Tools & Methods
Coating development methodology
The goal is to create three new coatings using two technologies, to replace PFAS with equal water and oil-repelling abilities.
Thermoplastic powder coatings
- The methodology for developing the thermoplastic powder formulations will involve screening and combining ingredients in powder form to create different coatings using a melt-mixing process. The final product will be applied to food tray applications using electrostatic powder spraying. It will have a high biobased content for easier end-of-life management with a focus on compostability and recycling for end-of-life management.
Hybrid coatings from sol-gel technology
- The hybrid coatings from sol-gel technology will be developed by evaluating functionalized organic moieties and biobased particles to improve adhesion on fibres and by demonstrating the efficacy of the new formulations at pilot scale with a focus on textile recycling. Also, the hybrid coating will be created by mixing sol-gel precursors, anti-soil additives, and particles with a solvent composed of alcohol and water. It will use biobased linkers to enhance water repellence and improve oil repellence through controlled curing and self-structuration.
SSbD methodology
Within BIO-SUSHY, a framework for designing safe and sustainable novel coatings will be established. The focus will be on assessing product safety and sustainability during the design phase of product development rather than after the product is already on the market. The framework includes criteria for Safe by Material design (SbMD) and Safe by Process design (SbPD) and will be demonstrated with end-users in the textile, food tray, and cosmetic container industries. These criteria will consider the properties of the materials and potential emission and release of inhaled particles during processing, as well as factors such as ecosystem impacts, climate impact, and recyclability. The framework will follow a system of criteria approach to assess the safety and sustainability performance of the novel coatings throughout their life cycle.
Computational modelling methodology
The project will use advanced functionalization to ensure bio-based additives are added to the coatings formulations and will use physics-based and data-driven modelling tools to predict both the repellent properties of coating surfaces and the leaching mechanisms of composites.
Along with experimental measurements, the modelling activity will serve as a larger computational tool, including all data collection and curation in a harmonized and annotated infrastructure for training and provision towards existing data repositories and marketplaces.
