Research Center Italy
The group in this Institute has extensive experience in nitride and carbide based nanostructured coatings by magnetron sputtering technique, and diamond like carbon coatings, carbon nanotubes growth by plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition techniques and nanostructured protective coatings, nanoparticles synthesis by sol-gel technology, functionalized nanostructured polymer coatings as well as full-scale materials properties characterization (structural, mechanical, tribological, electrical, magnetic properties, and testing) facilities, which strongly relates to the proposed project. The versatility of sol-gel processing and PECVD continues to make this technology applicable to a wide range of industrial applications:
1. Synthesis and characterisation of low energy surface polymer nanocomposites by simple wet coating technology and by PECVD
2. Synthesis and characterisation of high energy surface inorganic coatings (embedded with abrasion resistance nanoparticles) by simple sol-gel coating process
Synthesis and characterization of high energy surface inorganic coatings –embedded with abrasion resistance nanoparticles by simple sol-gel process
It is well known, that the hydrophilicity of surface is strongly affected by the chemical composition and topographical appearance. Considering only the chemical factor, contact angles of around below 50° can be obtained for materials with the highest surface energy (16.7 mJ/m2). For achieving lower contact angles with better abrasion resistance on hard surfaces, a certain surface topography is required. In this research proposal, the rough-interlayer method will be applied to study the effect of topographical features in the nanoscale range on the hydrophilicity of inorganic coatings based on TiO2 embedded with abrasion resistance nanoparticles.
For this purpose, titanium butoxide will be hydrolised and in-situ synthesis of abrasion resistance particles will be grown and the total solution is ready to coat on to hard surfaces to provide hydrophilicity as well as abrasion resistance. Apart from this, TiO2 coatings act as a superior photocatalytic activity and excellent transmittance to visible light. These coatings can be easily applicable on to sputtered hard coatings with different surface morphologies by simple sol-gel process
Aim
Synthesize and characterize of inorganic coatings embedded with abrasion resistance nanoparticles for more efficient and enhanced chemical, physical and mechanical properties in many electronic and industrial applications. The proposed study aims at elucidating the phenomena and prerequisites for the synthesis of nanostructured inorganic coatings (TiO2) by simple and cost-effective sol-gel process. In particular, this sol-gel process has several advantages such as low processing temperature, homogeneity, the possibility of coating on substrates with large areas. Due to the materials science and engineering aspect of this project, the economic aspects of this work can be estimated. However, results from this project are expected to have strong impact on the following wide range of industrial applications:
• Transportation (automobile, trucks, airplanes) – Paints, corrosion resistance
• Electronics and Instrumentation – thin films
• Energy supply and Production (solar energy systems)- gas barriers
• Textiles – fire retardant clothing
• Oil Industry – corrosion protection for pipelines, plants, easy soil removal tools
Methodology: The following approaches will be employed in order to synthesize nanostructured inorganic (TiO2) coatings embedded with functional nanoparticles for enhanced mechanical properties (hardness, scratch and abrasion resistance) and chemical stability.
System 1: Preparation of nanostructured TiO2 coatings by sol-gel process
The preparation of nanostructured TiO2 coatings is an attempt to combine the properties of hydrophilicity and anti-oxidant. Substantial gains in performance can be achieved and new unexpected properties can be developed by reducing the size of the microdomains to the nano-scale. In this investigation, the role of embedded functional nanoparticles, choice of precursor, surfactant addition to achieve nanostructures, effect of pH and organic molecular additives on the formation nanoparticles will be thoroughly studied.
System 2: Preparation of organic-inorganic hybrid nanostructures by sol-gel process (embedded with functional nanoparticles)
Organic-inorganic nanostructures are expected to lead to high performance coatings with improved hardness, scratch and abrasion resistance and low water permeability. Inorganic-organic materials are a very promising way to achieve better product properties such as enhanced hydrophilicity, anti-oxidants and improved mechanical properties. Another important aim is to enhance the corrosion resistance of inorganic-organic hybrid nanostructures against environmental impact by addition of tailor made inorganic nanoparticles such as AlOOH, CeO2, La2O3 and polyhedral silsesquioxanes or by the formation of inorganic interpenetrating networks in the nanostructured inorganic matrices to modify their permeability and wettability against pollutants. The formation of interpenetrating networks by controlled hydrolysis of inorganic precursors in inorganic solutions is an additional very promising way to influence physical properties of hybrid nanostructures.
Characterization of the developed coatings:
The lab is completely equipped with the full-scale deposition techniques and materials characterization. The synthesized nanostructured inorganic coatings embedded with abrasion resistance nanoparticles and inorganic-organic hybrid nanostructures will be examined for structural, microstructural, chemical, phase, and compositional properties by employing high-resolution scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, differential thermal analysis and thermo-gravametric analysis, X-ray diffraction, and x-ray photoelectron microscopy techniques, respectively.
Scientific objectives:
The scientific goals to be pursued at CASTI-INFM laboratory are:
• Synthesis and characterization of inorganic coatings embedded with functional nanoparticles;
• Deposition and optimization of homogeneous inorganic-organic hybrid structures;
• Testing the hydrophilicity and abrasion resistance of the developed coatings on different hard surfaces in different ambients;
• Investigate the influence of deposition process parameters on the nanoparticle size and size distribution, density and their shape for enhanced mechanical properties;
• Estimate the optimized parameters for the feasibility to large area deposition process.
Technological objectives:
The technological objectives to be pursued with collaborating company include:
• Development and optimization of nanostructured inorganic coatings by simple and cost effective sol-gel process;
• Modification of the existing industrial process to the new water-based hybrid inorganic-organic systems (application, technique, curing time, and temperature) and study of the durability of these new coatings in real conditions;
• One innovative coating process applicable for industrial production, which should allow cost effective and simple operation.
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