Novel Materials for Biofilm Inhibition

Determine to what extent the physical properties of the omniphobic and PC coatings will increase resistance to microbial attachment and subsequent biofilm formation. Long-term control of microbial contamination and biofilm development in systems, particularly in the water storage/distribution systems and in food production/storage materials. Initial testing on coupons (both metal and polymer-based) with multiple omniphobic and PC coatings will be completed to optimize and down-select top-performing treatments for biofilm resistance. Partners at the University of Michigan will fabricate and provide different omniphobic surfaces possessing hierarchical texture on various polymer and metal coupons. Similarly, the PVA Tepla America team will treat the various materials with various PC-based compounds. Physical characterization using X-ray Photon Spectroscopy (xPS), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), as well as surface roughness and contact angle/surface free energy analysis will be completed, and, if possible, treatments will be down-selected for microbial testing. A NASA Research Announcement has been submitted which would provide additional funding to evolve the project for an International Space Station (ISS) flight demonstration of the technology.