Material sciences frequently appear very technical. Learning the chemistry and physics that is used to understand a specific material is often perceived as both confusing and boring.
Part of the confusion stems from the fact that each science usually has its own vocabulary. Understanding the principles of a science can be like learning the language and customs of a foreign people. At first it is intimidating and difficult. But once you learn the basics you quickly begin to feel the excitement of putting these newly learned "language" skills to use as you explore a new world.
The following description of interfacial phenomena - what happens at the surfaces of materials - is meant to remove the mystique that surrounds coating materials and their mechanisms of action. First, some insight into the "language" of chemistry, physics and interfacial phenomena.
The physical and chemical "appearance" of the surface of a material is what determines how the material interacts with its surrounding environment. Surface topography (roughness) and surface chemistry control whether a material appears sticky or slippery, whether it acts a good mold release agent or acts as a good adhesive glue.
Again, think of chemistry and physics as a foreign language with its own vocabulary and grammar. It is easiest to learn the essentials of this and any language if you Keep It Simple.
The letters of the chemical alphabet are the Elements of the Periodic Table. These elements are the backbone of the vocabulary of chemistry. Each element has its own individual name, letter designation and number designation.
We can combine these elements, or letters, in a very specific sequence, and make different and unique chemical compounds or molecules - "nouns" in the language of chemistry.
A compound is a specific combination or union of chemical elements.
A molecule is the smallest particle of a chemical element or compound that is capable of maintaining its own chemical identity. A single atom may be a molecule and a very large compound may be a molecule. These are the same as long and short words in the language of chemistry.
These chemical "nouns", or compounds, can be combined together with a physical action "verb", such as adding heat or a catalyst and mixing. Chemical formulae are "sentences" composed of chemical compounds, "nouns", and physical actions, "or verbs". This is a rather simple but effective analysis. In chemistry, as with all languages, one can make sentences that will grow into essays and poetry.
Physics may be described as the series of rules that dictate how the letters and words of the chemical alphabet may combine and interact - like the laws of grammar that govern a language . Physics is the set of rules that determine how to assemble chemical "letters" into words and the order of the words in a chemical sentence.
As in any language, changing the order of the letters in a word will dramatically change the meaning of the word. Altering the arrangement of the chemical elements will make a different molecule or compound. The meaning of the altered word is completely different. The same is true of chemical molecules or compounds.
Polymers are composed of repeating molecules, like sequences of "letters" repeating themselves over and over again. These repeating molecules tend to form long chains that get tangled together.
"Polymer" is a popular buzz word today. However, polymers are quite common and are not new. Most chemicals beginning with "poly" are polymers, including polyolefins (waxes), polyacrylates (acrylics), polysulfides, polyvinylchlorides (PVC), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE or Teflon), and polyurethanes. All of these polymers are composed of repeating molecules.
Polymerization is the process of joining together the component molecules of the polymer. In the rubber industry, polymerization is known as "vulcanization". In the fiberglass industry, polymerization is referred to as the "cure".
Polymers are chains of repeating molecules and can be compared to tangled pieces of thread. The "threads" of the polymer are the long chains of repeating molecules.
A polymer may be provided in a variety of viscosities, such as an oil (liquid), a gum (thixotropic gel) and a rubber (solid). An oil is made of of short loosely-tangled pieces of "thread", a rubber is made up of long tightly-knotted tangles of "thread".
The tangling of the "threads" of a polymer is called cross- linking and the process of tangling is called polymerization. Cross-linking and polymerization are what happens when portions of the polymer chains interact with each other.
A "fully polymerized" polymer usually may not be dissolved with a solvent, the tangled knots can't be untied. When you break the polymer down into its individual component molecules (words) or elements (letters), you lose the road-map or guide to the organization of the component parts, making it difficult to know how to put the components back together into the polymer.
The elements (letters) that make up a polymer and the way these elements bond (join) together determine the different characteristics and properties of a polymer. Some polymers have tight rigid bonds with highly organized chains, like polymethacrylates (acrylics) which are hard but brittle. Other polymers have loose and flexible bonds, like silicone rubber which is resilient and elastic.
The rules of chemistry and physics are easier to understand if one realizes that, no matter what system you are looking at, the rules that govern these systems are the same; they are merely being applied in different magnitudes. No matter how big or small the system you are dealing with, they are all governed by the same rules of chemistry and physics. As an example, the electrons orbiting around the nucleus of an atom are governed by the same principles as the planets orbiting the sun in our solar system. The difference is their size.
Mechanisms of adhesion are all also governed by similar principles - whether you are referring to dental plaque sticking to teeth, barnacles sticking to boat hulls, fiberglass parts sticking in a mold or graffiti painted on a wall. The significant differences are the specific agents involved and the magnitudes involved - what kinds of materials are sticking together with what glue and the size of the parts that are sticking together.
Chemical adhesion is when two adjacent materials chemically interact with each other. This may be compared to letters in one word interacting with or being used as parts of another adjacent word, such as words in a cross-word puzzle or the game of Scrabble. Some letters are used frequently to make words while other letters do not fit easily into words, like the many words using the letter "s" and the few words with the letter "z". Some of the chemical elements and molecules interact readily with other elements, some elements and molecules do not react readily.
True chemical adhesion does not occur often. In fact, most glues that are available today do not chemically bond with a surface.
Most adhesives act as luting agents, covering the opposing surfaces and making them "fit" together intimately. The more intimate the fit, the better the mechanical retention. Consider a rubber pad on a wet counter top. The water is providing the intimate fit, "wetting" both surfaces. Because of the hydrostatic seal that forms, it is nearly impossible to lift the pad off the counter.
Glues also make things stick together by "locking" into mechanical undercuts on the surfaces of the parts, filling in and hardening in the pits and valleys in the finish of the surface. This mechanical retention is simply one material getting physically "hooked on to" another material.
Considering these factors, we can see why three basic components of adhesive systems are:
Adhesion of a coating to the substrate is critical to its performance. How well is the coating bonded to the substrate? How quickly will the coating wear? Will it crack or de-laminate (break away) from the underlying material? Does the coating easily wet a surface or does it "fish-eye, resisting complete coverage and making application difficult?
How materials adhere to the finished coating and how the environment interacts with the coating also effect its life- expectancy and the maintenance requirements of the finish.
Coatings are usually liquids that solidify when exposed to air, when exposed to temperature changes, or when catalyzed by addition of another chemical agent. These liquids contain a binder which holds the other components of the liquid together.
An essential ingredient is the carrier, which is usually incorporated to assure complete wetting and total coverage of the surface. The carrier is usually a liquid solvent (may be either petroleum distillate or water) which evaporates soon after the coating has been applied. Gaseous carriers may also be used. Sometimes additional chemical "wetting agents" are also added to facilitate total coverage of materials that tend to be non- wetting. Some coating systems may go through a polymerization, or curing, where a chemical reaction occurs between the components which results in their coalescing into a solid from their previous liquid state. The carrier should always evaporate completely or become an integral part of the solid as the coating cures.
Because inert materials are non-reactive, they are difficult to "dissolve" in liquid or gaseous carriers. Usually, organic solvents and petroleum distillates are used as their carriers. Recent progress in emulsion chemistry has produced new "water- based" coatings. However, these emulsions usually contain other additives (emulsifiers and surfactants) used to make the inert and/or hydrophobic active ingredient miscible with water. These other agents alter the chemistry of the solution and can compromise the integrity and performance of the active ingredient.
Coatings are used to cover surfaces for decorative and protective purposes. Therefore, coatings usually contain a pigment, opaque material that absorbs light and or heat, or a reflective material to reflect light or heat. Usually, pigments are inorganic (containing no carbon atoms; not derived from living organisms) oxides . White pigments include metal oxides such as titanium dioxide (TiO2), antimony oxide (Sb2O3) and zinc oxide (ZnO). Other white pigments used include zinc sulfide (ZnS), barium sulfate (BaSO4) and white lead (the hydroxycarbonate, hydroxysulfate, hydroxyphosphite, or hydroxysilicate of lead). Typical colored pigments include inorganic oxides such as iron oxide (Fe2O3) for yellow, red or brown; chromium oxide (Cr2O3) for green; and lead oxide (Pb3O4) for red. The chromates of lead, zinc, strontium and nickel produce various shades of yellow and orange. A variety of organic (carbon-containing) solids are used for colors ranging from yellow to red to blue to violet.
Coatings also contain other fillers, which are used to add bulk and alter consistency. Other additives may include agents with a specific function, such as anti-oxidants used to prevent premature degradation of certain metals.
The physical and chemical properties of a surface determine how that surface interacts with its surrounding environment. By altering the chemical "appearance" of a surface we can change the reactivity and other properties of the surface. This may be compared to applying cosmetic make-up to change one's facial appearance.
Reactive surfaces tend to interact with other materials. The more stable and chemically inert a surface, the less it interacts with the environment.
The chemical reactivity of a material is related to its surface energy which is measured in units of energy per units of area (such as dynes/cm2). Materials with a low surface energy tend to be non-reactive. Materials with a high surface energy have active molecules at their surfaces that are anxious to interact with other molecules.
The contact angle measurement is the angle a fluid makes as it contacts a surface - the "height" or angle of the bead of the fluid as it contacts the surface. The contact angle of a material to water and other fluids is an excellent indication of the reactivity of the surface of the material.
Reactive surfaces interact with water and readily wet or sheet with water, having a low contact angle to water. Non- reactive surfaces do not react with water, wet poorly, and have a high contact angle.
Reactive surfaces are "hydrophillic" (water-loving) and non- reactive materials are "hydrophobic" (water-hating). A well- wetted surface will have good adhesion characteristics. A poorly-wetted surface will have poor adhesion characteristics. Reactive surfaces sheet with water, non-reactive surfaces shed water.
A simple field test of this phenomena is to put a small amount of water on a surface. A high water bead indicates a relatively non-reactive surface, sheeting indicates a reactive surface.
Some materials are not reactive with water but may be reactive with other fluids. This is why some release agents may have a high contact angle to water but will still wet well with another fluid, such as styrene monomer, acetone, or MEK.
Non-reactive materials also tend to have a low coefficient of friction, making them feel slippery when compared to more reactive materials. A reactive surface "grabs hold" of molecules passing over it because of its desire to react. A non-reactive surface does not attract other molecules to itself. Consider a reactive surface like a velcro ball rolling on a velcro carpet. A non-reactive surface would be similar to a highly polished ball sliding on smooth ice.
All materials expand and contract at different rates when exposed to changing temperatures. If a coating expands and contracts at a different rate than the substrate, the coating will de-laminate (pull away and separate from) the substrate. If the coating is rigid, it will also tend to crack with temperature changes and or movement (flexing, bending or other distortion) of the substrate.
This phenomenon is useful in separating parts that get "stuck" in a mold. Dramatic changes in temperatures of the materials, such as heating and cooling a part in a mold, will cause all the components to expand and contract at different rates and in different amounts. This will begin the "tear" between, or the separation of, the part and the mold.
Tears tend to be self-promulgating; once you start a tear, the tear seems to want to continue to separate. This is why parts that seem stuck together will "pop" apart as soon as a tear, or true separation, is initiated. This is why once a coating starts to peel, the remaining coating will soon fail. Tears can also easily be initiated by other methods of developing a shear force at the interface, such as physical force.
The non-aesthetic purpose of a protective coating is to stop a surface from interacting with what comes in contact with it. Two distinct philosophies have been followed in developing the technology of surface protection, each a compromise.
Every attempt at developing a non-stick coating has had to address the paradoxical problem that the very qualities and characteristics that makes these materials desirable - their lack of reactivity - also makes them difficult to handle and apply. How does one bond a non-reactive material to a surface? Since it is the reactivity of a material that permits chemical bonding - can an inert material be made to easily react with the surface of a substrate? Most non-stick coatings are poorly bound to the substrate and are susceptible to cracking and de-lamination. They also wear down with exposure.
Slightly reactive materials, such as PTFE (Teflon®), can be bonded to a surface using etching, primers, heating and pressure - all of which are costly, and some of which have limited success. These materials have poor wear-resistance and are prone to migrate, frequently causing unwanted contamination of surrounding materials.
The manufacturers of the raw materials for these inert coatings usually require application of the coating by a trained and licensed specialty applicator. Most performance claims are based upon properly bonded polymers and do not apply to over-the- counter products applied by the end-user. Consider a Teflon® frying pan. The pan is purchased with the coating already applied by a licensed applicator. If the coating is scratched or otherwise compromised, the pan is discarded rather than using the costly and difficult processes that would be required to repair the coating.
Silicones, especially poly(dimethyl siloxane), are the most inert and chemically stable materials known to man. They are so non-reactive that it has not been possible to bond them to a surface. Silicones provide the best release of any material known. Because silicones will not react with most things they are prone to migration. They will not stick, so they move about. This migration poses several practical handling problems.
When I started studying surface chemistry, a professor took me into a conference room and put a drop of silicone oil on a tabletop. He then asked me what I thought would happen to the drop of oil. I was surprised to find that by the next day the silicone had migrated and coated virtually every surface in the room.
During World War II, silicones were developed as lubricants and insulators for submarines and high-altitude aircraft because of their ability to withstand extremes in temperature and pressure in a variety of environments. Silicone rubber is still the most inert and chemically stable material known to man.
Since silicone could not be made to chemically react or otherwise bond with a surface, sheets of silicone would be made and these sheets would be stapled or otherwise physically attached to the surface. The sheets of silicone had poor tear strength and wearability and this process is usually not considered practical or cost-effective. Recent efforts attempt to "bond" silicones to another base layer of coating material such as an epoxy. These materials also have poor wear strength, are extremely technique sensitive and require a multi-step (five+) application.
The ability to make silicones is based on the fact that Carbon (C) atoms can be replaced with Silicon (Si). This combines the families of organic and inorganic chemicals. It is possible to combine the inertness of a quartz (silicon oxides) with the softness of rubber and oil.
The repeating unit in silicone polymers is a siloxane: R Si O R
Differences in silicones relate to:
Silicones fall into the following groups, differentiated by the organic radicals attached to the silicon: methyl groups, methylvinyl groups, phenyldimethyl groups, and fluorodimethyl groups.
A particular silicone polymer may be in various physical states. The physical state is usually determined by the length of the polymer chains and the degree of cross-linking between these chains. A fluid (silicone oil) has short polymer chains with limited cross-linking between chains (short loosely tangled threads). Gums have longer polymer chains and a greater degree of cross-linking (longer and more tightly knotted chains). Rubbers have long chains that are highly organized and cross- linked. This is similar to H2O, where we may have ice (a solid); water (a liquid) and steam (a gas). The KISS-COTE® Self-Bonding Polymers described below are a new family of silicones that are composed of stable intermediaries between gums and rubbers, which may be compared to snow or Jello® in the above example of the various physical states of H2O.
One may use several different pre-cursor to come up with the same end-product. When baking a cake you may use your own recipe with or without oil, eggs and sweeteners, or you may use a cake mix. The end-product is still a cake. The same is true of silicones. With the different silicone pre-cursors, the significant difference is the catalyst that is used to initiate the polymerization process.
Silicone caulks are made of triacetoxysiloxanes which cure when exposed to moisture. They polymerize from a thick gum into a rubber, giving off acetic acid as a by-product. It is the acetic acid that gives these material their smell of vinegar. Because the acetic acid is usually given off as a gas, these finished polymers tend to be very porous, like a sponge. It is within these pores where mold and mildew grow.
Silicone rubber may also be made from a two component liquid system where a heavy metal salt (platinum or tin) is added to initiate the cure. These pre-cursors are oils or gums. The polymerization of both of these types of silicone may be accelerated with heat, but heat is not essential. Therefore they are known as room temperature vulcanizing silicones (RTV).
There are also heat temperature vulcanizing (HTV) silicones which are usually thick and doughy. The material is catalyzed with a peroxide and the polymerization is initiated when exposed to heat.
All conventional silicones are very technique sensitive, being especially sensitive to contaminants interfering with the polymerization process. Their application is also very difficult since they do not bond to a substrate.
Silicones are the most inert and chemically stable synthetic yet to be developed. They are so non-reactive that they do not chemically interact with or bond to any other material.
Silicones are also the most accurate impression material available today. Therefore, silicones can and do adapt to any surface they contact.
Silicone adhesives, such as structural sealants, utilize this ability to intimately contour themselves against a substrate, acting as a luting agent. However, there is no chemical bonding and the adhesive is easily removed from a surface as soon as any tear is initiated at the interface. These polymers also have very poor tear strength and durability against wear.
In the past, researchers have attempted to incorporate inert materials like silicone or Teflon® into other coatings as a matrix or binder, hoping that levels of the stable material would aggregate along the surface of the cured coating. Results were disappointing.
Adding silicone or Teflon® to a paint usually turns the material into a "non-paint". The material will not bond to the substrate and quickly peels away. The inert ingredients are also prone to migration. Since they do not react with and stick to a surface, they easily move from place to place. As these materials migrate, they contaminate any surface they may contact. Repairs or re-painting of a surface contaminated with an inert material is nearly impossible. However, marketing the "benefits" of minute amounts of non-stick polymers incorporated into other materials continues to be popular despite the many inherent problems of these blends.
Mixing with other materials such as binders and fillers also diminishes the inert material's beneficial characteristics. If any benefits are gained, the performance of the coating is only enhanced for a short period of time. The binders also introduce other problems. As an example, they are usually rigid and have a different coefficient of thermal expansion than the surface of the substrate. With fluctuations in temperature, the coating expands and contracts at a different rate than the underlying material, causing the coating to crack and de-laminate.
The very characteristics that make inert materials desirable also make them difficult to handle and apply. How does one bond a non-reactive material to a surface? Since it is the reactivity of a material that permits chemical bonding - can an inert material be made to easily react with the surface of a substrate?
The primary objective of our research was to develop a coating that presents a completely inert face to the environment, yet is securely bonded to the substrate it protects. The chosen preferred polymer is poly(dimethyl siloxane), a silicone which is one of the most non-reactive materials known.
The critical step was to develop a catalytic process that makes a part of the polymer chain reactive, so that a secure bond forms between the coating and the substrate. The chosen base polymer, poly(dimethyl siloxane), is resistant to most chemicals, provides a non-stick non-wetting surface, and can only be removed by removing the surface layer of the substrate to which it is bonded.
The manufacture of conventional silicone rubber involves extensive cross-linking between chains of a polymer. As the reaction proceeds, the reactive sites on each chain react other reactive sites, forming a highly cross-linked network of polymer. Silicone rubber is made by letting this cross-linking reaction proceed until all the reactive sites are linked.
Self-bonding non-stick polymers are made using patented technology and are sold under the trade-name of KISS-COTE®. Special inhibitors are added to to the polymer to halt the cross- linking process prematurely and at a pre-selected point. This leaves many highly reactive sites on the polymer chain that are now available for bonding to the substrate. The non-reactive side of the cross-linked chains forms the inert face with the un- reacted sites reacting with the substrate to bond the inert layer to it.
The KISS-COTE® family of materials are a uniquely formulated type of surface treatment that has most of the same properties of the silicone base polymer: temperature, pressure, and chemical resistance and water-repellent capabilities, yet it adheres to surfaces and will not migrate. Because these polymers are elastic and are un-affected by drastic changes in temperature and pressure, they withstand a variety of extremes in physical environments.
These chemical- and corrosion-resistant, water-repellent, gas-permeable inert coatings can be applied to virtually any material to serve any or all of the following purposes:
These new KISS-COTE® self-bonding polymers share most of Teflon®'s desirable performance characteristics, but have few of Teflon's liabilities. Unlike Teflon®, the coatings are easy to apply and require no pre-application treatments or post- application curing. These polymers are non-toxic, non-volatile and environmentally friendly. If the coatings are damaged in use, they can be repaired easily and readily; repair of Teflon® is difficult and costly.
KISS-COTE® polymers are inhibited so that they will not polymerize completely. They are a family of stable intermediaries that do not solidify into a rubber.
Unlike any other inert material, KISS-COTE® polymers readily bond to a substrate without any chemical or physical pre- treatments. Therefore, they do not migrate and transfer to other materials the way Teflonâ and other silicones quickly move from on place to another.
KISS-COTE® polymers are intended to be applied as thin mono- molecular layer films. Other inert materials must be applied in bulk (many molecules thick) that have been combined with various bonding agents. Highly organized thin films of KISS-COTE® have many advantages over bulk coatings. They are lighter and do not require any polymerization. They are merely spread onto a surface. Excess may then easily be removed by wiping with an absorbent cloth, if desired. These materials organize on a surface without any porosities or potential spaces within the polymer network. Therefore they offer no matrix for microbial in-growth.
KISS-COTE® polymers may be applied to virtually any substrate, including other silicones and Teflon® to enhance their performance.
Applied in many different and extreme environments, KISS-COTE® may even be applied underwater, achieving an amazing coverage of 150+ square feet per gram of Concentrated Gel that is 100% pure silicone. The coating offers long-term protection for submerged parts and does not wash off the substrate. The coating is already being used to protect existing underwater structures such as power plant water intakes. This easy application also permits quick re-coating of damaged surfaces without having to relocate to another environment.
The key attributes of KISS-COTE® treatment, at each interface, depend upon surface phenomena. On the one side is the reactive component which bonds to the substrate. On the other side is the inert surface which provides protection. The intermediate material - between the reactive adherent side and the inert surface - has no value and should be minimized. Correctly applied, a KISS-COTE® surface treatment is a mono-molecular layer approximately 120 Angstroms (0.012 micron) thick. When applied in such a thin layer, the KISS-COTE® coating is optically clear and virtually invisible to the naked eye. Because it is so thin and so inert, it is also "invisible to standard microscopic examination. The coating intimately adapts to the surface of the substrate and causes no significant changes in the dimensions or surface topography of the coated product.
But remember, appearances can be deceiving. KISS-COTE® modified poly(dimethyl siloxanes) are very non-reactive and inert, offering amazing and unparalleled protection. They exhibit a well-organized methylated surface layer. Their surface energy is low and coated surfaces are hydrophobic. Unlike PTFE which is hydrophobic but wets well with organic solvents, KISS-COTE® polymers do not wet well with water and also do not wet with most other liquids.
Most conventional lubricants and mold release agents are slippery and separate because of interfacial shear between the molecules of the lubricant or release agent. They don't usually affect the solid surfaces they lubricate.
KISS-COTE® based lubrication and release agents operate on a different concept: the coating changes the properties - including coefficient of friction - of the solid material itself. Coated surfaces require smaller amounts of lubricants and less frequent lubricant changes than un-coated surfaces. Coated surfaces show less wear than un-coated parts.
The reduced friction offered by some inert coatings is helpful in reducing wear. The less friction there is at the surface, the less opposing parts wear. These materials make excellent dry lubricants, such as on track assemblies for doors. These coatings enhance fluid flow, making them ideal for heat exchange units to enhance heat transfer. Because they enhance fluid flow, they are also helpful when packing a mold or blowing a material into a mold, such as in injection molding.
There are three standard physical states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas. Sometimes one wants to prevent a liquid from penetrating a solid, such as rain-water from "leaking" through a concrete curtain wall. However, one may want liquids that become trapped within the structure to be able to evaporate "through" the curtain wall. This will require that the substrate and any coatings on the curtain wall be vapor-permeable (they allow gas vapors to evaporate through them). KISS-COTE® polymers are hydrophobic (very water-repellent) yet completely vapor permeable. This allows materials to be well hydrated while maintaining a dry surface. It also stops the repetitive wet/dry cycle that is so damaging to many materials. Meanwhile, it allows the material (which may be a coated building) to "breathe". Because it remains plastic and withstands wide extremes in temperature and pressure, KISS-COTE® coatings do not de-laminate or crack after repeated heat/freeze cycles. One no longer has to re-coat concrete every year.
Some places KISS-COTE® polymers can be used to solve problems
Potential markets for these versatile coatings span every conceivable manufacturing sector and service industry as the broad product and service categories reflect in this list of applications:
The quality of protection provided by the KISS-COTE® treatment depends upon:
Because KISS-COTE® will be applied to a range of materials for different reasons, at varying stages of the manufacturing process, there is no one typical scenario for the introduction of this technology to the many applicable markets.
The commercial, industrial and residential sectors of the construction industry stand to benefit from KISS-COTE® surface treatment, which provide waterproofing, resistance to corrosion, rust, acids, bases, solvents, detergents and mildew. The non- stick finish resulting from the application of KISS-COTE® make cleaning and routine maintenance easier. Applied to virtually any building material - from glass to wood, from fabrics to metals, masonry, tiles and concrete - the KISS-COTE® adds value and enhances performance.
Coated steel structures resist rust and the harsh effects of concrete by-products. Coated re-bar steel resists corrosive damage by concrete leachates and lasts much longer than many oil- based coatings.
Applied to masonry inside water and waste systems, the coatings protect against water damage and fouling, thereby reducing maintenance costs. KISS-COTE® has already proven useful in power plant water intakes and heat exchange units, and may even be applied underwater. Current and past commercial projects include everything from functioning water intakes at power plants and submerged well heads to fish farm facilities and radomes.
The coatings can be applied to a finished concrete structure and other materials for water-proofing, ease of cleaning, and protection. A treated sidewalk or driveway releases ice more readily than an un-treated counterpart. A favorite benefit of KISS-COTE® is that users are no longer are troubled by mildew on the grout in between the tiles in the bath. Of course, it also prevents mildew and reduces environmental fouling of statues, monuments, and other structures. The effects are equally impressive on asphalt roofing shingles and wood siding.
On interior and exterior structures, these coatings effectively resist graffiti and other forms of intentional or accidental surface defacement. Placed on glass lights and windows, KISS-COTE® minimizes cleaning, especially in hard to reach areas.
Since KISS-COTE® products are formulated to be non-toxic and because treated surfaces are easier to clean, KISS-COTE® is readily marketed as a product which is kind to the environment. Harsh chemicals, in fact no chemicals, are required to clean porcelain fixtures in bathrooms and kitchens. Stains and other contaminates from water-borne minerals are easily wiped clean from a treated fixture.
Because of their ease of application, KISS-COTE® Coatings can be introduced at virtually any point in a material's manufacture or use cycle. In most construction-related applications, the coatings add value in a particular setting, and are easily applied exactly where they are needed. This suggests that early acceptance by the construction industry will continue to be in their use as spot treatments. As confidence in the performance of KISS-COTE® grows with use it will quickly be accepted for complete coating of entire structures and equipment.
Use of the coatings on bulk construction materials will impact on many sectors of the construction industry: KISS-COTE®- treated shingles and roofing materials will not require as frequent maintenance or replacement as their untreated counterparts. Gas-permeable coated bricks seal moisture out of building walls but do not seal water vapor, thus helping to prevent mildew inside walls, reducing the occurrence of "sick building syndrome".
Construction industry demands for the coating will open opportunities for contract coating houses and building material manufacturers. Experienced applicators will also be in demand for in-field treatment of materials on-site.
Maintenance and cleaning service companies, which are responsible for countless millions of square feet of glass, tile, flooring, walls, counter-tops, window blinds, furniture, and public areas - not to mention ceramic and metal fixtures, appliances and equipment - will welcome an inexpensive and efficient way of keeping surfaces clean and making them easier to clean.
A company that is already established in the cleaning and janitorial supplies market would be well positioned to introduce these novel coatings to that market. The major disadvantage of doing so, however, is that the KISS-COTE® line of products would seriously undercut sales of conventional cleaning products. But the coating also offers a new opportunity for providing long-term maintenance contracts without the need for periodic mass rehabilitation ordinarily required because of environmental degradation.
KISS-COTE® is very effective in restoring the color and luster of materials exposed to environmental attack. It is already being used to protect and restore finishes on metal surfaces such as windows, door frames, pre-painted aluminum hand rails and curtain wall metals from oxidation and staining. This is easily accomplished in just a few minutes with a wipe-on, wipe-off form of KISS-COTE polymer.
OEM and aftermarket opportunities are available for applications of KISS-COTE® technology to a wide assortment of consumer goods, including but not limited large and small appliances, fences, decks, pools and hot tubs; computer and electronic equipment; clothing and shoes; eyeglasses; athletic equipment and recreational supplies; agricultural and horticultural tools and equipment. It will also be a valuable protectant for all tools and equipment used in construction and fabrication.
KISS-COTE® Products are all based upon the same core technology and contain the same or similar active KISS-COTE® ingredient. However, specific formulations have been developed for ease of application while being compatible with and non- damaging to the substrate. Some KISS-COTE® products differ because of the carrier they use, the concentration of KISS-COTE® in solution (or dispersion), and the additives and fillers they contain (such as cleaning or polishing agents).
Additional markets are being exploited that effect the construction industry. Among other uses, KISS-COTE® products have been developed to protect skin from chemical attack. Recently introduced under the trade name KISSCARE®, these skin care products act as a "wipe-on glove". Treated hands stay soft even during long exposures to concrete by-products. Meanwhile, clean-up is much easier and does not require washing the skin with solvents or other harsh chemicals.
Copyright 2005, All Rights Reserved, by KISS Polymers LLC.