WHO'S WHO: 3 Houston innovators to know this week

University of Houston's Dr. Seamus Curran. Photo courtesy of University of Houston

InnovationMap has shared Three Houston Innovators to know this week which includes Integricote CEO, Prof. Shay Curran.

Across industries, Houston innovation leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators are coming up with creative solutions for the coronavirus or its subsequent challenges — from digital resources to reliable face masks.

Water beading (green food color added for demo) on an ordinary mask coated with Integricote Premium Hydrophobic Coating (right) and uncoated mask (left)

Seamus Curran is well-known for his work commercializing nanotechnologies, and he is pulling from his past to deal with a future demand. The professor is using a hydrophobic coating he developed nearly 10 years ago to improve the ability of surgical masks to protect against transmission of the virus.

The world is in dire need of more face masks, and Curran notes that standard masks are "somewhat porous, and especially if they get wet, they can allow the virus to penetrate." People infected with the virus, he adds, could spread it even through a mask, while people who aren't sick could still become infected, despite wearing a less-protective mask.

Curran is hoping his solution can prove to be much more effective at preventing the spread of the disease. Click here to continue reading.

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University of Houston unmasks cutting-edge technology to battle COVID-19

Dr. Seamus Curran, a professor of physics at the University of Houston, doesn’t mince words when it comes to society’s need to adjust to the new normal and don masks in public to combat the spread of COVID-19.

“We left normal in December,” Curran tells CultureMap, “and, when everyone was planning their New Year’s resolutions, little did we know that the old normal of before is gone. None of us saw that life passing away — and it was taken away by a bug 1,000 times smaller than lice. And like lice, it’s going to be with us for a long time.”

(Read full story here…)

Integricote CEO featured on the front page of Houston Chronicle Business Journal

We are proud to share that Integricote CEO, Prof. Shay Curran, was featured on the front page of Houston Chronicle Business Journal published today. In this article, he shares his 27 years long experience of doing basic science to the establishment of startup company based off self-cleaning coating for solar panels in 2009 (C-Voltaics, Inc. ), and then a successful operation of fully-cultivated nanotechnology company that manufactures water-resistant sealers/stains for wood, masonry, and concrete (Integricote, Inc.).

In these 27 years, he published more than 100 peer-reviewed journals, 31 issued and pending US patents, 40 international patents, and received many academic and entrepreneurship awards. He has recently been named a fellow of National Academy of Inventors (NAI) in recognition of his outstanding contribution in the field of nanotechnology.

Photo Courtesy: Yi-Chin Lee, Houston Chronicle / Staff Photographer

Congratulations, Prof. Curran!

(Read more…)

Integricote CEO named National Academy of Inventors Fellow

It is a really proud moment for us to announce that Integricote, Inc. CEO & Physics Professor at UH, Prof. Shay Curran, has been named a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) in recognition of his outstanding contribution in the field of nanotechnology. Prof. Curran had been chosen by the academy for "a highly prolific spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating outstanding inventions that have made a tangible impact on the quality of life, economic development and welfare of society.

Prof. Curran currently holds 19 issued and pending U.S. patents and 40 international patents. He will become the 15th faculty member to be named a fellow of NAI from UH. The NAI Fellows will be officially inducted at a ceremony during the NAI annual meeting, to be held on April 10, 2020.

Kudos to Prof. Shay Curran for his great achievement!

(Read more…)

Integricote CEO, CTO, and COO honored with INVENTOR PATENT AWARDS 2019

It is a truly proud moment for us to share the news that Integricote CEO, Prof. Seamus (Shay) Curran, CTO, Dr. Kang-Shyang (Shawn) Liao, and COO, Mr. Alexander Wang are honored with INVENTOR PATENT AWARDS 2019 during a ceremony organized by Division of Research, University of Houston. The event was held on Thursday, March 07, 2019. The awards were given to the individuals in the recognition of two US patents they acquired in the year 2018, specifically US Patent No. 9790336 (Graphitic Nanocomposites in Solid State Matrices and Methods for Making Same) and 10053388 (Multifunctional Composites and Material Laminates with Graphitic or Other Nanomaterials ).

Congratulations Prof. Curran, Dr. Liao, and Mr. Wang!

Starting from left COO (Mr. Alex Wang), CEO (Prof. Shay Curran), and CTO (Dr. Shawn Liao) holding their respective patent awards.

Startup Pains: What I Wish I Knew

Integricote CEO & UH Professor of Physics, Dr. Seamus Curran, will be presenting his experience of the journey of Integricote, Inc. from its inception to the current stage where business has become profitable. The talk will be held on Friday, March 8, 2019, 4:00 -5:00 PM CST at Innovation Center, UH Technology Bridge, Building 4, Floor 2, 5000 Gulf Freeway, 77023. It is a free event and we encourage you all to attend. Please register in the given link below if you plan to attend the event.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/startup-pains-what-i-wish-i-knew-tickets-56072381001

“Startup Pains” is a monthly talk organized by Division of Research, Office of Technology Transfer and Innovation at University of Houston. The researcher-turned-entrepreneurs will share their experience about starting a company and their transition from scientist to business owner.

Date And Time

Fri, March 8, 2019

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM CST

Location

Innovation Center

UH Technology Bridge, Building 4, Floor 2

5000 Gulf Freeway

Houston, TX 77023

Integricote Seals A Large Problematic Brick Facade of Building 3 at the University of Houston Energy Research Park.

Integricote recently completed a large project for Transwestern that entailed cleaning and sealing the north-facing exterior brick facade of Building 3 at the University of Houston Energy Research Park. Transwestern had noted ongoing complaints of water/moisture ingress/seepages, particularly on rainy days. After sealing the north-facing brick facade with CaraPro® Single-Coat-Clear Masonry Sealer, building management has yet to report any cases of further water ingress/seepage.

Coating that effectively prevents wood pellets from water damage

Wood pellets are formed from sawdust or other ground woody components that are used as a renewable energy source. Wood production has changed, according to the IEA*, from 6-7 Mt (2006); 14.3 Mt (2010) to 26 Mt (2015).

There are very defined classifications (ISO 17225-2) on pellet sizes, weights, and moisture content. One of the physical challenges with wood pellets is that in contact with water they fall apart very quickly. We would like to announce that using an ultra thin coating we can make these pellets water repellent.

Please enjoy the video.

[*Thran et al (2017), 'Global Wood Pellet Industry and Trade Study', IEA Bioenergy Task 40, June 2017]