Antiviral Copper AM Process Protects Touch Surfaces
Australian company Spee3D developed the additive process Activat3D copper by modifying its metal 3D printer technology.
The process, dubbed Activat3D copper, was developed by Australian company Spee3D by modifying its metal 3D printer technology.
Australian company Spee3D has developed and tested a fast and cost-effective way to 3D print anti-microbial copper onto metal surfaces. Laboratory tests have shown that touch surfaces modified by this process “contact kills” 96% of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in two hours.
The process, which the company is calling Activat3D copper, was developed by creating algorithms for the metal printers allowing the coating of existing metal parts. Copper parts are difficult to produce using traditional methods and thus 3D printing may be the only tool available to rapidly deploy copper, the company says.
With laboratory testing complete, it is hoped the process can be applied to common touch items like door handles, rails and touch plates in hospitals, schools and other public places. Digital print files have been sent to participating partners around internationally, allowing the simultaneous installation of newly-coated parts in buildings in the United States, Asia and Australia.
Related Content
-
Additive Manufacturing Is Subtractive, Too: How CNC Machining Integrates With AM (Includes Video)
For Keselowski Advanced Manufacturing, succeeding with laser powder bed fusion as a production process means developing a machine shop that is responsive to, and moves at the pacing of, metal 3D printing.
-
Video: 5" Diameter Navy Artillery Rounds Made Through Robot Directed Energy Deposition (DED) Instead of Forging
Big Metal Additive conceives additive manufacturing production factory making hundreds of Navy projectile housings per day.
-
This Year I Have Seen a Lot of AM for the Military — What Is Going On?
Audience members have similar questions. What is the Department of Defense’s interest in making hardware via 3D printing over conventional methods? Here are three manufacturing concerns that are particular to the military.