TORONTO, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – Feb. 28, 2012) – Arch Biopartners Inc. (“Arch” or the “Company”) (CNSX:ACH)(OTCBB:FOIFF) today announced that AUTO21 and its contributing partners have approved funding totaling $518,400 for Arch scientists to lead an anti corrosion project on Magnesium (“Mg”) and rare earth (“RE”) alloys for the Canadian auto industry.
The two-year project entitled “Enhancing the corrosion resistance of Mg alloys by optimum incorporation of rare-earth elements and use of a green bio-organic-metal coating for automotive applications” will be starting April 1, 2012.
This project will bring together researchers and industry partners with complementary expertise and knowledge to attack realistic problems with corrosion and mechanical behavior of Mg and RE alloys.
Such a combination provides an opportunity to create new ideas and approaches, which cannot be achieved by a single research team.
Industrial Participation in Project
Industrial support for the project will be provided by Cosma International, Quantum Group and Arch Biopartners.
Cosma International, an operating group of Magna International, will provide an in-kind contribution to support the research on corrosion issues for the RE-Mg alloys including technical consultation, raw materials, and various standards.
Quantum Group has agreed to provide in-kind contribution to provide technical consultation, sample materials, and testing services for the proposed research.
Arch will provide cash contribution to this project totaling $20,000/year. In addition, Arch Biophysics Ltd, a fully owned subsidiary of Arch, will also synthesize, manufacture and test protease resistant peptide-conjugates for the project as an in-kind contribution.
Scientific Participation in Project
The Scientists involved in this project are Arch’s Principal Scientists Professors Li And Irvin of the University of Alberta and Professor Chen from Ryerson University and Professor Szpunar of the University of Saskatchewan.
Dr. Li’s lab at University of Alberta has strong experimental capability to fabricate alloys using different processers such as arc melting, casting and isostatic hot pressing and sintering. Dr. Li’s team has also conducted extensive theoretical studies of atomic bonding on the electronic level. His team will fabricate and characterize the proposed RE-modified Mg alloys and develop theoretical base for the RE-Mg alloy development.
Dr. Irvin’s microbiology group at the University of Alberta, which has been working on a synthetic peptide originally for bacterial control, has found that the peptide reacts with steel to form an organic-metal substance, which is harder and more corrosion resistant. This is also the case for other metallic materials.
Dr. Chen’s group at Ryerson University has a strong capability to evaluate mechanical properties such as the fatigue behavior of materials.
Dr. J.A. Szpunar research at the University of Saskatchewan spans a wide range of topics, including electrochemistry, coatings, corrosion, texture, crystallography, and microstructure characterization. His group at University of Saskatchewan will bring strong capability for characterization of the materials and comprehensively evaluate the performance of the materials during various corrosion processes. Techniques of Raman Spectroscopy and X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure will allow understanding better the mechanism of protection against corrosion.
About AUTO21
AUTO21 is a national research initiative supported by the Government of Canada through the Networks of Centres of Excellence Secretariat. AUTO21 brings together nearly 200 top Canadian researchers at 46 universities and partners them with 120 industry and government partners. An annual research budget of approximately $11 million in federal and industry support fund projects within six key research themes:
Health, Safety and Injury Prevention Societal Issues and the Future Automobile Materials and Manufacturing Powertrains, Fuels and Emissions Design Processes Intelligent Systems and Sensors
AUTO21 ‘s stated mission is to help build a stronger automotive sector in Canada through excellence in public/private sector collaborative research and the development of human and social capital.
For more information please visit www.auto21.ca.
About Cosma International
Cosma International, an operating unit of Magna International Inc., manufactures a comprehensive range of metal body systems, components, assemblies and modules including complete vehicle frames, chassis systems and body-in-white systems using a variety of innovative processes such as hydro forming, stamping and roll forming. Cosma has 47 manufacturing facilities and 25 product development and engineering centers worldwide.
For more information please visit www.cosma.com.
About Quantum Group
Quantum Group of Companies, located in St. Albert, Alberta formulates coating solutions for a variety of applications including corrosion resistant, wear resistant and fire resistant applications. A combination of research and development experts and state-of-the-art test laboratory, places Quantum as a leader in fire retardant coatings including a patent-pending fire retardant polyurea.
For more information please visit www.quantumchemical.com.
About Arch Biophysics
Arch Biophysics Ltd is an Alberta corporation wholly owned by Arch Biopartners. Arch Biophysics’ technology development program originated from the University of Alberta and has created novel synthetic biological molecules that bind to solid surfaces such as steel, titanium and glass. The resulting surfaces have enhanced biological and physical characteristics which the company is developing for industrial and medical applications.
About Arch Biopartners
Arch Biopartners is a portfolio based biotechnology company established to develop new products and technology for sale to pharmaceutical and industrial companies.
For more information on the Company, please consult the other public documents filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
The Company’s website address is: www.archbiopartners.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
All statements, other than statements of historical fact, in this news release are forward looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, statements regarding the future plans and objectives of the Company. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. These and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements are based on the estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements should circumstances or management’s estimates or opinions change.
The CNSX has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy of this release.