ÂÌñÏ×ÆÞ

It was recently announced that Haydale (Ammanford, U.K.), the global advanced materials group has partnered with 401 Tech Bridge  (Portsmouth, R.I., U.S.) to provide a HT200 Plasma Reactor to functionalize graphene for use in composites manufacturing, as well as offer advanced materials support for Haydale’s innovation ecosystem, supporting economic growth.

The HT200 Plasma Reactor will be used at the 401 Tech Bridge Advanced Materials and Technology Center (which is expected to open in the first half of 2021), managed by the University of Rhode Island (URI), to support material commercialization efforts of Graphene Composites (Sedgefield, U.K.), a nano-materials engineering company, and other local composites and textiles-based businesses. This adds to 401 Tech Bridge’s capabilities, and is said to support its ambition to accelerate the adoption of new materials and support companies’ efforts in developing products that will change the world.

The HT200 reportedly incorporates Haydale’s patented functionalization technologies which will be used by Graphene Composites, for its newly developed anti-viral GC Ink and other products. GC Ink has been independently tested by Brown University in Rhode Island and has shown effectiveness at neutralizing coronavirus and influenza viruses in under one minute. The findings have been published on bioRxiv, an open access preprint repository for the biological sciences.

“Installing the Haydale equipment in the 401 Tech Bridge Advanced Materials & Technology Center will make it available to companies that are doing advanced materials research, enabling innovation and economic growth. We’re pleased to partner with Haydale, and to be working with Graphene Composites as they bring the GC Ink to market,” says Christian Cowan, Tech Bridge 401 executive director.

Sandy Chen, Graphene Composites CEO and co-founder adds: “Having the ability to access the Haydale technology and unique innovation facilities at 401 Tech Bridge is a significant advancement to full commercialization of our GC Ink as a powerful weapon against this pandemic and supporting the safe reopening of schools and public spaces.”