Alfa Chemistry has a variety of surface coating technologies that can functionalize various types of powders and particles to change performance. Alfa Chemistry's industry-recognized particle modification coating technology improves the performance of almost any particle or powder through easy-to-apply functional nano-coating, which improves particle behavior, eliminates aggregation, and optimizes crosslinking. In addition, these coatings are ultra-thin (nanoscale) and very easy to apply and process. Together we can improve the performance of your special granular and powder products!
Would Your Powder or Particle Benefit from A Nanocoating?
Alfa Chemistry particle coating technology can be used to solve various problems. The following examples show that the use of specialized nano-coatings to modify the surface of powders or particles will help improve product quality. See how we can help!
- Desire to modify porous network surface behavior
- Particles used in polymer applications lack the required level of crosslinking
- The wettability of the particles or powder is too high, hope to reduce the wettability
- The wettability of the particles or powder is too low, hope to increase the wettability
- Functional problems caused by agglomeration or aggregation of particles in mixtures and formulations
Fig 1. Surface modification of silica particles by dry coating. (Ouabbas Y, et al. 2007)
Particle Treatment Substrate Compatibility
We have a variety of coating technologies available to us, which means we can treat almost any surface or substrate. The type of substrate will affect the nano-coating technology options. Generally speaking, due to the presence of surface oxide layers, we have found that metal, ceramic, glass, and semiconductor coatings have the highest probability of success. If you do not see your particular substrate listed, it's still a good bet we can treat it. Contact us to discuss your situation.
Metals: Stainless Steel, Tin, Aluminum, Copper, Nickel, Titanium, Gold, Platinum, Palladium, Chromium, Tungsten, Silver, Zinc, Titanium, Tantalum, Indium
Polymers: Nylon, Polyimides, ABS, Kevlar, Polycarbonate, Bismaleimide Triazine, Aramid, Oxide-Reinforced Polymers, FR4, Polyamides, Polysiloxanes, SU8, Polyesters
Semiconductors: Silica, Aluminum Nitride, Silica, Gallium Arsenide, Germanium, Titania (Titanium Dioxide), Cadmium Sulfide, Yttria
Particle Modification Performance
Our particle coating technology can functionalize the behavior of particles, thereby completely changing the behavior. Nanocoating options for particles and powders include hydrophobic, oleophobic, or hydrophilic functions. These coatings and treatments are mainly nano-scale, with a thickness as thin as 2-4 nanometers, so that your material remains visually unchanged. The self-assembly process ensures a uniform and uniform coating every time!
Our core surface coating technology is based on SAMP or "self-assembled phosphonate monolayer", which can impart various surface behaviors on oxide-containing substrates. Other options in our nanocoating technology suite for changing surface behavior include organometallic, transition metal complex, traditional polymer coating, and surface growth polymer coating options.
Particle Coating Durability
The Alfa Chemistry nanocoating option is chemically stable and can withstand most environmental or exposure conditions. These coatings and treatments are thermally stable (200° - 300°C) in ambient air. Stable treatment can be used in most organic and aqueous process solvents. Our particle-modified nanocoating is durable and scalable, suitable for high-volume commercial applications.
Reference
- Ouabbas Y, et al. (2007). "Surface modification of silica particles by dry coating: Characterization and powder ageing." Powder Technology. 190 (1-2): 200-209.
