Robust Self-decontaminating Coatings for Defense Applications

During the proposed Phase I effort NANOIONIX will demonstrate a tough, self-decontaminating antimicrobial surface coating optimized for the inactivation of broad classes of viruses, bacteria, fungi, and chemical warfare agents without external intervention (including light and heat). Coatings are used throughout the US military for corrosion protection and wear resistance, for appearance and signature control, and for its ability to be cleaned and/or decontaminated. Decontamination of surfaces is a critical issue for the armed forces not only from the potential use of chemical and biological warfare agents by our adversaries, but also to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Self-decontaminating surface coatings are “always on” and therefore minimize the logistics burden of continually using liquid or gaseous disinfectants, especially with high-touch surfaces. The performance of NANOIONIX active ingredient, a patent-pending, low-cost, non-toxic, non-leachable/environmentally benign ceramic and the first new class of antimicrobial materials in a decade, has been proven in the laboratory. The mechanism of inactivation is based on oxidation of amino acid residues on the surface of viruses or bacteria and/or organic functionalities in chemical warfare agents, not specific proteins, lipid molecules, or gene sequences – and thus is applicable to a wide variety of potential threat agents. The material is thermally and environmentally stable and resilient to contact or cleaning with harsh chemicals including caustic and bleach. Today’s Chemical Agent Resistant Coatings (CARC) are non-porous and provide outstanding abrasion, wear, and chemical resistance – but can only be decontaminated using highly corrosive oxidizers such as supertropical bleach. The NANOIONIX team has already blended its ceramic active ingredient with commercial polyurethane and polyacrylic binders and powders to form scratch-resistant, adherent coatings on metal, plastic, glass, and wood surfaces. The ceramic remains on the surface without any additives, coatings, or surfactants. In the Phase I effort, the ceramic component will be blended with already tough, commercially available wear-resistant polymeric binders to demonstrate a robust coating meeting DARPA’s mechanical/chemical and antimicrobial performance requirements. Ceramic particles are known to increase the wear resistance and hardness of polymeric coatings due to the high interfacial contact between the organic and inorganic phases – potentially enhancing the performance of an already tough coating. Tests will be performed on 5083 or 6061 aluminum, 464 naval brass, and AR500 carbon steel – all materials of critical importance to the military.