Materials Consulting Services

Lodestone Technologies, an Illinois corporation, was initially formed in 1995 to provide consulting services in advanced materials processing and application of high-tech materials to the needs of industry. Lodestone is committed to providing timely, efficient service to its customers and will work with your company's scientists and engineers to provide a cost-effective solution to all of your materials problems. We are prepared to address all materials-related aspects of your business; including process troubleshooting, materials selection, postmortem analysis, and characterization. The company's partners have an aggregate of 45 years experience in the processing of advanced materials, with direct experience in materials selection and materials processing in a wide variety of products. This experience includes:

	Development and design of wireless telecommunication base-station equipment based on high temperature superconductors. Work included the selection and processing of ceramic superconductor components, polymer composite support structures stable at cryogenic temperatures, cryostat design, and specification of cryo-capable RF components.
	Specification of formulations for ceramic extrusion, injection molding, tape-casting and roll-forming.
	Development and optimization of metal/ceramic packages for integrated circuits. Experience with both metal/ceramic co-fired packages and thick- and thin-film post-fired structures.
	Development of the only space-qualified high temperature superconductor signal/current leads currently in use by NASA. Development included the design and specification of space- and cryo-capable metal/polymer support structure necessary to minimize thermal conductivity.
	Development of new ceramic materials for high intensity discharge lamps and optimization of existing lamp materials. Work included examination of ceramic-to-metal seals and specification of chemically and thermally compatible lead/electrode materials.
	Development and demonstration of electrical switchgear, including current limiters and magnetically-activated switches.
	Experience with a broad range of materials characterization, including optical and electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction and fluorescence, electrical testing techniques ranging from DC to microwave RF, mechanical testing, and chemical analysis.
	Experience with a broad range of materials processing techniques, including hot-pressing, tape-casting, screen-printing, spray- and freeze-drying, iso-static and biaxial pressing, extrusion, and chemical synthesis of advanced ceramics and metals.

Lodestone combines this broad range of direct experience with a network of experts that includes technologists in universities and national laboratories, as well as industry retirees to offer a unique materials consulting service. In addition, the company's principals are knowledgeable in areas of intellectual property development and protection, marketing, procurement, and execution of sponsored research, and negotiation of collaborative agreements with universities, national laboratories, and other companies. Consequently, the company is also able to assist in the preparation of proposals and advise on the marketing to those proposals to the appropriate institutions, assist in contract negotiations, and advise on intellectual property matters.

Contact Lodestone with your specific needs and requirements and we can discuss how our experience and knowledge can benefit your company.