Relationship between process chain and application of nanoparticulate coatings

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Georg Garnweitner; Professor Dr.-Ing. Arno Kwade
• Subject Area: Mechanical Process Engineering
• Term: from 2012 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 224958904

Nowadays, nanoparticulate coatings are highly important for a plethora of application. The properties of the coatings do not only depend on the component materials, but are strongly influenced by the respective structural characteristics as well. A variety of parameters determines the final structure of the layers, and thus the resulting properties, such as the subsequent process steps (formulation, processing and drying). Hence, in this project every step of the process chain is investigated by varying the different influential parameters. Synthesized and commercial nanoparticles are chemically modified so that they can be both stable and capable of further functionalization, and a molecular network formation. We pursuit a cross-linking establishment among the modified nanoparticles, aiming towards coatings with controlled mechanical properties. During the first phase of the project the changes of the structure formation and the resulting film properties were examined, using unmodified particles, by varying parameters on each process stage. In the second phase of the project a detailed investigation of the structure formation, via nanoparticle crosslinking, towards an effective control on the coatings formulations through the variation of the relevant parameters will take place. In addition, the modification of the substrate for targeted binding to the particles is also considered utilizing the slot die coating as a second coating process.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants