Hot Deal For Auto Ice Removal

ROCHESTER, N.Y.--Torvec Inc. has iced an agreement to market a patented system that “allows for the rapid non-thermal de-icing of vehicle surfaces using a novel electrochemical decomposition technology.”

The technology was invented by Dr. Victor F. Petrenko of the Ice Research Laboratory at Dartmouth College. “Dr. Petrenko’s work has shown that electrodes attached directly to surfaces can break down ice and water through the process of electrolysis. When applied to automotive and truck surfaces, gas bubbles of hydrogen and oxygen are formed during the electrolysis process. These bubbles generate pressure on the automobile surface therefore shedding ice,” according to the Torvec-Dartmouth team. It intends to adapt this principle to automotive de-icing systems.

Torvec and Dartmouth will explore the applications under the name of Ice Surface Development Inc.

In June, Petrenko’s technology was licensed by Dartmouth to The BF Goodrich Co. for aircraft and marine applications. Recently Discover Magazine honored Petrenko’s technology as the “most innovative invention for the aerospace industry in the year 2000.”

Torvec acquired ISD from UTEK Corp. to integrate the Dartmouth de-icing technology into its Fast Tracked Vehicle as well as to sub-license the technology for a wide-assortment of land-based motorized vehicle applications (e.g. cars, trucks, trains, trailers), including their components (e.g. windshields). “The technology also holds promise for significantly increasing the traction of tires and tracks on ice,” according to the company.

For more information, contact www.torvec.com.