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XRCC receives 2,500th patent

The Xerox Research Centre of Canada (XRCC) reached an innovation milestone receiving its 2,500th U.S. patent, entitled Silver Nanoparticle-Sulfonated Polyester Composite Powders and Methods of Making the Same. The patent, according to XRCC, reinforces its global position in advanced materials research and development.

The patent was invented by senior research scientists Valerie Farrugia and Barkev Keoshkerian. XRCC explains the process uses an environmentally-friendly approach to create silver-polymeric nanoparticles that can be built up for use in 3D printing. Most powders of this type are ground from a larger size, explains XRCC, but through aggregation and coalescence, the particle’s size, shape and structure can be controlled more precisely.

XRCC explains applications that can benefit from these composite powders include a range of antibacterial applications for customizable medical devices, textiles, smart coatings, kitchen tools, toys and countless household items.

Established in the Toronto suburb of Mississauga, Ontario, in 1974, today the XRCC also actively helps Canadian start-ups commercialize their ideas. To this end, XRCC established an Innovation Hub that enables startups to use their seed funding to develop technologies, rather than spending it on capital expenses.