Smart, Clever or
Functional?
INTEREST IN STIMULI-RESPONSIVE COATINGS STILL ON THE RISE
Source: Reactive Surfaces (2)
Smart coatings with advanced functionalities
open up totally new application areas
¨ Numerous labels for smart coatings exist. While some say “clever
coatings” and "functional coatings,"
others refer to them as “
stimuli-responsive” or “intelligent.” In general,
smart coatings refer to structured coatings that provide additional benefits
by offering an appropriate response to
outside conditions.
Smart coatings can be found in many
application areas. Examples include
protective, automotive, aerospace, antimicrobial or solar energy systems.
Self-healing, anti-fingerprint and anti-ice coatings are popular topics, to name
but a few. They can mean substantial
added value for a new or improved
product – boosting production, energy
and resource efficiency, contributing to
climate protection, or minimizing corrosion and dirt pick-up, or more. The inter-
“Nature is an endless source of novel functionality”
¨ The field of functional coatings is growing rapidly. Steve McDaniel, Reactive
Surfaces, focuses on biobased functionality. As he sees it, natural surfaces abound
with functionality which evolved to handle many of the same environmental chal-
lenges we want to address in coated surfaces.
Steve
McDaniel,
Reactive
Surfaces
What recent developments are the
most interesting in the field of func-
tional coatings?
Steve McDaniel: The field of functional coatings is growing rapidly, and
has been the subject of several recent
journal articles. Among the more interesting of the technologies discussed
were the biobased additives for self-cleaning, degreasing, biocides, and
anti-fouling. Also on the horizon are
multi-functional, self-lubricating, self-healing, stimuli-responsive anti-cor-rosion, reversible adhesion, and antifreezing coatings.
Where do you see further potential for
coatings functionalities?
Steve McDaniel: We focus on biobased
functionality. Natural surfaces abound
with functionality that evolved to han-
dle many of the same environmental
challenges we want to address in coat-
ed surfaces – degreasing, self-cleaning,
de-odorizing, detoxifying, fighting mi-
crobial contamination, self-buffering,
exchanging gases, you name it. For this
reason, nature is basically an endless
source of novel functionality that can be
tapped for additives. Seamless integra-
tion of these time-tested additives into
existing polymer systems makes a very
wide range of novel functionality avail-
able to the formulator.
What solutions for functional coatings
are you currently working on?
Steve McDaniel: We are expanding
our biobased biocide additive technology. The biocide market is $10 billion
and is growing by 6 per year. We believe that highly-effective, biobased,
environmentally-benign natural biocides will garner a sizeable portion of
that market. Our banner biocide, “
Pro-teCoat,” is peptide- based and nearing
regulatory approval. This is but a first
example of how powerful these biocides
are. At the ACS, we will be presenting
expansions to our portfolio including
enzyme-based, antibody-based, recep-tor-based, and other natural systems —
alone or in multifunctional cocktails.
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Source: Fotolia, Michelle Bergkamp
Smart coatings can lead to additional benefits like water-repellency
est in these materials is still on the rise,
not only in academic circles, but in the
industry as well. Attendees at the American Coatings CONFERENCE will learn
about the current developments in such
functional coatings during the “Smart
& Functional” and “Novel Materials”
sessions. The speakers, who hail from
both industry and academia, will focus
on on the following topics:
SMART & FUNCTIONAL
Functionalization on-demand and
rechargeable coatings (Reactive Sur-
faces), a novel application of fluorosur-
factant in easy-to-clean architectural
paints (DuPont), superhydrophobic
coatings (Rhenoterm No 1 Coatings),
solution-based coatings of core-shell
nanostructures for hybrid photovoltaics
(California Polytech State University), a
multiscale simulation approach to predictive paint design (Washington State
University), and consideration in formulating and using cool roofing coatings
(DuPont Titanium Technologies).
NOVEL MATERIALS
Highly-functionalized polyester resins:
design and use considerations (
Eastman), novel methacrylic systems to
control open time in reactive systems
(Evonik), the impact of biocide regulatory changes on the U.S. coatings industry
(Arch Chemicals), novel zero VOC de-aer-ators for waterborne coatings (Air Products and Chemicals), the role of particle
functionalization in coatings (
Sachtleben Chemie), and tailormade substrate
wetting and leveling agents (BASF).
Presentations in this this area will provide attendees with an overview of developments, and renowned international
experts will present their findings related
to raw materials, formulations and applications for novel materials.
Smart & Functional Coatings, SESSION 15
at the American Coatings CONFERENCE:
Wednesday, May 9, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
15.1 Functionalization On-Demand and Re-Chargeable Coatings
Eric Williams, Reactive Surfaces
15.2 Novel Applications of Fluorosurfactant in Easy-Clean Architectural
Paints
Jean Meng, DuPont Company
15. 3 Superhydrophobic Coatings
Volkmar Eigenbrod, Rhenoterm No 1 Coatings
15. 4 Solution-Based Coating of Core-Shell Nanostructures for Hybrid
Photovoltaics
Shanju Zhang, California Polytechnic State University
15. 5 Multiscale Simulation Approach to Predictive Paint Design
Jie Jie Xiao, Washington State University
15. 6 Consideration in Formulating and Using Cool Roofing Coatings
Don Connolly Jr., DuPont Titanium Technologies
