Making Cleaner Surfaces
Surface coatings give mechanical protection as well as optical and financial appreciation to surfaces of any
kind. Dirt pick-up or bio-fouling of coatings are accordingly not only optically adverse progresses but lower the
value of the coated object. To minimize the loss of protection and depreciation due to dirt pick-up and bio-fouling, coatings are renewed on a regular basis, with accompanied costs for material and labor. Here, an improvement of the coating and a resulting cleaner and more resistant surface for a longer period of time would give a
longer service life and thus reduced costs for the user. This paper reports strategies to decrease dirt pick-up and
bio-fouling of coatings with the addition of silica particles.
by Jens Voepel and Anders Larsson,
Ytkemiska Institutet, YKI - Institute for Surface Chemistry
Bio-fouling and soiling are expensive for society. From bac- terial adhesion on medical implants that cause compli- cated infections to barnacle adhesion on tankers that
increase the friction to water leading to higher fuel consumption.
Adhesion of soil on a painted house downgrades the optical impression and accordingly the value of the property.
Hence a development of coatings providing true anti bio-fouling and/or anti dirt pick-up properties will decrease costs for society in the long run and provide a market opportunity for the
coating company.
Any surface, whether natural or synthetic, is coated initially
with local environmental constituents such as water, electrolytes
and subsequent organic substances. The presence of this condi-
tioning film can provide the impetus for microbial growth and
further colonization. Microbial adherence and biofilm produc-
tion proceed in two steps: first, a reversible physical attachment
to the surface, followed by a second irreversible chemical step, in-
volving the multiplication of cells and the synthesis of an extra-
cellular polymeric film.
www.coatingsworld.com
April 2012
