The object of RAINCOAT (Robust AntisoilINg COATings) project is conducting industrial research to develop easy-to-clean nano-coatings, i.e., ultra-thin, invisible films that prevent soiling adsorption on metal, plastic, mineral and composite surfaces. The coating systems developed within the context of the project exceed the current state-of-the-art. In fact, BFP has already filed 4 international patent applications.
It is an innovative technology, which, through a simple application, makes any surface non-stick to limescale and dirt, while additionally providing strong protection against bacteria and germs. These advantages make it useful and immediately exploitable in a multitude of applications, e.g., from the daily surfaces that we all come into frequent contact with, to architectural structures, means of transport, cultural heritage monuments, electronic devices, etc. More specifically, the above coatings are suitable for:
The proposed technology adopts a revolutionary two-stage approach: In the 1st stage, a gentle smoothing of the surface microroughness profile takes place and at the same time, active centers are created that act as anchor points for the coating. In the 2nd stage, a hybrid antifouling film is developed, which protects the surface and makes it permanently non-stick to dirt and microorganisms.
The coating is completely invisible to the human eye. Unlike common water-repellent coatings, which lose their functionality in a short period of time after exposure to normal conditions, the developed systems maintain their original performance over a wide range of conditions. The results of the research have already been published in international conferences and peer-reviewed scientific journals. The high endurance of the coatings and their facile application render the proposed technology attractive both for the industry, as well as for the end consumer, through do-it-yourself applications. The impact of the project is very important. Its direct results are the reduction of the environmental footprint and the increase of the added value of various products.
SURFACE RESTORATION AND COATING.
1. PROTECTION AGAINST POLLUTION AND DUST. 2. PREVENTION OF DEPOSITS AND LIMESCALE 3. SURFACE SELF-DISINFECTION FROM MICROBES AND VIRUSES. 4. PROTECTION AGAINST ALUMINUM FILIFORM CORROSION. 5. ANTI-FINGERPRINT. 6. ANTI-FOG.
1. Durable Self-Cleaning Coatings for Hard Surfaces, Dr. N.D. Papadopoulos, Dr. P. Vourna and S. Xafakis, Open Access Journal of Biomedical science, 2022, 4(6), 2209.
2.Dr. K. Giannakopoulos, Dr. N.D. Papadopoulos, P. Koutsaftiki, S. Xafakis, Designing a facile preparation mode for the development of transparent and durable anti-soiling coatings with enhanced anti-static properties, EUROMAT 2021: European Congress on Advanced Materials and Processes, Oral Presentation (Dr. K. Giannakopoulos).
3. P. Koutsaftiki, Dr. P. Vourna, S. Xafakis and Dr. N.D. Papadopoulos, Proposing a sustainable methodology for the development of a robust, anti-soiling transparent coating with enhanced antimicrobial properties for smooth, non-absorbent surfaces, Coatings Science International Conference, 2021, Poster presented by P. Koutsaftiki.
4. Dr. N.D Papadopoulos and Dr. P. Vourna, Proposing a sustainable strategy for the fabrication of robust anti-soiling coatings with enhanced antibacterial attributes for non-absorbent substrates, International journal of nanomaterials, nanotechnology and nanomedicine, 2022, 8 (1), pp. 1-4.
5. Dr. N.D. Papadopoulos, S. Xafakis, P.P. Falara and Dr. P. Vourna, A versatile approach towards development of robust transparent antisoiling coatings with antimicrobial activity for various substrates. Athens Conference on Advances in Chemistry, 2022, Presented by Dr. N.D. Papadopoulos.
6. Dr. N.D. Papadopoulos, P.P. Falara and Dr. P. Vourna, A versatile approach towards development of easy-to-clean transparent nanocoating systems with pronounced anti-static properties for various substrates, AIMS Materials Science, 2023, 10 (1), pp. 139-163.
Co-financed by the European Union and Greek national funds, through the Operational Program Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, under the call "RESEARCH - CREATE - INNOVATE" (Project code: T1EDK-04949).
BFP Advanced Technologies, a company specializing in specialty materials and functional coatings is the sole coordinator of the project.
Founded in 2013 and located in Athens, Greece, the company has won many awards and distinctions. It has patented a highly diversified portfolio of advanced materials and hydrophobic coatings for glass substrates. BFP produces the market leader NanoSkinTM, AutoSkinTM, MarineCoatTM and SolarSkinTM coating series.
