RUSSIAN DEVELOPED NEW THERMAL INSULATING MATERIAL -- SPHEROLITE Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) is government-owned, contractor-operated facility with locations in New Mexico and California. As a research and development laboratory for the Department of Energy (DOE), we have been working on high technology solutions to problems of national importance for over 40 years. Russian Federal Nuclear Center-Institute of Experimental Physics (RFNC-VNIIEF), Arzamas-16, to some extent is the SNL counterpart in Russia and presently is the largest state R&D institute of Minatom, Russia. For over 50 years VNIIEF has been involved in solving National Security issues through the development of major scientific and technical projects. The history of interactions between SNL and VNIIEF extends for approximately 5 years. These interactions have focused on strengthening mutual trust between the USA and Russia, as well as on finding commercial applications for VNIEF technologies that have been developed over the last four decades. For approximately 10 years, VNIIEF hasbeen attempting to solve the performance problems of operating electronics equipment at high temperatures. Expertise in thermal insulation materials, and its properties has been developed over the years at VNIIEF. As a result, a new material which addresses many of the difficulties of operating electronics in high temperatures was created. The developed material, called Spherolite meets the required parameters -- it is inflammable, light-weight, rigid, inexpensive -- and Spherolite appears to be a harmless substitution to asbestos-containing materials. Additional specific advantages of Spherolite include: In comparison with the materials being currently used, Spherolite has less density, yet possesses the same heat conductivity factor. Raw materials utilized in Spherolite production are easily accessible and inexpensive -- silicate industry products as well Coal Electric Power Plant residues. The material is excellent under the dry medium environment. Unlike asbestos, the material for which Spherolite can replace, Spherolite it environmentally inert. The fields of application for "Spherolite" are numerous; including: insulation of steam, oil and gas trunk pipelines, residential and industrial construction, ship-building, and public utilities. In order to fulfill fairness of opportunity requirements, Sandia will widely advertise both the technology and the fact that it may be licensed. Depending upon any prior commitments, the advertised license can take a variety of forms, up to and including the opportunity for an exclusive license. However keep in mind, that this is not an offer for the sale of a license, but rather a solicitation of interested parties for potential license opportunities. You and other potential licensees, must express interest in the technology either by writing or faxing us. The deadline for accepting respondents is January 9, 1997. In your inquiry, please include any information on your companies' experience and capabilities with similar technology. (VNIIEF is especially interested in working with insulating materials manufacturers.) Write to: Joanne Trujillo Sandia National Laboratories Technology Partnerships Dept. PO Box 5800 -- MS 1380 Albuquerque, NM 87185-1380 .... or express interest by fax at (505) 843-4175 After you contact us, we will send you a short questionnaire to assess your company's ownership and size. Preference will be given to US based businesses. From there, Sandia will evaluate all replies. An offer for sale, consistent with the selected licensing strategy will then be developed. The chosen strategy will be mutually beneficial for both Sandia, and the chosen company or companies. We look forward to the opportunity to work with you and your company on the desired goal of commercialization of the Sperolite technology. E-MAIL: Russian Developed New Thermal Insulating Material -- Spherolite, jmtruji@sandia.gov.

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