Technology Description

One of the innovative processes developed by NanoMech for applying nanostructured coatings is electrostatic spray coating (ESC). Application of a coating using ESC involves physical spray of nanoparticulates and/or microparticulates, in powder or in suspension form, under the influence of an electric field to allow them to assemble in a desired form and thickness. As ESC is widely used in the paint industry, the desired ESC hardware is readily available and can be implemented easily. The application of ESC using various types of nano- and micro-sized particles such as ceramics, metals, polymers, and their composites, to machining and manufacturing, biomedicine, and other related applications was untapped until the work of NanoMech's Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Ajay Malshe, and his colleagues at the University of Arkansas' Materials and Manufacturing Research Laboratories. They have achieved excellent results in depositing sub-micron to tens of microns thick coatings on a variety of substrates by use of ESC. The figure below illustrates the ESC setup.

The ESC process can create particulate layers of single-phase or multi-phase material with properties suitable for specific functions (abrasive, lubricating, anti-corrosion, optical, electrical, thermal, etc.). A number of different coating binders can be applied using chemical vapor infiltration, laser binding, microwave sintering, or other means, again based on the needs of the application.

In summary, we think of nanoparticles in terms of the function they need to perform for a given application. We then structure a coating in which the nanoparticles are selected, functionalized, and assembled to achieve the specific properties needed. We can then apply the coating to whatever object or surface is of interest. Basically, if you can make it, we can coat it, including complex geometries, 2D and 3D shapes, and a wide spectrum of substrate materials. Our processes allow us to produce coatings very cost effectively, to cover large or small areas, and to do it quickly for high throughput.