw the some of the biggest names in the coatings industry—BASF, Dow, Evonik, Arkema, and many more—come together to show their newest technologies. Airable was at the ACS to see what was new in the coatings industry, learn more about the industry and their needs, and build relationships with potential partners. Sustainability had a big presence at the show and in the… Read More