[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 119 (Wednesday, June 20, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 28625]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-13225]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Notice of Availability of Government-Owned Inventions; Available 
for Licensing

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The invention listed below is assigned to the United States 
Government as represented by the Secretary of the Army and is being 
made generally availability of exclusive, partially exclusive or non-
exclusive licenses by the Department of the Army.
    U.S. Army Case Number ARL 17-33 entitled ``Aluminum Based 
Nanogalvanic Alloys for Hydrogen Generation,'' and a provisional patent 
application filed at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on 
July 24, 2017 and assigned USPTO PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION No. 62/
536,143.
    In order to support a better understanding of the material, ARL has 
established the following website to host details on the technology and 
a review the process that will culminate in the granting of a patent 
license(s) around September 2018; www.arl.army.mil/AlNanogalvanicPowder. On this website, you can register your interest 
to be contacted about further developments, post general questions, 
learn about Inventor webex's, and download background technical 
information, as well as, templates for all the require documents that 
will be used throughout the process.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: After registering on the website 
above, requests for additional data, powder samples, and other 
inquiries can be directed to Brian Metzger telephone: 406-994-7782, 
[email protected], TechLink, 2310 University Way Technology 
Blvd., Suite 2-2, Bozeman, MT 59715. TechLink is an authorized DoD 
partnership intermediary.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Description of the Technology--Aluminum Based Nanogalvanic Alloys 
for Hydrogen Generation.
    It has long been known that aluminum (Al) reacts with water to 
produce hydrogen (H2) gas and aluminum oxide via a hydrolysis reaction. 
Aluminum metal oxidizes when in contact with water, rapidly producing a 
passivating oxide layer which prevents the hydrolysis reaction 
(evolution of H2). Further, hydrolysis to evolve H2 can only occur if 
the native oxide layer is actively removed. This is usually achieved by 
adding hazardous corrosive compounds (caustic soda, hydrochloric acid, 
etc.) which dissolve in water, toxic and expensive metals (such as 
gallium, platinum, etc.), or by forcing the reaction by additional 
external energy (electric current and/or superheated steam).
    The U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) has invented a novel 
nanogalvanic structured aluminum based particulate material which is 
capable of generating hydrogen very rapidly by hydrolysis reaction with 
water and any liquid that contains water (e.g., naturally scavenged 
water, coffee, energy drink, urine, etc.) at room temperature without 
chemicals, catalysts or externally supplied power. These patent pending 
powders produce hydrogen at a rate that currently is one of the fastest 
reported for Al and water reactions without the need of hazardous and 
costly materials or additional processes. The reaction results in the 
production of hydrogen and heat with only inert residual materials. ARL 
has demonstrated that hydrolysis will occur with virtually any water 
containing liquid.
    Licensing Process--The U.S. Army Research Laboratory intends to 
move expeditiously to license this provisional patent. The process will 
consist of two stages; Phase 1: Solicit Interest & Phase 2: Request for 
Patent License Application.
    Phase 1--Solicit Interest: Phase 1 will open on 18 JUN 2018. 
Companies may obtain technical information, samples, and speak with 
inventors for the purpose of technical due diligence.
    Phase 2--Request for Patent License Application: Phase 2 will open 
on 25 JUL 2018. Phase 2 will allow all interested parties to conduct an 
evaluation of the powder, ask the inventors questions about the non-
provisional patent application, and work with TechLink to develop a 
National/Worldwide Commercialization Plan which will form the basis for 
the Patent License Application.
    On or around 1 SEP 2018, the U.S. Army Research Laboratory will 
evaluate the Patent License Applications that have been received to 
date for possible granting of Patent License Agreement(s). In its 
decisions concerning the granting of license(s), the U.S. Army Research 
Laboratory will give special consideration to small business firms, and 
consortia involving small business firms. While the Army intends to 
insure that its licensed inventions are broadly commercialized 
throughout the United States, a PCT application is planned to be filed 
for the patent noted above. The Army intends that licensees interested 
in a license in Europe, Canada, China, and Japan will assume foreign 
prosecution and pay the costs of such prosecution.

(Authority: 35 U.S.C. 207, 37 CFR part 404)

    Collaborative Research Opportunity--The U.S. Army Research 
Laboratory is also open to engaging in negotiations with licensee(s) to 
establish a parallel Collaborative Research and Development Agreement 
to mutually continue the development of the material.


Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-13225 Filed 6-19-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-03-P