The demand for lightweight materials and composites is expanding in tandem with the engineering and technology industries' growing demands. In a range of applications, aluminium metals with functional surfaces offer numerous performance advantages. Alfa Chemistry offers bespoke functionalized coating services for aluminum substrates to its customers. You can increase the performance of practically any stainless steel product with our wide and simple-to-apply specialty processing technologies. Work with us to make your stainless steel surfaces more functional!
Extensive Surface Modification Technology Options
Alfa Chemistry provides a number of surface modification methods that can be used to functionalize aluminum substrates in a variety of ways, resulting in a variety of performance benefits. The following are some of the surface modification options for aluminum substrates:
- Surface waterproof coating technology - Aluminum substrates can be functionalized to be highly water and oil repellent, making them highly resistant to practically all liquids.
- Hydrophilic coating technology - We were able to make aluminum surfaces highly hydrophilic by functionalizing them.
- Adhesion-Promoting Coating Technology - We are able to functionalize aluminum to enhance the adhesive properties of its surface.
- Particle Modified Coating Technology - Alfa Chemistry's particle modified coating technology can improve particle behavior, minimize aggregation, and optimize cross-linking by functionalizing aluminum powders and particles.
- Lubrication coating technology - Aluminum substrates can be functionalized to reduce friction on the surface.
These nano-coatings listed above are optically clear and robust.
Learn more about our hydrophobic and oleophobic coatings.
Learn more about our hydrophilic coatings.
Learn more about our adhesion promotion coatings.
Learn more about our particle-modified coatings.
Learn more about our lubricant coatings.
Alfa Chemistry Coating Solution Cases
Case 1: Superhydrophobic Anti-icing Coating on 1060 Aluminum Alloy Mesh
Using a chemical microsculpting process, Alfa Chemistry created superhydrophobic 1060 aluminum alloy meshes. On the mesh substrate, a NaOH solution was employed to induce micron-level roughness. The surface energy of the mesh substrate was reduced using perfluoroalkyltrimethoxysilane (PFMS), which was mixed with the surface -OH to generate a nanocoating with superhydrophobicity. The water contact angle on the surface was 158°, whereas the oil contact angle was 163°. Not only does the created super double hydrophobic 1060 aluminum alloy mesh withstand corrosion and wear, but it also resists freezing.
Fig 1. Schematic illustration of the preparation of superamphiphobic surface. (Xu Z. Y, et al. 2019)
Case 2: Polymeric guanidine derivatives for surface coating
The water-soluble feature might easily lead to antibacterial polymer polyhexamethyleneguanidine (PHMG) leaching from the coating system. As a result, converting PHMG to water-insoluble derivatives could be a viable option for preserving antibacterial characteristics.
Alfa Chemistry used a simple surface modification process to create an antimicrobial aluminum plate using water-insoluble PHMG-SS as a biocide. Strong electrostatic interactions were used to synthesis PHMG-SS, which was then implanted in the coating on the aluminum plate. The antimicrobial coating developed has hydrophilic characteristics, great UV resistance, and short-term jet fuel compatibility. Experiments have shown that its non-leaching qualities are beneficial.
Why Choose Alfa Chemistry?
- Our custom coatings are lightweight, environmentally friendly and safe.
- We create the right solution for the specific requirements of your product.
- We have extensive experience in surface modification and have been working on different surface chemistry techniques regarding aluminum.
References
- Xu Z. Y, et al. (2019). "Nanocoating: Anti-Icing Superamphiphobic Surface on 1060 Aluminum Alloy Mesh." Applied Surface Science. 4(3): 1666-1674.
- Zhang J, et al. (2021). "Surface Coating on Aluminum Substrate with Polymeric Guanidine Derivative to Protect Jet Fuel Tanks from Microbial Contamination." Surface and Coatings Technology. 422: 127521.
