Applications

Three case studies will be conducted to validate the durability of the water and oil-repellent properties of coatings. The coatings will be tested for textile, food, and cosmetic packaging where current PFAS-free alternatives do not meet the necessary repellence and durability standards. However, these three case studies are not the only areas where their application is relevant.

Textile

The precursor-synthesized sol-gels and functional chemicals will be applied to textile fabrics by padding. Padding involves dipping the fabrics into the liquid formulation. The excess is squeezed out, and the fabric is cured by either an oven or UV process. The pad-coating process is affected by the type of textile, speed of the substrate, formulation’s surface tension and viscosity, dry content, and pressure and speed of the roll coater.

Food packaging

BIO-SUSHY coatings on cellulosic fibre mat for food trays will be developed. Cured thermoplastic powder or hybrid sol-gel coating will be applied either by spray or powder deposition on cellulosic fibre mat for food trays. The mat is then molded into a 3D shape (e.g., food tray) using a “dry molded fiber method” instead of the traditional “wet pulp” method.

Glass for cosmetics

Another validation market will include the glass container for cosmetic applications, where a special coating will be applied on the inner surface of glass containers used for cosmetics.
The purpose of this coating is to ensure the highest quality of the product and complete protection of its contents, which ultimately leads to a longer shelf life. The coating technology will be a hybrid solution, applied with a specially designed long nozzle and small spray head, followed by a post-curing process. A glass-like sol-gel technology will be used for this coating, which will provide the added benefits of mechanical durability and low adhesion of fluids. Moreover, it will not only extend the life of the product but also enables the container to be easily reused, even after the cosmetics have been used up, reducing waste and promote environmental responsibility.