INNOVATIONS: PRESENT&FUTURE
New Sustainable and Water-Resistant Coatings Developed with Ultrathin Self-Healing Polymers Edited by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (IL) – United States
nmiljkov@illinois.edu
A group of researchers has found a new method to create ultrathin surface coatings that are water resistant, self-healing and tough enough to survive scratches and dings. The new material was developed by combining thin films and self-healing technologies.
T
hrough a study conducted by Nenad Miljkovic, mechanical
and thin-film, finds a wide spectrum of potential applications, including
science and engineering professor, and Christopher Evans,
self-cleaning, anti-icing, anti-fogging, anti-bacterial, anti-fouling and
materials science and engineering professor, from the University
enhanced heat exchange coatings.
of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the researchers were able to create a new ultrathin surface coating. According to this study, the rapid
The goal of the research
evaporative qualities of a specialized polymer containing a network
The research team’s main goal was to increase the efficiency of steam
of dynamic bonds in its backbone help form a water-resistant, self-
power plants, which are the largest generators of electricity in the
healing coating of nanoscale thicknesses. Furthermore, the coating is
world, by using this type of coating in their condensers.
robust enough to resist scratches and dings.
“The coatings, when applied to the surfaces of the condensers, make
This new material, developed by merging self-healing technologies
them more water-resistant and efficient at forming water droplets, © Adobe Stock
A steam turbine.
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N. 71 - SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021 - international PAINT&COATING magazine
