The major glass forming components of borosilicate glass are silicon dioxide and boron trioxide. Because of their low coefficient of thermal expansion, borosilicate glasses are more resistant to thermal shock than other types of glass. For high-end restaurants, laboratories, and breweries, its durability makes it the glass of choice.
Borosilicate glass with a functional surface can provide a wide range of unique properties in a wide range of applications. Alfa Chemistry offers unique functionalized surface coating services for borosilicate glass substrates. With our extensive and straightforward surface modification methods, you can modify the surface properties of virtually any borosilicate glass-related product. Working with us ensures that you can easily change the surface of your product!
Extensive Surface Modification Technology Options
Alfa Chemistry offers customers a variety of surface coating technologies for glass or ceramics that can functionalize the surface of borosilicate glass to give it a variety of unique surface properties. Our surface modification technology options include, but are not limited to, the following. Please contact us for more technical information.
- Surface Waterproof Coating Technology - We can add hydrophobic and oleophobic qualities to the surface of borosilicate glass substrates, making them highly water and oil resistant and effectively impenetrable to all liquids.
- Hydrophilic Coating Technology - By functionalizing the surface of borosilicate glass, we can make it very hydrophilic, attracting water and allowing it to easily wick through it.
- Adhesion Promotion Coating Technology - We can improve the surface adhesion properties of borosilicate glass by functionalizing its surface.
- Lubricant Coating Technology - We can functionalize the surface of borosilicate glass with lubrication to improve its surface friction properties.
Chemically stable, optically transparent, and very durable, these nanoscale coatings can be created.
Learn more about our hydrophobic and oleophobic coatings.
Learn more about our hydrophilic coatings.
Alfa Chemistry Coating Solution Cases
Case 1: Ni-YSZ nanocomposite coating
For processing Highly Dischargeable Nuclear Waste (HLW) from nuclear power plants, the vitrification process is the most efficient and widely utilized approach. The vitrification furnace's main components are built of Inconel 690, a nickel-based high-temperature alloy. Premature furnace failure causes secondary precipitation, particularly at grain boundaries, allowing chromium to migrate from the alloy into the glass melt, lowering Inconel 690's corrosion resistance, particularly in acidic conditions such as strong nitric acid. As a result, because small amounts of radioactive waste within the borosilicate glass matrix layer can stick to Inconel 690, failing Inconel 690 components become a big issue.
Fig 1. Compositionally graded Ni-YSZ nanocomposite coating on Inconel 690 substrate. (Dharini T, et al. 2022)
To overcome this problem, Alfa Chemistry applied a potential diffusion-blocking coating to the inner walls of the vitrified components to reduce the exchange of chemical elements between the Inconel and the borosilicate glass melt. We investigated the use of an electron beam physical vapor deposition method to develop a novel composition gradient Ni-YSZ diffusion barrier coating to mitigate the problems associated with interdiffusion and elemental exchange in the alloy-borosilicate melt without the addition of any nuclei.
Why Choose Alfa Chemistry?
- We are experienced with custom glass or ceramics surface coatings.
- Our custom coated products are thin and green safe.
- Our coating solutions can be customized to the specific requirements of your product.
Reference
- Dharini T, et al. (2022). "Inter-Diffusion Effects and Tribological Behaviour of Electron Beam Evaporated Ni-YSZ Nanocomposite Coatings Subjected to Diffusion Annealing with Borosilicate Glass for Nuclear Applications." Ceramics International. Available online.
