To support the material commercialisation efforts of local composites and textiles-based businesses, the 401 Tech Bridge Advanced Materials and Technology Centre, managed by the University of Rhode Island (URI), is installing a Haydale HT200 plasma reactor.

The HT200 incorporates Haydale’s patented functionalisation technologies which and will be used specifically by Graphene Composites, a nano-materials engineering company, for its newly developed anti-viral GC Ink and other products.

GC Ink has been independently tested by Brown University in Rhode Island to show effectiveness at neutralising coronavirus and influenza viruses in under one minute.

The patent pending virucidal and germicidal ink is being commercialised for a broad range of applications including PPE, filtration solutions and high touch surfaces.

The technology is highly effective because it has a dual-action mechanism – negatively-charged surface of graphene oxide traps the positively-charged parts of water droplets and the protein spikes on coronavirus and silver nanoparticles release ions that oxidize the lipid membrane protecting coronavirus RNA, thereby neutralising it.

“We’re pleased to partner with Haydale, and to be working with Graphene Composites as they bring the GC Ink to market,” said Tech Bridge 401 executive director Christian Cowan. “We will make the Haydale equipment available to companies that are doing advanced materials research.”

“It is great to see Haydale’s patented functionalisation process play such a key role in the adoption of nanotechnology in response to the increased global focus on a need for viral efficacy,” added Haydale CEO Keith Broadbent.

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