Research project P2/04 (Research action P2)
Context
Metals are often coated with organic films (paints, adhesives, etc.) for various applications in packaging, transport, construction, amongst others. Compatibility between the organic medium and the metal substrate covered by its native oxide is crucial and required for durable properties.
Project description
Objectives
The objective of the project is to gain better fundamental understanding of the compatibility and the interactions between inherently very different material phases at their connecting interfaces, that will lead to better understanding of their combined properties. Through the control of materials at the nanometer scale, new innovative structures can be tailored with an improvement of specific or multi-functional properties, such as optical, adhesion, barrier and corrosion properties.
Methodology
The considered components are a metallic substrate, a metal oxide phase and an organic layer. There are 3 systems that will be considered. System 1, an organic layer on top of a metal substrate covered by its native oxide, is the reference system, which represents mostly the current status. In system 2 the native oxide is replaced by a very thin metal oxide, tailored to modify specifically the interfacial properties. In system 3, the metal oxide phase is present as nanosize particles embedded in an organic matrix. Deposition is done either by wet or plasma deposition.
The research approach consists of three main steps: comparison of film deposition methods, system characterization and property analysis.
Interaction between the different partners
In the project, collaboration is set-up between 3 academics partners (VUB, ULB, FUNDP) and a coating centre (CoRI), each bringing in their specific expertise and complementary competences:
VUB : interfacial chemistry, organic film formation, surface analysis, corrosion and optical properties, etc.
ULB : atmospheric plasma deposition, surface analysis, etc.
FUDNP : vacuum plasma deposition, interfacial chemistry, (in situ) surface analysis, etc.
CoRI : applied research on coating, surface analysis.
This collaboration will lead to research valorisation (innovating deposition methods, innovating properties, new knowledge and understanding for future research) and to industrial valorisation (coating development; support and link for industry).
Results
Expected results and/or products
• Understanding how the deposition method influences the interface between the metal oxide and organic species, and how it is reflected in the film formation characteristics.
• Understanding the type of interfacial bonding between the metal oxide and the organic molecule, and how to manipulate the distribution/coverage of these bonds.
• Understanding how the metal oxide and organic components need to interact to create multi-functional properties.
Contribution of the project in a context of support to innovation and transfer of knowledge
All information on these multi-phase systems is relevant for the industry. The fundamental approach will be directly applied to the industrial practice through the dedicated project structure where the knowledge transfer between the academia and the coating centre is a central pillar that will result in better product understanding and improvement. This project will contribute to the currently limited state of the art on the mixed nano-oxide/organic systems.
Partners
Activities
VUB: surface engineering, modification and quantitative characterisation of materials’ surfaces and interfaces
ULB: interactions between plasmas and surfaces, with an emphasis on the functionalization of polymer surfaces, deposition of coatings, and surface treatment of metals
FUNDP: physical chemistry of solid materials surfaces and interfaces, through development of interfacial materials and their characterization
CoRI: organic coating applications and property characterization
Contact Information
Coordinator
Herman Terryn
Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
Vakgroep Materialen en chemie (MACH, META)
Pleinlaan 2
B-1050 Brussels
Tel:+32 (0)2 629 35 34
Fax:+32 (0)2 629 32 00
hterryn@vub.ac.be
Promoters
Jean-Jacques Pireaux
Facultés Universitaires Notre-Dame de la Paix (FUNDP)
Laboratoire de Spectroscopie Electronique (LISE)
Rue de Bruxelles 61
B-5000 Namur
Tel:+32 (0)8172 46 06
Fax:+32 (0)8172 45 95
jean-jacques.pireaux@fundp.ac.be
François Reniers
Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB)
Analytical and Interfacial Chemistry (CHANI)
Avenue Franklin Roosevelt 50
B-1050 Brussels
Tel:+32 (0)2 650 31 16
Fax:+32 (0)2 650 29 34
freniers@ulb.ac.be
Marcel Piens
Coatings Research Institute (CoRI)
Avenue Pierre Holoffe 21
B-1342 Limelette
Tel:+32 (0)2 653 09 86
Fax:+32 (0)2 653 95 03
piens.m@cori-coatings.be
Follow-up Committee
Target users are from the metal producing and processing industry, and organic systems suppliers.
Davy Goossens - Bekaert Technology Center
Els Verboom - Aleris Aluminium
Stijn Put - R&D Umicore
Franz Horzenberger - OCAS-Arcelor Zelzate
Eric Silberberg - Arcelor Research Industry Liège
Bart Van Der Linden - Coil
Peter Schubach - Chemetall GmbH
François De Prins - Akzo Nobel Decorative Coatings
Philippe Pigeolet - SIGMAKALON
Lieve De Doncker - IWT
Jean Scoyer - UMICORE
Functional properties by mixed nano organic/metal oxide systems (FOMOS) : final report
Brussels : Federal Science Policy, 2010 (SP2230)
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