Iranian researchers produced transparent nanocomposite coatings with better mechanical properties in comparison with transparent coatings used in industries.
Iranian researchers from Isfahan University of Technology succeeded in the production of transparent nanocomposite coatings with better mechanical properties in comparison with transparent coatings used in industries.
In addition to having longer lifetime, the transparent nanocomposites are cheaper and have higher adhesion to the substrate.
Nanosilica is one of the nanoparticles that have many applications in polymeric coatings industries as an agent to increase resistance to scratch.
The aim of this research was to produce transparent nanocomposite coatings of acrylic polyurethane/nanosilica.
The mechanical properties of the nanocomposite were studied by applying it on the surface of carbon steel. To this end, two types of fumed and sedimentary silica were used as the filler in the coating.
“Nanosilica can be a good replacement for increasing the properties of coatings because its refractive index is very close to that of transparent coatings. Observation of the ability to replace fumed silica nanoparticles with sedimentary ones was our objective in this research," Reza Eslami, one of the researchers, elaborated on the process of the research, and said.
He noted that sedimentary silica can be considered as an appropriate choice due to its low price.
"However, we needed to compare the properties of both types of coatings. Therefore, transparent coatings were produced with appropriate distribution of the both types of nanoparticles in polyurethane bed."
"Then, we studied optical properties, including the transparency and shining, and also the mechanical properties such as strength, adhesion of the coating to the substrate and resistance to impact," he added.
Results of the transparency test showed that transparency of acrylic resin decreases when the percentage of nanosilica increases. However, the reduction in transparency does not cause any problem for the coating. The sedimentary type has better optical properties than the fumed one.
Results of the research have been published in Progress in Organic Coatings, vol. 77, issue 7, July 2014, pp. 1184-1190.