SASKATOON, Canada – Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan have received$183,946 from the Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) to develop and test nanostructured coatings that would increase the durability of hard-to-reach industrial and medical components.
Canada Research Chair in Nanoengineering Coating Technologies and Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Qiaoqin Yang, and her team will purchase specially made equipment that will apply the coatings to the surfaces of the components for testing and demonstration. Four industry-specific coating prototypes will be tested, for projects such as solar energy systems, artificial joints, and mining and oil sands equipment. The coatings will be comprised of new, extremely durable advanced materials. The new coating application equipment and process will also be tested as a prototype for commercialization.