Development of innovative additives targeting glazed ceramic surfaces

Glazed ceramic products are widely used in domestic environments. These items are predominantly located in kitchen, bathroom, and utility room where surface cleanliness is a critical need by consumers. It is therefore desirable to develop an effective strategy to coat the aforementioned ceramic surfaces, resulting in excellent repellence to dirt/soil without altering the optical properties of the surface underneath. Currently, there is no commercial product available that could effectively repel dirt and minimise soil attachment from a clean surface.

One of the most viable options is the application of a thin polymeric film that is transparent and can be implemented relatively easily in household cleaning practice. It is expected that the polymers to be developed will satisfy the following requirements:
Remain stable and active in a complex detergent matrix
Coat a glazed ceramic surface within a short period of time
Form a layer, with a controlled areal density, effectively and efficiently
Won't accumulate on the surface upon repeated applications
The layer must be robust - cannot be removed readily
The formed layer will render excellent repellence to dirt whilst being transparent
The molecules could selectively target the breaks/irregularities where dirt/stain tend to accumulate