Nanohmics selected by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for a two-year contract to develop an Environmentally-Friendly Anti-Fouling Cover Glass for Bio-Optical Sensors and Solar Panels
June 1, 2006
Nanohmics received award notification from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for a Small Business Innovative Research Phase II project worth over $300,000. During this two-year research program, Nanohmics’ scientists will incorporate environmentally-friendly algaecides into hard, optical quality polymers for use as cover glass materials. These transparent materials will stop all marine algae growth on the coverglass for extended periods of time (years). During the Phase II development program, Nanohmics will extend this research by incorporating natural products and/or environmentally-friendly algaecides and pesticides into a novel optical quality polymer. This newly developed polymer has the optical qualities of polycarbonate and yet exhibits nearly a 40% increase over polycarbonate’s impact resistance and enhanced resistance to UV aging. The advanced coverglass material will be fully developed for commercial production and tested in laboratory and actual marine environments for optical, physical, and anti-biofouling properties as well as for their impact on the environment.