WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013
Researchers in Spain have developed a coating that reportedly offers enhanced corrosion protection to steel and other metals while eliminating the need for pretreatment.
The coating, developed at the Universitat Jaume I de Castellón in Spain (UJI), improves corrosion protection because of its increased adherence to metal surfaces.
Usually, protecting a metal substrate from corrosion requires an initial pretreatment involving cleaning or another layer of paint.
The new coating, however, can achieve better corrosion prevention in just one layer, developers say.
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| Photos: Universitat Jaume I de Castellón |
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The new coating uses different chemical pathways that enhance its adherence to a metal substrate, essentially eliminating the need for pretreatment. |
The secret: the elements used in the treatment of paints through three chemically different pathways and the synergistic effect produced.
Increased Adherence in One Coat
When a combination of components interact, paint adherence to a metal substrate increases, improving anticorrosive properties, the team explains. Thus, they say, the new coating offers single-layer protection that stacks up to the protection afforded when a pretreatment is used.
The goal "is to avoid this pretreatment and remove a production stage and all that comes with it in terms of time and money, since the metal preparation always involves an additional and expensive [phase]," researcher José Javier Gracenea said in an announcement about the research.
"We are currently working with aluminum, steel and galvanized steel, as they mean 99 percent of industrial metals used," said Gracenea. However, in principle, the coating is applicable to all metals.
Gracenea is the director of projects at Mediciones y Corrosion (Medco) and holds a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of the Basque Country in Northern Spain. He has authored more than 20 articles on coatings, corrosion and materials. Medco is a partner on the coating project.
20% Savings
Researchers expect the paint to be on the market within two years and save its users about 20 percent in production costs.
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The new coating is expected to be on the market within two years and will save about 20 percent in production costs for end users, researchers said.   |
The project has been developed within Impact, a Spanish Ministry of Economics and Competitiveness (MINECO) program to promote cooperation between companies and research centers.
The ministry is a research and development unit focused on the scientific basis for policies and strategies aimed at sustainable development and reducing the impact of climate change.
About the University, Medco
Universitat Jaume I de Castellón was founded in 1991 and is a public higher education and research institution in Castellón, Spain.
Medco offers a variety of coating services, including analysis of corrosion protection; characterization and analysis of surfaces and coatings; and development and optimization of coatings.
Tagged categories: Adhesion; Aluminum; Coating Materials; Corrosion; Corrosion protection; Galvanized steel; Metals; Research; Steel; Surface preparation
