Design of high performance antiviral and antibacterial cold spray coatings for continuous disinfection on high-touch surfaces

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The preventive measures currently applied to contain the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 by surfaces (i.e.'fomites') have highlighted the importance of surface disinfection. In order to limit transmission by fomites,most commercial buildings, schools and other public infrastructure have improved their cleaning and disinfection protocols and increased their frequencies, adding financial and logistical burdens to their operation. Therefore, there is a high demand for a reliable and economical solution that would provide passive and continuous disinfection on frequently touched surfaces. This project aims to continue our efforts, initiated in a project funded by a CRSNG-COVID-19 grant, in the design of high performance antiviral coatings for frequently touched surfaces. The research will focus on (1) the development of knowledge on the influence of properties of copper-based materials on the mechanisms of inactivation of viruses and bacteria to develop coatings with enhanced activities against a wide range of viruses and bacteria and (2) develop coatings that maintain their antiviral and antibacterial performance for years by withstanding normal conditions of use, including cleaning and disinfection protocols that use harsh chemicals. The project partners include McGill University, supplying Materials and Virus and Bacteria expertise, INRS bringing knowledge of surface interactions and NRC, working with McGill and INRS on materials and processing developments and helping the three collaborating companies industrialize and commercialize the findings. During the project, the powder company, 5N Plus will develop, based on the results obtained, a metallic powder having the composition and the properties optimal for the marketing of this application; Polycontrols will manufacture industrial demonstrations of the coating technology, produce coatings and commercialize coating systems for this application; Hatch Ltd. will respond to market demands with performance data and sustainability analysis, allowing it to upgrade public infrastructures with such coatings.