CTC innovates in developing organic coatings with high water repellency and durability

The CTC Technology Centre is working on a research project to develop organic coatings with high water repellency and durability based on nanotechnology.

Superhydrophobic surfaces have arisen great interest to the scientific and industrial community in recent years. These solutions have a wide range of applications, such as self-cleaning –the repellency of the droplet on the surface causes it to carry away the dirt as it moves–, anti-corrosion, reducing biofouling, anti-microbial effect, water vapour barrier effect or slipperiness for viscous liquids. Superhydrophobic surfaces, therefore, offer a broad technological spectrum of applications.

Within this field, the CTC is carrying out a research project to innovate in developing highly durable superhydrophobic coatings, properties that will be acquired with nanotechnology. This solution will optimise the usability of coatings by improving their performance and increasing their service life.

The project also aims to reduce the environmental impact of this type of coating by minimising the content of nanotechnological fillers. In addition, CTC’s solution will have a low production and maintenance cost, which will allow companies to optimise costs and time, plus a simplified and simple application method.

The project is part of the Ministry of Science and Innovation’s Torres Quevedo 2020 – 2023 grant for contracts, awarded to Dr Lucía Pérez Gandarillas, Project Manager of CTC’s Advanced Materials and Nanomaterials area. This is a three-year aid programme aimed at employing PhDs who carry out industrial research projects, experimental development projects or preliminary feasibility studies to promote researchers’ professional careers.

In turn, the initiative is in line with CTC’s strategic line of specialisation, which faces the challenge of developing and characterising coatings that perform better and more effectively against the adverse effects of environmental factors.