Energetic microcapsule smoke agent for enhanced aerosol-based biological fungicide delivery

Overview

This solution addresses a key challenge in aerosol-based biological disinfection: protecting heat-sensitive biocides from degradation during smoke generation. A novel smoke agent combines pyrotechnic agents with energetic microcapsules that encapsulate biocides. When ignited, the microcapsules rapidly generate gas and bactericidal factors, propelling the biocide payload into the target space as an aerosol while shielding it from destructive combustion temperatures. This approach significantly improves bactericidal efficacy compared to conventional physical-mixture smoke agents.

Technical specifications

• Core innovation: Aluminum/manganese iodate/nitrocellulose composite microcapsules produced via electrospray, encapsulating biocides within an energetic shell
• Pressurization performance: Pressure rise rate of 3.23 MPa/s versus 0.59 × 10⁻⁶ MPa/s for physical-mixture samples
• Peak pressure: 5.16 MPa versus 0.045 MPa for physical-mixture samples, indicating faster and greater gas generation
• Sterilization factors: Large quantities of bactericidal factors detected during combustion alongside the aerosolized biocide
• Delivery mechanism: Smoke agent grain containing both energetic microcapsules and pyrotechnics, designed for deployment in enclosed spaces coated with target bacteria

Technology readiness level

The technology has completed initial laboratory validation demonstrating superior pressurization and gas-generation performance over physical-mixture controls. A one-year follow-on study is planned to validate bactericidal effectiveness by incorporating biocides into the precursor solution, burning the smoke agent in bacteria-coated enclosed spaces, and measuring bacterial survival rates and effective biocide content in the aerosol. The research team is actively seeking partners to support biocide and bacterial strain selection, bacterial survival testing, and key personnel funding.