Copper has been identified as an antimicrobial material, with over 450 copper alloys approved by the EPA [8]. Previous work with conventional and nanomaterial copper cold spray surfaces has demonstrated efficacy in percent reduction of both MRSA and Influenza A Virus, with nanomaterial copper having better results for virus efficacy than conventional copper [1]. The main mechanism of copper contact killing is

believed to be Cu ion release[12]. The surface roughness of the conventional and nanomaterial copper cold spray surfaces was examined in order to further explain the mechanisms that caused the observed difference in Influenza A virus efficacy testing. Results showed that both the percentage of grain boundaries and surface roughness may be contributing factors in copper’s kill-mechanism at the nano-scale. The surface roughness below 0.1um2 and above 1000um2 was much greater for nanomaterial copper surfaces than conventional copper, however the opposite was true between these values. It was determined that there appeared to be a localized relationship at the nanoscale between increased surface roughness and percent Cu ion diffusion, similar to the relationship of ion diffusion to the percentage of

grain boundaries[1]. However, further research is needed to uncouple the individual contribution of surface roughness and grain boundaries to copper kill rate.