Los Angeles, CA-- February 13, 2006—Material Technologies, Inc. (OTC BB; MTNA.OB - News) ("MATECH") demonstrated its Electrochemical Fatigue Sensor (EFS™) technology, a patented crack detection system, to state departments of transportation and other transportation agencies on steel bridges located across the nation with exciting results over the last year.
In each of these cases, EFS effectively demonstrated its ability to find smaller active, growing fatigue cracks at less cost than traditional nondestructive testing (NDT) techniques. EFS relies on active sensors, electrochemical/mechanical interaction and an advanced crack detection algorithm to find growing cracks in steel. EFS only finds growing cracks, unlike most other NDT techniques that find cracks, but not growing cracks. None of these other NDT methods can find cracks as small as EFS can.
President and CEO of MATECH, Robert M. Bernstein, said, “With this technology, bridge engineers can more accurately determine structural integrity, thus saving time and money by postponing unnecessary repairs and maintenance, as well as preventing structural collapse and possible human tragedy.”
Because EFS can detect cracks earlier in the growth curve cycle, bridge engineers are able to perform relatively minor repairs. Further, the EFS technology allows a bridge owner to verify immediately if those repairs were successful at arresting the crack growth.
Lab tests demonstrate the EFS technique is capable of detecting growing cracks that lead to fatigue failures as small as 10 microns (0.0004 inches); on actual bridges under typical bridge loads fatigue cracks of 0.006 inches are detectable. Early studies with state DOTs indicate that the cost of EFS-based crack inspection is approximately the same cost as traditional inspection (e.g., visual inspection coupled with either magnetic particle or dye-penetrant testing), while providing earlier crack detection.
To-date, MATECH has used the EFS technique on six steel bridges across the U.S. in New York, Ohio, California, and Pennsylvania. It has been successfully used by MATECH bridge inspectors to check for cracks in welded joints, weld toes, and surface cracks. Over the last decade, the Federal Government has awarded MATECH $8.3 million in contracts for research, testing and validating of EFS technology.
Forward-Looking Statements
Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements. Such statements are indicated by words or phrases such as "believe," "will," "breakthrough," "significant," "indicated," "feel," "revolutionary," "should," "ideal," "extremely" and "excited." These statements are made under "Safe Harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements and are subject to risks and uncertainties. See the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including, without limitation, the Company's recent Form 10-K and Form 10-Qs, which identify specific factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.
Contact
Robert M. Bernstein
(310) 208-5589
matech@att.net
Source: Material Technologies
|
