Wayne State University, Detroit, has finalized a license agreement with a new start-up company, Detroit Materials Inc., for a Wayne State-patented portfolio of high-strength low-alloy steels and cast irons for demanding applications. The portfolio includes bainitic steels and austempered ductile irons exhibiting a combination of excellent mechanical properties currently available only in costly exotic steels.
A team of researchers led by Susil Putatunda, Ph.D., professor of chemical engineering in Wayne State University’s College of Engineering, have been working to create advanced materials with high yield strength, fracture toughness, and ductility. Dr. Putatunda’s research was initially funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation (award number 0854962), and more recently received funding from the New Economy Initiative’s (NEI) Technology Development Incubator Program. This program is aimed at accelerating feasibility studies necessary for licensing, industry partnerships, and start-up opportunities.
The company was founded by Pedro Guillen in his role as entrepreneur-in-residence for the Detroit Technology Exchange, with direct financial and administrative support from Detroit Innovate, a new venture fund based in southeast Michigan.
Mr. Guillen, Chief Executive Officer of Detroit Materials, specializes in corporate innovation strategy and new technology commercialization. He has over 15 years of product development and innovation experience in automotive, defense, off-highway, and clean energy markets. He has led engineering teams developing proof-of-concept technologies and demonstrator vehicles for the Department of Defense, and founded two successful start-ups.
