AIR PRODUCTS' NANOPARTICLE DISPERSIONS FOR COATINGS

Advances in nanotechnology in recent years have helped improve properties in a variety of existing products as well as create entirely new products. However, one hurdle in working with nanoparticles is keeping them dispersed throughout a coating or other mixture. Typically, nanoparticles clump together when a formulator tries to incorporate them into a coating, leaving large agglomerates instead of the nanoparticles, thereby significantly diminishing or even eliminating any potential benefits.

Air Products, working with more than 40 years experience in dispersion and surface science, has developed a patented technology that helps disperse and incorporate nanoparticles into coatings. “As a result, we now offer user-friendly dispersions of certain nanoparticles that can be effectively incorporated into coatings, says Jeff DePinto, business manager, Nanomaterials.  “In addition, we can leverage our strong know-how and patented dispersion technology to potentially create user-friendly dispersions of other nanoparticles that may interest coating manufacturers.”

By providing ready-to-use nanoparticle dispersions, Air Products can speed up and simplify a customer’s product development cycle. The dispersions also eliminate the difficulty of handling dry nanopowders and screening a large number of nanopowder suppliers.

Current Offerings
Nano-ZnO Dispersion
Air Products’ zinc oxide dispersions offer permanent UV-blocking, high transparency to visible light and low photocatalytic activity. This means coatings formulators could potentially offer extended warranties on their products thanks to longer lasting UV protection relative to traditional UV absorbers. Zinc oxide dispersions could also be used in pigmented coatings without worrying about the product causing reduced gloss or altering the color. It could also be used in coatings for textiles that receive prolonged exposure to the sun such as curtains, tents or awnings.

Nano ITO Dispersion / Nano ATO Dispersion
Air Products’ indium tin oxide (ITO) and antimony tin oxide (ATO) offer high IR/UV
adsorption and transparency, as well as good conductivity and a permanent anti-static effect in coatings. With that in mind, the dispersions allow colorless automotive windows with good heat blocking properties. These days, you would need darkly tinted glass to get similar heat blocking properties in an automobile. In skyscrapers, builders use tinted or mirrored glass to get heat blocking properties. ITO coatings on glass or aftermarket window films can enable transparent, colorless heat blocking windows.

Other Applications
Air Products is not limited to the above applications and can apply its patented dispersion technology to other nanomaterials. “Our novel dispersion technology would also work for customers interested in transparent colorless coatings with significantly improved scratch and abrasion resistance by incorporating nanoparticles such as metal oxides,” says DePinto. “The durability of coatings could also be improved by the effective incorporation of nanoparticles.”

November 2006