Page 26 - Plastics News March 2021

FeAtures

Antiviral Additive that kills SARS-CoV-2

In a groundbreaking project led through their Belleville Operations, Ontario based CpK has developed a new
product which kills coronavirus within one hour.

t the request of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), local own flexible PVCs, TPUs, and TPOs, and about 50% of all
Acompany, CpK, has created a proprietary custom anti- R&D activities are dedicated to developing novel materials
viral additive for their plastic automotive parts, which and carbon-fiber composites.”
will make vehicle interiors safer for ride sharing and The company has not publicly disclosed the chemistry
multi-person use. “The team has formulated an additive of the additive, as the patent process takes about 16
package that can be incorporated into several existing months to complete. However, the company will sell
polymer formulations that has the ability to kill SARS- the additive—a first such commercial venture for CpK.
CoV-2 within one hour.” — Greg Farrar, Head of R&D,
“We can supply the additive at any time,” says Farrar.
“Because we cannot control the manufacturing of other
companies, they will also require regulatory approval for
their end products.”

To date, CpK has produced pelletized masterbatches for
testing injection grade resins such as PP and PC/ABS. “Our
core business is to produce our own flexible polymers so
that remains are primary short-term focus. We have the
R&D capability of doing the masterbatch work but lack
the scale-up equipment so our preference is to provide
the additive to the market in powder form. Our plan is
to supply this to many potential customers, including
competitors that also make interior automotive trim
components. We only make instrument panels, doors, and
Belleville Operations, CpK Interior Products Not only does consoles so for a car to truly contain an anti-viral cabin,
their patent pending formula provide protection from the we need to work with competitors.”
coronavirus that causes COVID-19, but it is also created CpK developed the anti-viral plastics project in response
using safe commercially available materials. This product to the coronavirus global pandemic and a call-to-action
will pose no risk to drivers or passengers. CpK Interior from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA). Knowing that
Products in Belleville manufactures automotive parts customers would be concerned about the interior safety of
including dashboards, consoles, and doors at their plastics their vehicles, FCA created the “Healthy Cabin Initiative,”
compound facility in Corbyville. Head of R&D, Greg Farrar challenging its suppliers to find ways to reduce the risk of
notes, “Most of our competitors buy their plastics from a coming into contact with the COVID-19 virus in automobile
compounding facility, but we make our own. To increase cabins. CpK was able to successfully invent, test, and apply
automobile safety from a virus standpoint, we looked at for a patent within 90 days of the project kickoff. CpK’s
ways we could incorporate the solution into the product R&D team was tasked to create material for car interiors
itself.” that showed anti-viral activity.

Using this blending and compounding process at their The CpK team invented cast skin materials for the Dodge
plastics facility in Corbyville, The Belleville R&D team Challenger and Charger. Explains Farrar, “This was no
engineered an anti-viral additive that is molded right into simple task, but our team had experience inventing
the plastic. It’s not a coating that can wear off, which novel materials in the past. Not only did CpK have to
means this CpK product will provide anti-viral protection discover which materials could actively attack the DNA
throughout the entire lifetime of that automotive part. of coronavirus, we also had to navigate the stringent and
Explains head of R&D Dr. Gregory Farrar, “We produce our timely quality and testing requirements for new auto-

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