Research and development in the paints and coatings sector does not stop, for this reason it is important to know what scientists are working on to offer new features to the products that are marketed.
by Duván Chaverra Agudelo
The research and development departments of the formulation companies and manufacturers of paints and coatings of all kinds have the task of constantly finding new technologies and new techniques, which allow to improve the properties and performance of the products they elaborate.
Apart from these departments, different research centers in the world led by universities or supported by local governments test hundreds of methods daily to find new raw materials that can be included in coatings. Today, everything indicates that the current trend is based on two fundamental approaches: "green" or environmental products and nanotechnology.
Precisely, in INPRA LATINA we have highlighted many of the most important and striking research carried out by renowned scientists. That is why we now decided to capture in this article some of the most striking discoveries or developments, which will be useful for formulators and manufacturers in the sector.
In our region
It is worth starting this tour by highlighting developments made in our region. For example, in Argentina a research group belonging to the National Institute of Industrial Technology (INTI) patented a bactericidal paint, which has properties that allow its use in applications such as hospitals, homes, canteens or gyms. The process included the surface modification of the organic fillers and pigments that are implemented in the paints to add antimicrobial properties to them.
According to Mónica Pinto, head of the Technical Unit of Organic Paints and Coatings of INTI- Surface Processes to achieve this development, "metals were used that act by combining with amino acids essential for the life cycle of microorganisms and that are harmless to humans. Thus, the bactericidal properties are maintained throughout the life of the coating."
The development could also be implemented in metal and wood openings, containers, taps or other elements that need this kind of protection. The researchers stated that this patent will be granted to a well-known company in the field of paints for work and home.
Meanwhile, in Brazil they successfully tested a compound of cerium and silanol wrapped in polystyrene capsules and used in paints to inhibit corrosion of metals. Its main application is for oil storage pipes and tanks, which led the studio to receive the Petrobras Technology Award.
This research was carried out at the University of São Paulo by engineer Fernando Cotting. As explained by the engineer, microcapsules allow the metal coating to acquire automatic recovery (self-healing) characteristics.
The inhibitor uses a mixture of cerium (-III), and silanol. "Cerium is already used to fight corrosion, while silanol is used for film production. The advantage of these compounds is that they act synergistically and the use of a lower concentration of cerium, of little abundance in nature, can reduce manufacturing costs without affecting the efficacy of the product," cotting said.
For its part, in Chile a paint with fire resistance was created using olive residues. According to research, this paint has the ability to resist 70% more the spread of flames in the wood. This was compared to water-based paints.
The development was presented by the student Oscar Fuentes, from the School of Construction Engineering, who developed his degree thesis with this topic. "It highlights the use of waste that is normally discarded by companies. On the other hand, there is the issue of the direct benefit of having a painting that slows the expansion of fire, "said the advisor of the thesis, Professor Diógenes Hernández.
The development was made from the ash obtained from the residues of the olive, which is said to have a substance that has a high level of fire resistance. It also includes other ingredients: lime, gypsum and pigments.
The student Fuentes, highlighted the fact that painting contributes to the protection of the environment: "One as an engineer looks for new techniques to make constructions more friendly and help the environment. So I think this is a contribution in that line, which also develops strongly in my career."
Biological developments
In this aspect, new developments such as the one made by researchers from Georgia, United States, who created magnetic replicas of sunflower pollen grains using a wet chemical process, layer by layer, which is applied in iron oxide coatings, are highlighted.
According to the researchers, the replicas possess natural adhesion properties inherited from the tips of the pollen particles, while obtaining magnetic behavior, which allows adhesion to the measurement of the surfaces. Legacy peaks from sunflower pollen provide short-range adhesion – over nanoscale distances – while oxide chemistry provides an adhesion mode that operates over much greater distances – up to one millimeter.
On the other hand, another research managed to use phenolic extract from green tea leaves for the production of thermoset epoxy resins. This study conducted in France indicates that commercial green tea extract (GTE) is worked by reacting with epichlorohydrin in the presence of the phase transfer catalyst.
During the investigation it was found that the glycidyl ether derivative of green tea extract (GEGTE) obtained with good performance was cured into an epoxy polymer with isophorone diamine (IPD) and the resulting network was compared with catechin-IPD and diglycidyl ether from bisphenol A systems (DGEBA-IPD).
Thermal and mechanical analyses of this bio-based epoxy polymer showed its high reactivity associated with a high cross-linking density (Tg: 140-190 ° C), high thermal resistance and interesting mechanical properties.
Animals have also served as a reference for scientists. This is the case of research aimed at finding new ways to create self-cleaning coatings, which was based on the way red-eyed insects keep their wings clean and free of contaminants.
This work was done by a team of scientists from Duke University in the United States and James Cook University in Australia, who found that the secret lies in the fact that falling water droplets melt and then jump off the wings of flying insects, a phenomenon they call Self-Propelled Dewdrops.
That is, when the wings of the cicada are exposed to water vapor, the dew forms small droplets that melt together spontaneously and are self-propelled off the surface by changes in surface energy. The jump is automatic, and the droplets can rid the superhydrophobic surface of dirt and other contaminants.
This discovery broke with the traditional belief that cleaning natural surfaces took place primarily through the "Lotus Effect".
Environmental approaches
Finally, we could not leave out some developments based on environmental themes, such as the case of a procedure to produce ecological anticorrosive coatings for aluminum and magnesium alloys in the aeronautical sector, which was developed in Europe.
Under the project name Ecoprot, this coating has corrosion efficiency comparable to that of toxic chromates and conforms to the strict requirements of the aeronautics sector.
This new process, already patented, was developed through a FP6 project called MultiProtec. Now it seeks to industrialize the procedure and make known in the industry a coating similar to glass, respectful with the environment, based on cerium and with self-repair capacity.
An assessment of the entire process life cycle will also be carried out taking into account all aspects of production, from raw materials to the end of the useful life, including water and energy consumption.
Also in Europe, more specifically in Spain, they have developed a new paint for road markings, which, according to the researchers, has better properties to guarantee the safety of drivers.
The non-slip coating reduces curing times, in addition to improving adhesion on the tracks and is highly resistant, which avoids the wear to which it is subjected. This formulation is water-based and incorporates a novel combination of latex polymers, responsible for improving adhesion, also ensure that it has environmentally friendly characteristics.
This development was led by the Technological Institute of Optics, Color and Image (Aido) of Spain, with the participation of a group of European companies, within the project called Multimat.
Conclusion
These are just some of the many novel and effective examples that can be found in the world of paints and coatings and that show that the guild is constantly working to improve and find new markets.
For our part, we will continue with the task of bringing to all of you the latest developments in our industry so that in our markets they can also be put into practice and thus have much more alternatives when formulating or manufacturing paints for different commercial and residential areas.
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