Proactiveinvestors Australia

Technology

Alexium’s Reactive Surface Treatment (RST) is a patented technology for nanoscopic coatings that combines advanced materials chemistry with an innovative processing step.  This unique, synergistic combination allows Alexium to develop performance characteristics and materials that leapfrog many conventional technology barriers.  For many customers, RST is the missing link to solving a challenging problem.


Chemistry

Alexium’s Reactive Surface Treatment (RST) uses “cold” microwave energy to direct a precursor’s polymerization onto a substrate’s surface. Based on the precursor’s chemistry, the substrate’s material properties, and the solution used to mix these, the resulting nanoscopic coating may chemically bond to the substrate or simply form an intractable coating at the substrate surface. This flexibility allows a wide range of materials to be treated — many of which cannot be functionalized with a durable coating via other methods. An example of this is shown for a para-aramid fabric that has been treated with an oil and water repellent nanoscopic coating via RST. With this fabric that is traditionally difficult to treat, these SEM images demonstrate the scale and structure of the applied coatings which encase the fibers.

Process

Alexium’s RST process offers the ability to apply nano-scale coatings at the industrial scale.

The RST process can be applied to a nearly limitless number of materials. By coupling unique methods of materials synthesis with a microwave applicator, Alexium is able to graft and crosslink chemical groups to a wide range of materials, including natural polymers, synthetic polymers and inorganic substrates.

Using off-the-shelf chemicals and environmentally-friendly solutions, the RST process delivers performance treatments in a “smarter,” more precise and cost-efficient manner. The process is extremely cost-effective: low capital costs, low energy costs, low operating costs, and less waste product – significantly reducing the overall carbon footprint over conventional or competitive technologies. For many customers, the ability to reduce the energy consumption costs of existing silane coupling processes is a major driver to moving towards this technology.

The ability to incorporate multiple functional treatments into a single coating is a unique benefit. For example, Alexium has applied RST to produce multi-functional textile coatings that are antimicrobial, flame-retardant, and oil and water shedding. Beyond replacing existing material treatments, Alexium has opened the door for new generation of smart materials, including producing oil/water repellent aramids and treating filer media.


Performance & Benefits

Alexium’s RST process allows for durable coatings with multiple functions in a single process step. RST is not a “line of site” process and operates under atmospheric conditions. It is a robust treatment method that can be applied in a continuous production line (e.g. reel-to-reel treatment of textiles) or in a batch reactor (e.g. nanoparticle or paint additive treatments). Materials are generally only exposed to seconds of “cold” microwave energy, inducing the formation of nanoscopic coatings on the substrate surface. The process can easily be scaled to meet the customer’s production speed, and, due to its compact footprint and ease of operation, can be integrated into existing customer production lines without major retrofits.

Gavin Rezos

Executive Director, Chairman & President 

Mr. Rezos has extensive Australian and international investment banking experience and is a former Investment Banking Director of HSBC Group with regional roles during his HSBC career based in London, Sydney and Dubai. Mr. Rezos has held Chief Executive Officer positions and executive directorships of companies in the technology sector in Australia, the United Kingdom, the US and Singapore. He is currently a Director of Iluka Resources Limited and Principal of Viaticus Capital Pty Ltd.

Nicholas Clark
Executive Director & CEO

Nicholas has operated throughout the US, Australia, China, South East Asia, Asia and the Middle East in an array of arenas, such as; Head of Foreign Investments, Risk and Compliance, Mergers and Acquisitions, Investor Relations as well as a company secretarial role with an ASX listed Company. Nicholas has working experience with the ASX, NYSE, NASDEQ, TSX and the OTCQX and OTC. He is registered with the State Bar of New York, an Associate of the NSW Law Society, is a Fellow of FINSIA, and holds a Certified Practicing Accountant (AI) and Chartered Global Management Account (CGMA). 

Craig Smith-Gander
Non-executive Director

Mr. Smith-Gander is a graduate of the Royal Military College Duntroon and served as an officer in the Australian Regular Army. He worked in the Offshore Group at Clough Engineering Group and was appointed as the Group’s first Risk Manager. He has extensive investment banking and corporate finance experience and is a former Director, Investment Banking at CIBC World Markets. Mr. Smith-Gander is now the owner and Managing Director of Kwik Transport and Crane Hire Pty Ltd.

Stefan Susta

Chief Operating Officer 

Mr. Susta has spent over 14 years working with the US Department of Defense (DoD) on Technology Insertion, Technology Transfer and Commercialisation. Mr Susta leads Alexium’s US office operations and DoD business development efforts. Mr. Susta received a Bachelor of Science degree from Virginia Tech in Chemical Engineering and Chemistry in 1996, and a Master of Business Administration degree from Wright State University in 2001.

Robert (Bob) Brookins

Chief Technology Officer

Dr. Brookins has broad experience in organic synthesis and materials chemistry. He received his PhD from the University of Florida under research advisor John R. Reynolds. Dr. Brookins’ graduate work was in the synthesis and characterization of conjugated polyelectrolytes and polymers. Upon completion of his PhD, he worked at the Air Force Research Laboratory at Tyndall AFB where he developed decontamination methods for chemical and biological threats and novel synthetic routes for functional surfaces.

John Almond

Director of Business Development – Europe

Mr. Almond has spent most of his career working in international banking in London, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia and the Middle East for several major banks principally in investment management and advisory roles. He was also a Principal of a Paris and New York-based hedge fund group until 2002, and in his early career spent eight years in various international roles for a Fortune 500 diversified manufacturing group. Over much of his career his focus has been on identifying investment opportunities in emerging companies and new technologies. Mr. Almond holds a BA (Hons) in Economics and Economic History.

Halis Alkis
Consultant – Textile Platform

Mr. Alkis has over 35 years’ experience in the textile and manufacturing industry. He has been involved with international business, relating to strategic planning, profit and performance enhancement, optimization, business and operations turn around, new business start up, leadership development and executive coaching. Mr. Alkis is also experienced in general management, operations, sales and marketing, finance, and supply chain management. Mr. Alkis was previously with Kusters Corporation in Spartanburg, South Carolina as the President and CEO. Mr. Alkis holds a Master of Science in Textile Chemistry from North Carolina State University.

Cameron Maitland
Company Secretary

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