The technology development and consulting company Geisys Ventures, LLC (Geisys) and California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) have executed a Memorandum of Understanding outlining their intent to collaborate on the development and commercialization of a novel adhesive technology aimed at expanding end-of-life options for a wide range of consumer products.
Dr. Kristoffer Stokes, CEO of Geisys, explains that many products are manufactured with various glues due to their low cost and ease of use across materials and product types, but these standard glues often prevent separation when it comes time to repair or dispose of the product. And with mixed recycling being possible in only certain energy-intensive recovery facilities, this means that many high-value materials simply end up in a landfill. According to Stokes, the adhesive technology being developed in collaboration between Geisys and Cal Poly—a “defeatable adhesive”—will address this end-of-life disassembly issue: a critical but often-overlooked segment of the coveted “circular economy.” Says Stokes, “Our excitement for the potential of defeatable adhesives is beyond measure. This technology provides standard adhesive capabilities with the added benefit of design for disassembly (DfD) methodologies, allowing product developers to reuse components and, ultimately, reduce overall waste.”
The patent-pending technology was initially developed in a Cal Poly laboratory led by Prof. Philip Costanzo with applications in biobased, rehealable coatings. “Our technology reinvigorates established and well-understood science to produce novel and dynamic materials. The procedure is straightforward, scalable, and suitable for completion by undergraduates, which demonstrates the robustness of the system,” said Prof. Costanzo. Utilizing specially designed polymers that can dynamically reconfigure themselves, Prof. Costanzo’s concept showed promise in adhesive applications. And early collaborations between Geisys and the Costanzo lab have confirmed the adhesive capabilities of these “smart” materials. This step forward is the result of a two-year partnership between the two groups.
Cal Poly has a mission to foster teaching, scholarship, and service in a “Learn by Doing” environment in which students, staff, and faculty are partners in discovery. As a polytechnic university, Cal Poly promotes the application of theory to practice, and this has been a critical aspect to the success of this joint project. This technology has been driven and developed by undergraduate students learning about how polymer science can be adapted to make more eco-friendly manufacturing approaches. Prof. Costanzo further states that “Our students get hands-on experience solving real world problems. This develops their technical abilities as well their critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.”
“We are excited to partner with Geisys Ventures on this important technology, highlighting Cal Poly’s focus to develop market transforming technologies with our private sector partners,” said Jim Dunning, Cal Poly’s Associate Vice President of Corporate Engagement and Innovation. Geisys plans to continue development and investment in this technology and is working to scaleup for manufacturing trials in the near future.
About Geisys Ventures, LLC
Geisys Ventures is a privately held company focused on materials science and product development. They have helped clients across North America, Europe, and Asia improve manufacturing, streamline processes, and connect R&D organizations to commercial viability. Projects they have worked on range from novel biobased textile materials, medical devices, plastics compounding, adhesives, and 3D printer resins. All of this provides materials science and market expertise that leads directly to value added products or reduced manufacturing costs. To learn more about Geisys Ventures, visit their website at https://www.geisysventures.com.
About Cal Poly – SLO
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) is a primarily undergraduate institution located in the central coast of California, and has a student body of approximately 20,000 students. Cal Poly’s motto of “Learn by doing” is paramount to the educational mission of the institution. Since 2007, more than 105 undergraduate students have directly contributed to work in the Costanzo lab. Their efforts have resulted in 21 peer-reviewed publications, 2 patents, and over 130 presentations. Undergraduate students have given oral and poster presentations in the POLY, PMSE, INORG, and CHED sections at ACS national meetings, and have been selected to present during Sci-Mix. To learn more about the Costanzo lab, visit their website at
Comments