The ERC for Particle Science and Technology at the University of Florida (EEC-9402989) maintains the Characterization Research Instrumentation and Testbed (CRIT), a 17,000 square foot facility for particle analysis, processing and characterization. The facility includes 6 analytical laboratories and a high bay area and is available to ERC team members and other researchers from the UF and industry. Industry members may use the equipment and facilities for sponsored or collaborative research projects that fall within the scope of the ERC’s mission. Analytical services are available to Industry partners at reduced rates and to non-industry partners on a time available basis. The 25,000 sq. ft. Particle Science Building consists of 17,000 sq.ft. of laboratory and industrial space equipped with the state-of-the-art analytical, characterization and processing equipment up to and including pilot scale. The remainder of the facility consists of administrative offices, meeting rooms and a library. The building was funded by the State of Florida with an investment of $5.3 million and completed in September, 1998. A clean room (class 10,000) has been created for the CMP research.

Over the last 6 years, over 4 million dollars has been invested in equipping and furnishing the CRIT, providing state of the art capabilities for conducting research and characterization of particulate systems. With the ERC’s emphasis in nano and biotechnology, the Center has begun investing in equipment and infrastructure improvements oriented towards these applications. Moving to the nanoscale involves specialized techniques such as the newly acquired STEM-Z, and a strictly clean environment. Microelectronic, biomedical and pharmaceutical applications will involve sterile and dust free environmental control. Therefore, the development of a clean facility is an important component of the center’s growth in this area. Two on-line analytical tools developed and commercialized by the ERC for Particles Science and Technology at the University of Florida (EEC 9402989) brought about major financial and energy savings for large-scale manufacturing operations. One on-line particle analyzer based on laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has been successfully tested at plant scale, and instrument manufactures are exploring the possibility of commercializing this technology. Besides process monitoring, this technology is being extended to designing particles for bioapplications. Another on-line sensor, which measures the amount of particulate material in a suspension (slurry density sensor), has been spun off as a small company, KMW, Inc. These instruments have been reported to enhance the pumping efficiency of slurries in plants by almost five percent. A one percent increase in pumping efficiency is estimated to save tens of millions of dollars per year in energy costs for large scale manufacturing operations.