Fayetteville-based technology startup SurfTech LLC has been awarded $1.2 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to further develop its friction-reducing coating.
The nanoparticle-based coating would be used to replace lead-based journal bearings found in electric motors, according to a news release. The use of the nanomaterial coating reduces friction in journal bearing by 10 percent and extends the life of parts by 40 percent, SurfTech's CEO Samuel Beckford said in the release.
SurfTech has offices at the Arkansas Research and Technology Park. The company was founded by Beckford and Min Zou, a professor of mechanical engineering.
In July, the National Science Foundation awarded SurfTech a $225,000 grant to test its product. The grant was part of the foundation's Small Business Innovation Research Program.
-- John Magsam
Business on 05/12/2017