Defiant Technologies specializes in the design and production of portable gas chromatograph chemical detectors and sensors. Defiant licenses a tortuous path pre-concentrator from Sandia National Laboratories that is at the heart of all of its gas chromatographs. The products are sold to the petroleum industry and environmental regulators, including state of New Mexico regulators.
“We are pleased with the results of the TRGR Project and the excellent working relationship we developed with Sandia. We are looking forward to working with the Labs again in the future.“
John Hogan
Owner/Senior Scientist
Defiant Technologies Inc.
A TRGR Project with Sandia is helping Defiant improve the pre-concentrator so its gas chromatographs can operate better and remain accurate in the field under high humidity or wet conditions.
Sandia Researcher Phil Rocco Miller and his team used their experience, skills, and specialized equipment to assist the company with developing a low-cost amorphous carbon film with small pore structure that can coat the pre-concentrator and not absorb moisture.
The small company greatly appreciated gaining access to assistance with its technology maturation process. During the Project, the team successfully created the film and coated sample devices, moving the TRL of the new film from 1 to 3. The next step will be to refine the manufacturing process, better controlling deposition amounts and temperatures so it can be moved to prototype production.
The partnership has enabled Sandia and Defiant to collaborate on other efforts to commercialize Sandia’s sensing technology. Defiant is looking at using the new Sandia carbon film on a special instrument they build for the U.S. Army. Creating more robust products for multiple applications and industries will give the company a competitive advantage for their portable detectors and sensors.