Stain resistant paints from smart hydrophobic surfaces
Lead Research Organisation:
University College London
Department Name: Chemistry
Abstract
The business opportunity that this project addresses is the introduction of universal stain shedding decorative paints to the
premium end of the large volume decorative paint market. To address this business opportunity the project team must
translate the novel surface science recently shown by UCL (Science 6 March 2015) into commercially realistic materials
(Omya) for processing into desirable decorative paints (AkzoNobel) for sale to the end user (UK consumers) at a premium,
but realistic, price. The problem faced by AkzoNobel is that even the most durable of decorative paints have a tendency to
suffer from staining from common household stains (coffee, red wine) which leads to customer dissatisfaction if the stain
cannot easily be removed; even requiring redecoration in the some cases. The intended output of the project will address
this problem as it will deliver universal stain shedding decorative paints from which all stains are automatically released on
the stimulation of the staining process
There are five innovative aspects to this project
a) Delivery of the superhydrophobic surfaces using cost effective minerals, as opposed to the published route based on
expensive titanium dioxide (TiO2), will be innovative.
b) The application and use of mixtures of accurately controlled particle size minerals in main stream decorative paints is not
actually practiced and so this would be innovative.
c) No cost effective decorative paints are available that have the technical ability to self-shed dirt and stains.
d) The concept behind the science of this innovation is practised to some extent in stain resistant fabrics. There would be
innovation in transferring the effects in stain resistant fabrics to decorative paints.
e) Decorative paints where stain shedding is the marketing focus have not been brought to the UK (or EU27) marketplace
so this would be a commercial innovation.
Given the strong current customer needs for delivery and maintenance of perfect colour in the home
(http://www.letscolourproject.com/) the proposed technology from this project would be extremely timely.
premium end of the large volume decorative paint market. To address this business opportunity the project team must
translate the novel surface science recently shown by UCL (Science 6 March 2015) into commercially realistic materials
(Omya) for processing into desirable decorative paints (AkzoNobel) for sale to the end user (UK consumers) at a premium,
but realistic, price. The problem faced by AkzoNobel is that even the most durable of decorative paints have a tendency to
suffer from staining from common household stains (coffee, red wine) which leads to customer dissatisfaction if the stain
cannot easily be removed; even requiring redecoration in the some cases. The intended output of the project will address
this problem as it will deliver universal stain shedding decorative paints from which all stains are automatically released on
the stimulation of the staining process
There are five innovative aspects to this project
a) Delivery of the superhydrophobic surfaces using cost effective minerals, as opposed to the published route based on
expensive titanium dioxide (TiO2), will be innovative.
b) The application and use of mixtures of accurately controlled particle size minerals in main stream decorative paints is not
actually practiced and so this would be innovative.
c) No cost effective decorative paints are available that have the technical ability to self-shed dirt and stains.
d) The concept behind the science of this innovation is practised to some extent in stain resistant fabrics. There would be
innovation in transferring the effects in stain resistant fabrics to decorative paints.
e) Decorative paints where stain shedding is the marketing focus have not been brought to the UK (or EU27) marketplace
so this would be a commercial innovation.
Given the strong current customer needs for delivery and maintenance of perfect colour in the home
(http://www.letscolourproject.com/) the proposed technology from this project would be extremely timely.
Planned Impact
This project will strive to create smart products (universal stain shedding decorative paints) that use the combination of
functional materials in the superhydrophobic surfaces recently revealed by UCL.
The envisaged smart product (a universal stain shedding decorative paint) will be one that responds autonomously to a
stimuli in the environment (household staining of painted surfaces from accidental spillage or deliberate graffiti) to produce
a beneficial action (automatic repulsion of the stain to recover the desired clean surface). This is an enhancement of
existing decorative paints with the addition of smart universal stain shedding properties.
The project addresses the issues associated with materials manufacturing and processing as it is looking to take proven
academic science into the large volume commercial arena, which has often been challenging to realise in an economically
viable way. The project will therefore include, by necessity, work packages on
a) novel fabrication techniques, such as dispersion of the identified materials, to allow for their delivery within a decorative
paint so that consumers can still easily apply the paint in their home
b) material characterisation and in-situ monitoring to confirm that the novel smart products meet the customers desires for
universal stain shedding decorative paint
c) accelerated life tests to determine material durability so as not to reduce the currently accepted home (re)decorating
cycle.
The desired end point of the project is a decorative paint that will never succumb to disfiguration by staining and hence
there will be a reduced need for repair. This will reduce material consumption (less redecoration) and reduces the need for
end-of-life treatments (less need to recycle unwanted stained painted substrates if they cannot be repainted).
Furthermore the stain resistant superhydrophobic paint may intrinsically also have damp, condensation resistance (water
can not penetrate a superhydrophobic surface) and antimicrobial properties (biofilms/ molds struggle to be established on
superhydrophobic surfaces).
functional materials in the superhydrophobic surfaces recently revealed by UCL.
The envisaged smart product (a universal stain shedding decorative paint) will be one that responds autonomously to a
stimuli in the environment (household staining of painted surfaces from accidental spillage or deliberate graffiti) to produce
a beneficial action (automatic repulsion of the stain to recover the desired clean surface). This is an enhancement of
existing decorative paints with the addition of smart universal stain shedding properties.
The project addresses the issues associated with materials manufacturing and processing as it is looking to take proven
academic science into the large volume commercial arena, which has often been challenging to realise in an economically
viable way. The project will therefore include, by necessity, work packages on
a) novel fabrication techniques, such as dispersion of the identified materials, to allow for their delivery within a decorative
paint so that consumers can still easily apply the paint in their home
b) material characterisation and in-situ monitoring to confirm that the novel smart products meet the customers desires for
universal stain shedding decorative paint
c) accelerated life tests to determine material durability so as not to reduce the currently accepted home (re)decorating
cycle.
The desired end point of the project is a decorative paint that will never succumb to disfiguration by staining and hence
there will be a reduced need for repair. This will reduce material consumption (less redecoration) and reduces the need for
end-of-life treatments (less need to recycle unwanted stained painted substrates if they cannot be repainted).
Furthermore the stain resistant superhydrophobic paint may intrinsically also have damp, condensation resistance (water
can not penetrate a superhydrophobic surface) and antimicrobial properties (biofilms/ molds struggle to be established on
superhydrophobic surfaces).
Publications
Guo X
(2019)
Fabrication of robust superhydrophobic surfaces via aerosol-assisted CVD and thermo-triggered healing of superhydrophobicity by recovery of roughness structures
in Journal of Materials Chemistry A
Heale F
(2019)
Slippery Liquid Infused Porous TiO 2 /SnO 2 Nanocomposite Thin Films via Aerosol Assisted Chemical Vapor Deposition with Anti-Icing and Fog Retardant Properties
in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
Heale FL
(2018)
Inexpensive and non-toxic water repellent coatings comprising SiO2 nanoparticles and long chain fatty acids.
in RSC advances
Hwang GB
(2018)
The Anti-Biofouling Properties of Superhydrophobic Surfaces are Short-Lived.
in ACS nano
Li S
(2018)
Efficiently texturing hierarchical superhydrophobic fluoride-free translucent films by AACVD with excellent durability and self-cleaning ability
in Journal of Materials Chemistry A
Malinowski R
(2018)
Dynamic Control of Particle Deposition in Evaporating Droplets by an External Point Source of Vapor.
in The journal of physical chemistry letters
Description | The concept of the project was to develop a fully stain resistant paint, leveraging upon the technologies and IP developed within the UCL Department of Chemistry in the field of superhydrophobic (super repellent) surfaces, and in collaboration with AkzoNobel and Omya International. A major hurdle is maintaining hydrophobicity in formulations with rheology modifiers and higher levels of white pigment that are required within paint formulations. Hydrophobic fully formulated model paints were achieved. However, a Superhydrophobic fully formulated model paint was not defined. There were significant highlights and achievements made including: - Making the transition from the academic model systems to realistic paint formulations while maintaining superhydrophobicity or strong hydrophobicity. - Replacement of fluoro-silanes with non-fluorinated hydrophobising agents. - Simple, scalable synthetic processes were developed. - Expensive controlled size particles were replaced with conventional extender minerals. - Use of mixtures of particles and inclusion of latex binders and rheology modifiers and other additives was achieved. |
Exploitation Route | Research investigated incorporation of superhydrophobic nanoparticles in paints. Two potential routes for exploitation (a conventional paint and a wash coat) are being investigated with Azko Nobel. The project is being written up internally within AkzoNobel as a library report and the outcome of the project will be communicated to the Open Innovation and Technology organisations within AkzoNobel so that the technology can be considered for other applications in paints and coatings. |
Sectors | Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology |
Description | We have made a series of superhydrophobic materials that repel water and other substances when converted to slipperynliquid infused porous surfaces. We are in discussion with a number of industrial companies on the use of the technology developed from follow on work from this grant. The KTP project with Altro Ltd to develop easy clean nonslip flooring have finished. This was disrupted by Covid and lockdown but the project was rated as "very Good'. We then had funding from the Impact acceleration award to continue progressing the project. In the hydrophobic area we were also approached by researchers at Loughborough University and now have an EPSRC grant funded to explore durable and scalable anti-soiling coating for solar modules. |
First Year Of Impact | 2020 |
Sector | Chemicals,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
Impact Types | Economic |
Description | A durable and scalable anti-soiling coating for solar modules |
Amount | £453,318 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/W010798/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2022 |
End | 09/2025 |
Description | EPSRC IAA |
Amount | £46,128 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/K503745/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 06/2016 |
End | 03/2017 |
Description | EngD Studentship sponsored by Altro |
Amount | £36,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Altro Limited |
Sector | Private |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2018 |
End | 09/2022 |
Description | EngD Studentship sponsored by AzkoNobel |
Amount | £36,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | ICI Paints |
Sector | Private |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2016 |
End | 09/2020 |
Description | Innovate UK Smart Materials |
Amount | £248,451 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/N510051/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 02/2016 |
End | 01/2019 |
Description | Knowledge Transfer Partnership |
Amount | £336,964 (GBP) |
Organisation | Innovate UK |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2018 |
End | 04/2020 |
Description | To embed omniphobic powder technology in developing innovative 'easy-to-clean' slip-resistant flooring |
Amount | £64,053 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/R511638/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 06/2020 |
End | 04/2021 |
Description | Smart Decorative Paints - InnovateUK award |
Organisation | ICI Paints |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | This is part of an InnovateUK award. The aim of the project is the delivery of superhydrophobic surfaces using cost effective minerals, as opposed to our previously published route based on expensive titanium dioxide (TiO2). The application and use of mixtures of accurately controlled particle size minerals in main stream decorative paints is not actually practiced. hence the project is currently identifying the best particles which could then be incorporated into paint. |
Collaborator Contribution | Azko Nobel based on the first year of the project have now funded an EngD studentship which started in October 2016. The business opportunity that this project addresses is the introduction of universal stain shedding decorative paints to the premium end of the large volume decorative paint market. To address this business opportunity the project team must translate the novel surface science developed by us into commercially realistic materials for processing into desirable decorative paints (AkzoNobel) for sale to the end user (UK consumers) at a premium, but realistic, price. Hence studies are currently in place to take our novel superhydrophobic particles and incorporate into paint. |
Impact | The project is ongoing and outcomes are confidential currently |
Start Year | 2016 |
Title | Composite particles, coatings and coated articles |
Description | The invention relates to composite particles, coatings, and coated articles. An article is provided at least partially covered with a coating defining a slippery surface. The coating comprises a layer of particulate material bound to the article and a substantially immobilised lubricant at least partially covering and penetrating into the layer of composite particulate material. The composite particulate material comprises a carrier particle at least partially coated with a hydrophobic material. A further article is provided at least partially covered with a coating comprising a layer of the composite particulate material bound to said article. This is useful in preparation of the article having a coating defining a slippery surface. Methods of preparing the coating and the articles are also provided. |
IP Reference | US2018318877 |
Protection | Patent granted |
Year Protection Granted | 2018 |
Licensed | No |
Impact | KTP project funded with Altro Ltd to investigate 'Easy Clean Non-Slip Flooring' |
Description | Outreach event |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Opening of the KLB building at UCL with Sir David Attenborough. We have a stand showcasing our research which he and many attendees interacted with. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Smart Surfaces |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Roysal Society Summer exhibtion on Smart Surfaces |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2017/summer-science-exhibition/exhibits/smart-s... |