Technology

Alexium’s Reactive Surface Treatment (RST) is a patented technology for nanoscopic coatings that combines advanced materials chemistry with an innovative processing step.  This unique, synergistic combination allows Alexium to develop performance characteristics and materials that leapfrog many conventional technology barriers.  For many customers, RST is the missing link to solving a challenging problem.


Chemistry

Alexium’s Reactive Surface Treatment (RST) uses “cold” microwave energy to direct a precursor’s polymerization onto a substrate’s surface. Based on the precursor’s chemistry, the substrate’s material properties, and the solution used to mix these, the resulting nanoscopic coating may chemically bond to the substrate or simply form an intractable coating at the substrate surface. This flexibility allows a wide range of materials to be treated — many of which cannot be functionalized with a durable coating via other methods. An example of this is shown for a para-aramid fabric that has been treated with an oil and water repellent nanoscopic coating via RST. With this fabric that is traditionally difficult to treat, these SEM images demonstrate the scale and structure of the applied coatings which encase the fibers.

Process

Alexium’s RST process offers the ability to apply nano-scale coatings at the industrial scale.

The RST process can be applied to a nearly limitless number of materials. By coupling unique methods of materials synthesis with a microwave applicator, Alexium is able to graft and crosslink chemical groups to a wide range of materials, including natural polymers, synthetic polymers and inorganic substrates.

Using off-the-shelf chemicals and environmentally-friendly solutions, the RST process delivers performance treatments in a “smarter,” more precise and cost-efficient manner. The process is extremely cost-effective: low capital costs, low energy costs, low operating costs, and less waste product – significantly reducing the overall carbon footprint over conventional or competitive technologies. For many customers, the ability to reduce the energy consumption costs of existing silane coupling processes is a major driver to moving towards this technology.

The ability to incorporate multiple functional treatments into a single coating is a unique benefit. For example, Alexium has applied RST to produce multi-functional textile coatings that are antimicrobial, flame-retardant, and oil and water shedding. Beyond replacing existing material treatments, Alexium has opened the door for new generation of smart materials, including producing oil/water repellent aramids and treating filer media.


Performance & Benefits

Alexium’s RST process allows for durable coatings with multiple functions in a single process step. RST is not a “line of site” process and operates under atmospheric conditions. It is a robust treatment method that can be applied in a continuous production line (e.g. reel-to-reel treatment of textiles) or in a batch reactor (e.g. nanoparticle or paint additive treatments). Materials are generally only exposed to seconds of “cold” microwave energy, inducing the formation of nanoscopic coatings on the substrate surface. The process can easily be scaled to meet the customer’s production speed, and, due to its compact footprint and ease of operation, can be integrated into existing customer production lines without major retrofits.

Board of Directors

Gavin Rezos
Executive Chairman
Mr. Rezos has extensive Australian and international investment banking experience and is a former Investment Banking Director of HSBC Group with regional roles during his HSBC career based in London, Sydney and Dubai. Mr. Rezos has held Chief Executive Officer positions and executive directorships of companies in the technology sector in Australia, the United Kingdom, the US and Singapore. He is currently a Director of Iluka Resources Limited and Principal of Viaticus Capital Pty Ltd.

Stefan Susta
Executive Director
Mr. Susta has spent over 14 years working with the US Department of Defense (DoD) on Technology Insertion, Technology Transfer and Commercialisation. Mr Susta leads Alexium’s US office operations and DoD business development efforts. Mr. Susta received a Bachelor of Science degree from Virginia Tech in Chemical Engineering and Chemistry in 1996, and a Master of Business Administration degree from Wright State University in 2001.


Craig Smith-Gander
Non-executive Director
Mr. Smith-Gander is a graduate of the Royal Military College Duntroon and served as an officer in the Australian Regular Army. He worked in the Offshore Group at Clough Engineering Group and was appointed as the Group’s first Risk Manager. He has extensive investment banking and corporate finance experience and is a former Director, Investment Banking at CIBC World Markets. Mr. Smith-Gander is now the owner and Managing Director of Kwik Transport and Crane Hire Pty Ltd.