Nanoadditives: The Smart Way to Improved Coating Performance
Nano is the buzzword for the beginning of the 21st century. No other technology is currently more thought provoking. Starting from self-cleaning surfaces and ending with self-reproducing nanorobots, the borderline between technology, science and science fiction is almost non-existent. Nanotechnology is evolving across very different disciplines like physics, chemistry, biology and engineering, creating new solutions because of this interdisciplinary approach. One of the most advanced markets in the field of nanotechnology is in the area of modifying surface properties using nanotechnology. Starting from new lithography, to self-assembling, to the use of nanotechnology in existing coatings, the range where this technology can be applied is huge. Especially in coatings, the evaluation of the potential use of nano-sized particles is of great interest for academia and industry.
Only well-dispersed individual units of nanomatter behave like nanomaterial in the best way. Even slight aggregation can cause the loss of all nanoeffects. For that reason, pre-dispersed nanoparticle master batches are an ideal way to utilize nanomaterials in coatings. By using only small amounts of the active ingredient and by achieving very high active ingredient contents in the master batch, nanoadditives are the smart way to introduce new or enhanced coating properties.