High performance cold spray antiviral and antibacterial coatings for continuous disinfection on frequently touched surfaces

PROJECT COST:

1 461 990 $

PRIMA CONTRIBUTION:

611 990 $

PROJECT DETAILS:

To reduce the risk of fomite transmission of SARS-CoV-2, most commercial buildings, schools, and other public facilities have intensified their cleaning and disinfection protocols, often increasing frequency. While necessary, these measures impose significant financial and logistical challenges. Consequently, there is a growing need for a cost-effective and dependable solution that can deliver passive, continuous disinfection of high-touch surfaces in such environments, including public transportation.

The research led by Éric Irissou aims to develop advanced antiviral surface coatings with enhanced durability and efficacy for high-contact environments. Specifically, the project will (i) investigate the role of copper alloy properties in governing viral and bacterial inactivation mechanisms, with the objective of designing coatings capable of broad-spectrum activity against diverse viruses and epidemic-prone pathogenic bacteria associated with fomite transmission, and (ii) engineer coatings produced through additive manufacturing that retain long-term antiviral and antibacterial performance while withstanding routine usage conditions, including repeated cleaning and disinfection cycles involving harsh chemical agents.
This project will also contribute to the training of nine highly qualified personnel, including one Master’s student, five doctoral candidates, and three postdoctoral fellows, under the joint supervision of Prof. Daniel Guay (INRS) and Prof. Steven Yue (McGill University).

The industrial consortium engaged in the project spans the entire Quebec value chain: from the production of copper alloy powders by 5N Plus, to their additive manufacturing via cold spray technology by Polycontrols, and ultimately to large-scale implementation of the developed solution by Hatch, both within Quebec and internationally.

This integrated collaboration not only strengthens the regional innovation ecosystem but also positions the technology for significant global growth opportunities.