ARMASMART - Scaling Up the Production of a Smart Nanotechnology to Combat Corrosion

Armadillo Metal Coatings Ltd.成立于2019年7月3日，旨在将斯旺西大学（Swansea University）开展的一项为期4年的合作研究项目开发的专利技术商业化，该项目由皇家造币厂（The Royal Mint, Llantrisant）部分资助和指导。关键的焦点是开发一种解决方案，减少硬币的光泽，保持更长的时间。该技术已被发现可以显著减少其他受欢迎的工程和装饰金属涂层的腐蚀，并进一步证明可以在涂层本身受损（例如腐蚀或划伤）时保护底层基材。Armadillo的创新包括一种金属镀液添加剂，可以在金属涂层基体中形成规则且分散良好的沉积物。这种添加剂包括装载有功能分子的纳米容器，这些分子在腐蚀或磨蚀条件下会释放出来，以保护整个金属涂层，一直到基材。纳米容器可以装载一系列功能分子，包括（但不限于）；防腐/防变色、抗病毒/抗菌、抗紫外线和阻燃分子。Armadillo产品采用无毒、环保和高性价比的材料制造。Armadillo的市场之所以存在，是因为终端用户对高性能、无毒和具有成本效益的防腐解决方案有需求，从而使金属涂层产品的使用寿命更长。Armadillo已经相应地开发了其产品，以销售给涂料应用程序。腐蚀是一项成本高昂的业务，占全球国内生产总值的3%以上，而且就产品生命周期缩短而言，腐蚀的影响是能源密集型的。Armadillo通过为金属涂料制造商提供智能添加剂来增加价值。这些新一代智能金属涂层将提供：*卓越的耐腐蚀性-失效时间延长十倍或更多；*为金属涂料制造商节省资金，无需在资本支出和新的制造工艺上投入大量资金，以满足最终用户对卓越的需求；*不受预期立法约束的无毒产品-未来证明；*为最终用户提供相对低成本的解决方案；还有新颖的营销机会——“一种能感知环境并对其做出反应的智能涂层，从内部进行保护”。Armadillo的技术经过验证，已确定了首选供应商（皇家造币厂），并确保了最初的客户参与抗病毒电镀铜涂层，具有Armadillo的防变色性能，用于门家具和其他经常接触的表面。在这里和其他地方，市场的拉动已经得到了证明。该项目将使犰狳能够将产品生产扩大到工业规模，以满足已经证明的市场需求。Armadillo于2022年春季易手，有硬件客户在等待该产品。接下来的两个季度，我们将针对已经确定的市场机会，对技术进行验证和改进。

Armadillo Metal Coatings Ltd., incorporated on 3rd July 2019, was formed to commercialise patented technology developed during a 4-year collaborative research project carried out at Swansea University, part funded, and directed by The Royal Mint, Llantrisant. The key focus was to develop a solution that reduces coin tarnishing, to maintaining brilliance for longer. The technology has been found to significantly reduce corrosion in other sought-after engineering & decorative metal coatings and has further been shown to protect the underlying substrate should the coating itself be compromised (e.g. corroded or scratched).Armadillo's innovation comprises a metal plating bath additive that forms regular and well-dispersed deposits within a metal coating matrix. The additive comprises nanocontainers loaded with functional molecules that release under corrosive or abrasive conditions to protect an entire metallic coating, right down to the substrate. The nanocontainers can be loaded up with an array of functional molecules, including (but not limited to); anti-corrosive/ anti-tarnish, anti-viral / anti-microbial, anti-UV and flame-retardant molecules. Armadillo products are manufactured using non-toxic, environmentally friendly and cost-effective materials.Armadillo's market exists because there is a demand from the end user for high performing, non-toxic and cost-effective anti-corrosion solutions - to keep metallically coated products in service for longer. Armadillo has developed its products accordingly, to be sold to coatings appliers. Corrosion is a costly business, accounting for over 3% of the world's Gross Domestic Product, and the impact of corrosion is energy intensive in terms of reduced product lifecycles. Armadillo adds value by providing metal coatings manufacturers with a smart additive. These new generation, smart metal coatings will provide:* exceptional corrosion resistance - time-to-failure extended ten-fold or more;* a smart saving for metal coatings manufacturers - no need to invest heavily in CapEx and new manufacturing processes to meet end users demand for excellence;* non-toxic products that are not subject to intended legislation - future proof;* a relatively low-cost solution for end-users; and* novel marketing opportunities - 'a smart coating that senses and responds to its environment to protect from within'.Armadillo's technology is proven, a preferred supplier (The Royal Mint) has been identified, and initial customer engagement has been secured for anti-viral electroplated copper coatings, with Armadillo's anti-tarnish properties, for door furnishings and other commonly touched surfaces. Here, and elsewhere, market pull has been evidenced.This Project will allow Armadillo to increase product manufacture to industrial scale to fulfil this already evidenced market demand.Armadillo changed hands in spring 2022 and has hardware customers waiting for the product. The next 2 quarters will involve proving and enhancing the technology for the market opportunities that have now been identified.