Founded in 2008 as a spin-out from the Centre for Process Innovation, Primary Dispersions Limited (PDL) has developed an advanced and disruptive milling technology (‘ConCor’) in collaboration with their technology partners, Maelstrom Advanced Process Technology (Maelstrom APT).

PDL have recently moved into state-of-the art laboratory/production facilities in the Innovation Accelerator at Wilton Centre on Teesside. From within these ultra-modern facilities PDL can offer:

• Customised development of nanoparticulate dispersions and ultra-stable emulsions.
• Toll manufacturing of your materials to your specification.
• Licensing of patented ConCor technology and process know-how.

One of the key technical barriers to the large scale commercial uptake of nanomaterials is the lack of a process technology capable of creating long term stable dispersions at the 1–10nm level. ConCor technology solves these problems, by providing unprecedented levels of localised shear to disrupt agglomeration and initiate stability. This will help to unlock the full potential of these exciting materials and markets.

Nanomaterials are forecast to play an increasingly crucial role in market sectors as diverse as pharmaceuticals, plastics, inks, coatings, foods, consumer products (including packaging) and electronics. Their use offers enormous potential for new product innovation. However, a number of technical issues are limiting the benefits achievable from current and new nanomaterials, hampering their introduction. As the nanomaterials market has developed over the past five years, it has become apparent that one of the major barriers to the commercialisation of nanomaterials is the inherent difficulty in dispersing them to discrete primary particles.

Usually, long-established dispersion methods, such as bead mills and high intensity fluid processors are used in this process and the evidence suggests that these techniques have limitations with regard to fully dispersing nanoparticles. If full dispersion is not achieved, nanomaterials will not deliver the cost-performance benefits required to justify their additional processing costs. ConCor technology can overcome these problems and deliver the benefits to you.