Toronto-based Integran Technologies Inc. (Integran) today announced that it has recently received patent protection (US 8,309,233) for a newly developed technology within its Nanovate™ CoP platform, which extends the applicability of the core technology beyond that of being an environmentally-benign alternative to electrolytic hard chromium (EHC) plating.
The new intellectual property now covers porosity-free, fine-grained and/or amorphous Co-bearing metallic materials, and unlike engineering hard chromium coatings (EHC), does not compromise the fatigue performance of components. Under development for several years, the Nanovate™ CoP coating technology has been specifically formulated for aerospace and defense applications and, when deposited on ferrous-alloy substrates, exhibits a fatigue life equivalent to, or exceeding that of the uncoated substrate material.
The Nanovate™ CoP technology has already been successfully transferred to multiple industry partners and in collaboration with NAVAIR, Integran is currently pursuing a military material specification (MIL SPEC) to aid in transitioning the technology to the defense sector.
Dr. Klaus Tomantschger, Integran's Vice President, Intellectual Property stated, "We are very pleased by the added patent protection obtained in the United States of America which ensures that our current and future commercial partners can enjoy the benefits of practicing our advanced patented technology until the expiry of the newly issued patent in 2029".