Seeking Materials and Processes for the Production of Porous Tubing

A global leader in optimized resource management providing water, waste, and energy management solutions is seeking materials, technologies, and proven processes for the production of porous, hollow tubing. Ideal parameters for produced tubing include enablement of water passage at a rate of ≥ 1500 L/hour/m2 at 1 bar pressure and the ability to withstand 100-700N of tensile force. Desired dimensions include a circular luminal diameter of 0.50-1.00 mm, and an external tube diameter of 1.50-1.80 mm. Resulting tubing must also exhibit flexibility and high bend-fatigue resistance, allowing it to be wound onto a spool while withstanding dynamic mechanical conditions. Finally, produced tubing should be resistant to hydrochlorite and stable in the 2–12 pH range.

Approaches of Interest: 

• Existing porous materials which can be adapted to produce tubing meeting some or all of the criteria above
• Methods of tubing production which can be applied to porous materials meeting some or all of the criteria above
• All production processes will be considered, but extrusion-based production methods with a line speed of ≥ 20 m/min will be prioritised
• Open to suitable materials of all types, but priority will be given to fluorine-free, low-cost materials 

Out of Scope: 

• Materials or processes which do not have an associated prototype
• Materials or processes which have only been validated in silico
• Materials produced via braiding or knitting processes

Developmental Stages of Interest: 

• Opportunities from TRL1 to TRL6 are within scope, provided there is a physical prototype with a clear line of sight to production 

Submission Information: 

Submission of one-page, 200–300-word briefs is encouraged, along with any optional supplementary information e.g. relevant publications. Completion of this submission form is required. In submitting to this campaign, you confirm that your submission contains only non-confidential information. Accepting submissions from SMEs. This campaign is subject to some jurisdictional restrictions. For a full list of restrictions, please click here.

Opportunity for Collaboration:

Our client is open to a range of collaboration opportunities, with the most appropriate outcome being decided on a case-by-case basis. Example outcomes include licensing assets, project/PhD funding, and research collaborations. Successful proposals must have approaches that are protected by IP (patent or trade secret), or have the ability to become a patent or trade secret.