VCUarts Qatar’s Dr. Khaled Saoud’s thermal resistant aerogel granted US patent
Qatar Foundation (QF) has honoured a faculty member of partner university Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar) for an innovation in nanotechnology that was granted a US patent.
Dr Khaled Saoud, Professor of Physics, Liberal Arts and Sciences program, VCUarts Qatar, was recognised at a virtual QF Innovation Showcase, titled ‘Empowering Innovation.’ His invention – a cost-effective rapid fabrication method to produce ultra-light and mechanically robust silica thermo-resistant aerogel material– was part of the Wall of Innovation that displayed the 70-odd international patents granted to various QF researchers, over the years.
Dr Saoud – who, incidentally, is the first faculty member from VCUarts Qatar to be granted a patent for an innovation – also received a Patent Plaque commemorating this specific achievement in research, from QF.
This innovation was a direct result of twenty-odd years of research into nanotechnology, including his investigations at VCUarts Qatar.
“I have always been fascinated by the applications of nanotechnology in daily life,” Dr. Saoud said. “The possibilities are immense. In this case, the aerogel that has been patented was created by manipulating nanoparticles to create porous material (pore size 2-50 nm), which can be used as a thermal insulation coating which can be applied or sprayed onto surfaces, preventing infrared rays or heat from passing through.
“Aerogels are good thermal insulators because they can block heat transfer (convection, conduction, and radiation) as they are composed almost entirely of air, an inferior heat conductor.
“Furthermore, the material developed in our laboratory has promising applications across fields such as fire protection of structures, internal combustion engines, aerospace, footwear, clothing for extremely cold conditions, and resin for 3D printing.
“For instance, when applied on the external surfaces of a building, it is able to deflect heat rays from passing through surfaces such as doors, windows, and walls, allowing indoor temperatures to be maintained at lower energy costs. The product – when it is eventually available in the market – will help architects and builders design energy-saving residences and structures.”
Dr Saoud’s aerogel innovation has been officially granted the status of patent number US 9 , 745 , 439 B1 by United States Patent, and the patent is in the name of VCUarts Qatar. He was assisted by a research associate Dr Shaukat Saeed from Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
The VCUarts Qatar physicist had already been granted patents for other innovations developed during his tenure as a researcher at Phillip Morris USA, and his alma mater, Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia.
Dr Khaled Saoud, Professor of Physics, Liberal Arts and Sciences program, VCUarts Qatar, was recognised at a virtual QF Innovation Showcase, titled ‘Empowering Innovation.’ His invention – a cost-effective rapid fabrication method to produce ultra-light and mechanically robust silica thermo-resistant aerogel material– was part of the Wall of Innovation that displayed the 70-odd international patents granted to various QF researchers, over the years.
Dr Saoud – who, incidentally, is the first faculty member from VCUarts Qatar to be granted a patent for an innovation – also received a Patent Plaque commemorating this specific achievement in research, from QF.
This innovation was a direct result of twenty-odd years of research into nanotechnology, including his investigations at VCUarts Qatar.
“I have always been fascinated by the applications of nanotechnology in daily life,” Dr. Saoud said. “The possibilities are immense. In this case, the aerogel that has been patented was created by manipulating nanoparticles to create porous material (pore size 2-50 nm), which can be used as a thermal insulation coating which can be applied or sprayed onto surfaces, preventing infrared rays or heat from passing through.
“Aerogels are good thermal insulators because they can block heat transfer (convection, conduction, and radiation) as they are composed almost entirely of air, an inferior heat conductor.
“Furthermore, the material developed in our laboratory has promising applications across fields such as fire protection of structures, internal combustion engines, aerospace, footwear, clothing for extremely cold conditions, and resin for 3D printing.
“For instance, when applied on the external surfaces of a building, it is able to deflect heat rays from passing through surfaces such as doors, windows, and walls, allowing indoor temperatures to be maintained at lower energy costs. The product – when it is eventually available in the market – will help architects and builders design energy-saving residences and structures.”
Dr Saoud’s aerogel innovation has been officially granted the status of patent number US 9 , 745 , 439 B1 by United States Patent, and the patent is in the name of VCUarts Qatar. He was assisted by a research associate Dr Shaukat Saeed from Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
The VCUarts Qatar physicist had already been granted patents for other innovations developed during his tenure as a researcher at Phillip Morris USA, and his alma mater, Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia.
