Hydrophobic TOP COAT coating for application in the sea
ChemiTek is a company for development and commercialization of solutions for industrial maintenance. Their selling programme includes innovative products for versatile applications in different business areas like solar cell, automotive, maritime, aeronautical and waste management industry. Important part of their portfolio are hydrophobic coatings for different surfaces and materials – glass (used for solar cells), plastics, fibers and metals, while these coatings can be used also on equipment at the sea (or in the sea).
The company wanted to develop a new technology to use coatings under the sea as an ink to prevent fouling, but without the use of biocides. With this intention the cooperation with researchers from the Department of Physical and Organic Chemistry at the Jožef Institute (Slovenia) and International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (Portugal) started. Contact with Slovenian researchers was established and supported by the Center for Technology Transfer and Innnovation at the Jožef Stefan Institute, where they suggested researchers from the mentioned department, since their expertise and knowledge was an excellent match for the company’s technology challenge.
The research activities of the Department of Physical and Organic Chemistry covers not only synthesis of new compounds, but also physicochemical processes on solid surfaces (e.g. corrosion). Their experience includes also environment friendly coatings. This expertise proved to be crucial in development of the solution, where challenging circumstances under the sea had to be taken into the account as well.
Result
The main result of the development was a new biocide-free coating for application under the sea. Replacement of biocides with hydrophobic additives contributed to lower costs for raw materials, while allowing safer and more cost effective production, also because of lower costs of hazardous material management (i.e. the amount of required hazardous materials was reduced). The coating WCA has increased to around 120⁰. Since the new coating has also other characteristics like excellent adhesion, low swelling ratio (in water), high corrosion stability and provides high protection against (bio)fouling, it is very suitable for use in the (sea)water.
Overview of cooperation between researchers and Portuguese company. From Slovenia participated researchers from the Department of Physical and Organic Chemistry at the Jožef Stefan Institute.
The company ChemiTek is very satistfied with the results, since they added in their portfolio new innovative and environment-friendly product, while improvements were implemented in the production process.
Key success factors
Research project partners have optimised polymeric formulation with hydrophobic characteristics, that was initially developed by ChemiTek. Success of the research project is a result of combination of (1) the expertise of both technology centers from Slovenia and Portugal and (2) the expertise of the company.
The research cooperation provided the company knowledge about:
- use of hydrophobic additives
- preparation of nano-particles with hydrophobic characteristics
- preparation of the coating with good adhesive and anti-corrosive charateristics
With this cooperation researchers from the Jožef Stefan Institute gained new valuable experience for solutions, that can be used in a very challenging environment, while successfully completing another partnership with the industry, and proved that with cooperation much can be achieved, even when the solution is used in not so conventional environment.
Tests in laboratory
Cooperation took place under the frame of the project KET4CleanProduction, where additional presentation of this succes story is available.
The research project was formed and financed with the support of the Center for Technology Transfer and Innovation at the Jožef Stefan Institute.