Neoker is the sole producer of single-crystal pure alumina fibers. These fibers show a unique combination of high strength, thermal resistance, and chemical stability. Potential applications include metal matrix composites, ceramic matrix composites, and high-temperature insulation. Neoker was founded as a spin-off from the Institute of Ceramic Materials of Galicia to commercialize this novel fiber production technology.

1. Neoker, S.L.
Single crystal pure alumina fibers
1st Spanish Award on Innovation on Advanced
Materials and Technologies

2. Neoker alumina fibers: purity, strength, chemical stability, thermal resistance.
OUR PRODUCT
NEOKER, S.L. is presently the only world producer of single-crystal alumina
fibers. This tiny filamented material shows a unique combination of high me-
chanical strength and outstanding thermal and mechanical stability. Therefore,
single crystal pure alumina fibers are extremely high performance materials,
and thus they are the perfect candidates to be employed as reinforcing phase in
every high added-value Advanced Composite.
Traditionally, the industries more interested in these materials were the automo-
tive, aeronautics and military industries, but every day new applications are Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) image,
emerging requiring novel high performance reinforcing materials. For most of showing the basal structure of Neoker fibers.
them, Neoker alumina fibers do offer an advanced technological solution.
Main applications:
-Metal Matrix Composites (MMC's)
-Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMC's)
-Isolation solutions for very high temperatures
-Filters for aggressive environments.
-Other.
SEM image, showing the high aspect ratio
(length/diameter) of Neoker fibers.
1

3. Neoker alumina fibers: purity, strength, chemical stability, thermal resistance.
PROPERTIES
Chemical composition >99.7% -Al2O3
Tensile Strength >6 GPa
Aspect Ratio >103
Electrical Insulator
Melting point 2050ºC
Flammability,
Fresh Water, Organic
Solvents, Oxidation,
Environmental Resistance Sea Water,
Strong Acid,
Strong Alkalis, Wear
Drops at the end of fibers are due to Vapor-Liquid-
Solid (VLS) growth. VLS deposition is characteristic of
the Neoker technology.
VLS drops are eliminated via leaching, so the purity
can be controlled on customer’s demand.
2

4. OUR COMPANY
Neoker, S.L. is a spin-off company of the Institute of Ceramic Ma-
terials of Galicia (I.C.G.), associated with the Spanish University of
Santiago de Compostela (U.S.C.). This initiative has been spear-
headed by the same scientists who developed the novel technology
for the synthesis of single crystal pure alumina fibers. The Project
has been supported by the Spanish Ministry of Industry and Tech-
nology through the NEOTEC Program. Two well-known and
highly prestigious capital risk investors, Unirisco S.C.R and Unin-
vest S.G.E.C.R, joined in as partners of NEOKER and guaranteed
the success of the project in its initial phase. Altogether, the unique
IP on novel technologies for the synthesis of advanced materials,
the long-standing technical and managerial experience of its corpo-
rate staff, and the strong financial support from both state and pri-
vate sources makes NEOKER a solid project with a bright future.
We are proud of our innovative spirit. Our goal is to work in close Neoker’s technology allows the continuous production
collaboration with our customers to find efficient and competitive of fibers on special ceramic substrates.
solutions to their needs in advanced materials. We
commit ourselves to maintain our products under the
most rigorous quality standards, thus making them first
-choice materials for ad-
vanced applications.
Santiago de
Compostela
Spain
Neoker production facilities are located
near Santiago de Compostela, in the north-
ern-west corner of Spain. 3

5. Neoker alumina fibers: purity, strength, chemical stability, thermal resistance.
ADVANTAGES
Inorganic fibers are widely employed as strengtheners in high-
temperature composites, both in CMC’s (Ceramic Matrix Composites)
and MMC’s (Metal Matrix Composites).
High performance reinforcements allow to improve fracture toughness
in ceramics. When included in metals, they increase hardness, strength
and maximum use temperature, giving rise to lighter and highly cost-
effective advanced materials.
Polycrystalline alumina fibers are usually alumina grains bonded with
the aid of a secondary phase, that is responsible for the low performance
of many of them. Even when purity is around to 99% alumina, grain
growth in non-crystalline fibers, at high temperatures, becomes an in-
convenient.
Neoker fibers do not present grain growth, because they are single
crystals. Their composition is only alfa-alumina, without any secon-
dary phase. Another advantage is that they have a preferential growth
along the c axis, which improves their resistance to creep.
Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) image, showing that
fiber diameters are typically around 2 microns.
4

6. Neoker alumina fibers: purity, strength, chemical stability, thermal resistance.
ADVANTAGES IN
COMBUSTIÓN ENVIRONMENTS
Al2O3 fibers are highly advantageous over non oxide fibers, which
lose their properties through oxidation at high temperatures (due to wa-
ter steam). Neoker’s fiber performance even improve that of single
crystal SiC whiskers, for use in MMC’s, mainly when used in atmos-
pheres containing water steam at high temperatures.
Titanium matrix composites, Inconel matrix composites and other super
-alloys can reduce their creep and fatigue at high temperatures by incor-
porating Neoker’s fibers, while at the same time reduce their weight.
Using Neoker alumina fibers brings improved mechani-
cal characteristics in your materials, even at high tem-
peratures and in combustion environments, and means
saving money in terms of reduced weight.
5

7. Neoker alumina fibers: purity, strength, chemical stability, thermal resistance.
OTHER ALREADY EXISTING ADVANTAGES
FIBERS.
The properties of polycrystalline competi-
tors are governed by deleterious secondary phases,
like the black links in the chain at the left image. Even with per-
centages of secondary phases well below 1%, the performance
of polycrystalline fibers is dramatically limited by the proper-
ties of these deleterious components :
it’s the weakest link theory effect.
Neoker’s whiskers single crystal struc-
ture reproduces the effect of a chain with
all links made out of alumina. In practice, this fact means
that their high temperature performance and mechanical
properties improve, by a factor of 1000 times, those of their
polycrystalline competitors.
There’re no weakest links!.
6

8. Neoker alumina fibers: purity, strength, chemical stability, thermal resistance.
POTENTIAL USES
• Use in MMC’s, CMC’s (Metal and Ceramic Matrix Composites).
• Very high temperature insulation and linings for furnaces in ad-
vanced treatments.
• Ceramic preforms.
• Materials for defense applications.
• Aerospace industry: High temperature insulators, thermal barriers,...
• Aviation: more durable, highly functional materials for engines.
• High-tech components for F1& Moto-GP.
• Light alloys for automotive industry: pistons, engine blocks,…
• High temperature filters for gases. High Performance Ceramic Reinforcement
• Filters for corrosive liquids.
• Etc.
7

9. Neoker alumina fibers: purity, strength, chemical stability, thermal resistance.
INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION
High Performance Ceramic Reinforcement
 Our product has already raised the interest among different companies and R&D Insti-
tutes around the world, specially in those countries where the aero-spatial, aeronautic
and automotive industries are stronger, with lots of expertise in advanced materials.
 Neoker has presently established production facilities and offices in Spain
(www.neoker.org) and France (www.neoker-france.com)
8

10. Do you have an idea for a new application?
Do you need to improve your present MMC’s or
CMC’s performances?
Neoker is presently leading several research and development projects, in cooperation with compa-
nies and technological institutes in France, Spain and USA. Our aim is to establish new alliances, to
demonstrate new diverse applications for our fibers.
Write us at info@neoker.org, call us at +34685476831/+34685476828, or request a visit to our prem-
ises at Polígono Industrial de Milladoiro. We will discuss with you how to improve your processes or
materials. You will meet scientists who have developed the basic studies, and have transformed them
into an industrial reality.
We are willing to cooperate with those high-technology companies
who are constantly improving the performance of their Advanced
Materials. Having the far-sightedness of foreseeing what benefits
will be obtained using our fibers in their specific Advanced Materi-
als, will allow our customers, collaborators or even partners to lead
their respective fields, overtaking their competitors.
WE INVITE YOU TO SHARE OUR SUCCESS
9

11. Neoker alumina fibers: purity, strength, chemical stability, thermal resistance.
10

12. ENISA prizes mean the higher distinction given in Spain,
rewarding the most innovative companies. ENISA is a
Spanish government agency that supports and invests in
technological innovation.
Neoker won, in 2007 (commemorating the 25th anniver-
sary of ENISA), the first award on new & innovative ma-
terials category.
11

13. NEOKER, S.L. A Contender for “World’s Best Technology” Title
Production of Alumina Fibers Technology at the 2009 WBT
Arlington, TX – Neoker, S.L. was among the top technology innovators from across the nation and around the world presenting at the March
24-25 WBTshowcase in Arlington, Texas.
Neoker’s technology, which allows the production of novel alumina single crystal fibers, was rigorously screened and mentored by
WBTshowcase commercialization experts to present to an audience including over 100 venture investors and Fortune 500 licensees.
“The revolutionary nature of the technologies presenting at the WBTshowcase makes it a must-attend event for investors and licensing
scouts,” said Paul Huleatt, WBTshowcase CEO.
The WBTshowcase is the nation's premier event showcasing the largest collection of undiscovered technologies emanating from the world’s
leading universities, labs and research institutions.
Each year, just one of the WBTshowcase’s carefully selected presenters receives the "Best of Show" award.
Mr. Huleatt highlighted that the companies groomed to present at the WBTshowcase leave with new knowledge and contact to take their tech-
nologies to market and beyond.
The 2008 World’s Best Technologies Showcase brought together over 75 world-class deals and attracted over 450 attendees including over
100 bonafide investors and Fortune 1000 licensees.
According to Mr. Huleatt, approximately 1/3 of past WBTshowcase presenters have gone on to secure venture capital or a licensing/strategic
partnering agreement with a Fortune 500 company. To date, past presenters have raised over $400 million in first (or next) round venture capi-
tal.
ABOUT WBTshowcase
The WBTshowcase is the premier event in USA showcasing the largest collection of undiscovered technologies emanating from the world’s
leading universities, labs and research institutions.
12

14. www.neoker.org
www.neoker-france.com
info@neoker.org
Tel.: +34 685476831 Víctor Valcárcel (Ph.D.) -C.T.O.
+34 685476828 Carmen Cerecedo (Ph.D.) - C.E.O.
Polígono Industrial do Novo Milladoiro
Rúa Xesta, Manzana 1, Local 78A1
Código Postal: ES15895
Ames, A Coruña
Spain
Single crystal pure alumina fibers.