The world’s first long-lasting surface treatment to kill coronavirus
As part of the EIT Crisis Response Initiative, EIT RawMaterials supports AFFIX Labs team with EUR 200 000 funding to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. This May, the EIT Community launched the EIT Crisis Response Initiative which directly contributes to the European Union’s response to the COVID-19. The EIT RawMaterials Booster Call in response to the COVID-19 crisis mobilised EUR 9.8 million to provide targeted support to 60 high-impact and growth potential start-ups, scale-ups and SMEs during the crisis.
Thanks to the EIT Crisis Response Initiative, we are speeding up our production and the development of a variety of flexible solutions.
Tom Sam, CEO of AFFIX Labs
A new anti-viral surface treatment
AFFIX Labs has created a new type of anti-microbial coating for fighting pathogens on surfaces, including Sars-Cov-2 pathogens. The breakthrough innovative Si-Quat is a sprayable, non-toxic, long-lasting antimicrobial coating for all surfaces. Si-Quat directly contributes to the response to the COVID-19 pandemic by creating a new solution for epidemic prevention: it kills viruses, bacteria, and fungi upon direct contact; it kills 99.9% of bacteria and stops the growth of fungi.
Si-Quat has been tested to kill 99.99% of microbes within minutes.
Si-Quat has been tested to kill 99.99% of microbes within minutes, while still being fully safe to touch. Proven to be effective for about a month on frequently touched surfaces, it is the longest lasting anti-viral surface treatment available to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus. The product is non-corrosive, free from silver salts and heavy metal nanoparticles, and perfectly safe to touch. Several major agencies around the globe have already accepted quaternary ammonium, the main ingredient in the surface coating, to be an effective surface treatment against the novel coronavirus, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the US Environmental Protection Agency, the American Chemistry Council (ACC) and the European Chemical Agency (ECHA).
By killing the COVID-19 pathogen on surfaces before it can infect people, the Si-Quat solution is a game changer. It can provide increased security and peace of mind to your communities, as well as your customers.
Tom Sam, CEO of AFFIX Labs
Si-Quat was invented in January 2020 by the AFFIX Labs’ Repeltec development team to specifically help combat the COVID-19 outbreak. The product is based on the trusted and safe disinfectant quaternary ammonium, which is chemically bound to align silane quaternary ammonium molecules (silane quats) in a highly effective manner. Positively charged nitrogen particles then actively attract viruses and bacteria, penetrating the membranes and killing them within minutes.
Rigorous testing has shown Si-Quat to adhere to almost any surface, performing as the most durable surface treatment commercially available. Due to its incredibly strong layer, the solution only wears down on surfaces after thousands of touches or multiple cleaning cycles.
Other sanitising solutions require reapplication to every surface several times daily, interrupting business operations. This results in additional costs and disruptions at a time when many companies are already struggling. By combining proven efficacy, safety and long durability, Si-Quat is emerging as an important weapon in the battle against the spread of COVID-19.
Tom Sam, CEO of AFFIX Labs
This means that on heavily used surfaces, such as door handles and counters, Si-Quat will be effective for about a month. On rarely touched surfaces like walls, it has the potential to protect for years. Since the product is incredibly easy to apply, technicians require minimal training and only basic protection. They simply have to brush or spray Si-Quat onto the surface and allow it to dry for 6 hours.
AFFIX Labs has begun to roll out the distribution of Si-Quat across the globe, with new regions being serviced every week. It is currently looking for distribution partners in local markets.
