HRL’s Biphasic Coating Sets New Standard in Surface Pathogen Protection

Img

HRL’s Biphasic Coating Sets New Standard in Surface Pathogen Protection

media@hrl.com
310-317-5000

HRL Laboratories, LLC announces the development of an innovative antimicrobial biphasic polymer coating designed to combat viruses and bacteria on surfaces while maintaining high durability standards in a recently published paper in the journal Langmuir.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250108003226/en/

HRL Laboratories developed an innovative antimicrobial biphasic polymer coating designed to combat viruses and bacteria on surfaces while maintaining high durability standards in a recently published paper in the journal Langmuir. (Graphic: Business Wire)

HRL Laboratories developed an innovative antimicrobial biphasic polymer coating designed to combat viruses and bacteria on surfaces while maintaining high durability standards in a recently published paper in the journal Langmuir. (Graphic: Business Wire)

In collaboration with Boeing and GM, HRL invented a biphasic polyurethane coating that integrates two distinct phases to solve the competing challenges of extended microbial protection and damage resistance: a durable polycarbonate (PC) phase and a transport-enabled polyethylene glycol (PEG) phase.

  • This combination enables the coating to maintain high antimicrobial efficacy without compromising physical resilience, addressing a long-standing tradeoff in antimicrobial surface technologies.
  • It leverages HRL’s deep experience structuring dissimilar materials into biphasic polymers to tune antimicrobial active release rates on the surface and coating durability.
  • HRL pioneered this highly transparent coating to absorb and release antimicrobial compounds over extended periods, representing a significant advancement in passive viral and bacterial inactivation.

Additional details of the biphasic coating:

  • Extended antimicrobial efficacy: Effectively inactivates up to 99.99% of Human Coronavirus 229E and Influenza A H1N1, with demonstrated survivability under wet wipe testing equivalent to five years of physical cleaning.
  • Enhanced surface durability: Engineered to meet rigorous automotive and aerospace standards, this coating blends antimicrobial transport with stain-resistant phases, passing tests for heat, humidity, UV exposure and flammability while maintaining surface appearance, including automotive and aerospace interiors, without compromising antimicrobial efficacy.
  • High Transparency: This coating achieves high transparency despite its biphasic structure, transmitting up to 90% visible light. This makes it ideal for applications that require maintaining surface appearance, including automotive and aerospace interiors, without compromising antimicrobial efficacy.

Biphasic polymer coating technology:

  • Real-world application potential: The coating's extended antimicrobial properties and compliance with durability testing indicate its promise for high-traffic environments in public and commercial settings.
  • Self-replenishing antimicrobial protection: The biphasic design enables sustained release of actives, with a unique capability to restore active levels on the surface through routine cleaning with common disinfectants – a first for coatings of this type.

"We designed this coating to meet the demanding conditions of automotive and aerospace environments,” said Adam Gross, principal investigator at HRL and lead author of the study. “With a dual-phase architecture, we combined the best properties of each material to achieve durable, long-lasting efficacy in testing."

HRL Laboratories continues to push the boundaries of materials science with innovations like the biphasic polymer coating, driven by an enduring commitment to real-world applicability and long-term performance.

HRL Laboratories, LLC, California (www.hrl.com) pioneers the next frontiers of physical and information science. Delivering transformative technologies in automotive, aerospace and defense, HRL advances the critical missions of its customers. As a private company owned jointly by Boeing and GM, HRL is a source of innovations that advance the state of the art in profound and far-reaching ways.