The unique properties of nanomaterials manufactured by Altair Nanotechnologies Inc. -- and their value for a variety of medical and industrial applications -- are the focus of three independent research papers being presented at the International Thermal Spray Conference "Pushing the Envelope of Materials Performance," held May 15-17 in Seattle, Altairnano announced today.
The first paper, delivered by Dr. Rogerio Lima from the National Research Council of Canada, is titled "Biocompatible Nanostructured High Velocity Oxy-Fuel (HVOF) Sprayed Titania Coating." The paper documents the results achieved by using Altairnano's nano-titanium dioxide (titania) as a potential new coating for human implants such as hip and knee replacements. The Altairnano titania exhibited mechanical properties, such as hardness and bond strength, much superior to those of existing implant coatings using hydroxyapatite. In addition to strengthening the surface of the nanostructured coating, Altairnano-manufactured materials showed high biocompatibility with bone cells that, in addition to strengthening the surface of the nanostructured coating, could increase implant acceptance by the body leading to longer life for the prosthetic. The National Research Council has filed a patent for this biomedical coating.
The second and third papers, presented by Doctors Ctibor, Neufuss, Chraska of the Institute of Plasma Physics of the Czech Republic, present the measurements of the mechanical properties that result when Altairnano titania is sprayed on a surface using a water-stabilized plasma (WSP). The WSP spray technique resulted in a 33-percent energy saving using Altair-manufactured nanomaterials versus conventional materials, with similar coating surface wear properties.
Among the conference attendees will be Altairnano's new industrial thermal spray market partner Sulzer-Metco.
"Altairnano's nano-structured titania was tested in very diverse environments and application areas," said Altairnano CEO and President Alan J. Gotcher, PhD. "Both sets of results demonstrate the superiority of our materials over conventional thermal spray powders. I would like to commend both organizations for their leading-edge research and for selecting Altairnano nano-structured titania as their benchmark thermal spray nanomaterial."
