On November 17th, 2015, MIRDC and National Tsing Hua University signed a MOU at the NTHU Delta Building to establish the Metal Materials Joint R&D Center. This center is expected to conduct key technology and process research in considering metal materials are difficult to obtain in the industry.
It is precisely because key materials are difficult to obtain that makes material R&D so important. To integrate resources and specialized division of labor, the MIRDC and NTHU collaborate to establish a Metal Materials Joint R&D Center. This center will undertake many responsibilities, such as to cultivate the talents in the field of high value material, to establish mechanism for academic and research division of labor, to implement equipment and talents sharing, and to proactively obtain and integrate R&D resources for the development of key materials.
These two top material research institutes will combine their resources and mutually complement each other in research, and they are expected to work closely together in the future. Initially, the center will conduct nitinol, magnetic material, and additive manufacturing research in the hopes of providing key materials for the motor and medical device industries. In development of motor key material, MIRDC is currently engaged in process technology R&D for hard magnets (NdFeB magnet), soft magnets (silicon steel sheet), and wire material (copper and aluminum wire). Long-term cooperation with the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at NTHU is expected to promote innovative material research and technical industrial applications. This can substantially improve the technological capabilities of relevant Taiwan makers.
Taking the high temperature formation of NdFeB magnet as an example, MIRDC is currently working with Department of Materials Science and Engineering at NTHU to develop high temperature resistant anti-stick coating material. This material can be applied in high temperature molds designed by MIRDC. Development results are expected to be applied in various high temperature mold surfaces to decrease mold wear and prolong mold life. In the medical field, the relation between nitinol mechanical properties and microstructure are being studied by Department of Materials Science and Engineering at NTHU. MIRDC, on the other hand, carries out post process research and promotes the results to the medical device industry. This cooperation model can link R&D capabilities between academic and research sectors, improve the problem solving ability of graduate students, and make good preparation for entry into relevant fields after graduation.