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NEI Coating Product Update

NANOMYTE® TC-4001-UVP Offers Protection Against Damage by UV-C Radiation Used to Disinfect Coronavirus

May 6, 2020

Somerset, NJ (USA) – NEI Corporation announced today that its newly developed NANOMYTE® TC-4001-UVP product has been shown to offer protection against damage from short-wavelength ultraviolet radiation. Ultraviolet radiation in the 100nm – 280nm wavelength range, also referred to as UV-C, is increasingly being considered as a means for disinfecting surfaces that large numbers of people are likely to come in contact with, such as parts of transit systems, theme parks, cinema theaters, public restrooms, airports, and other areas of high traffic. The COVID-19 virus has made frequent cleaning of surfaces a top priority for maintenance managers of high traffic areas. However, UV radiation causes significant damage to painted surfaces by creating free radicals that then cause polymer degradation. The NANOMYTE® coating offers protection for surfaces exposed to UV-C radiation.

TC-4001-UVP Spectroscopic Graph

NANOMYTE® TC-4001-UVP Spectroscopic Measurements

NANOMYTE® TC-4001-UVP shows remarkable ability to block UV-C, as evidenced by spectroscopic measurements shown in the adjacent figure. All radiation below 350nm is blocked completely by a film that is only 1/5 mil (5 microns) thick. The transparent coating is a single component formulation designed to protect metals and other surfaces from degrading, preserving their structural integrity and appearance. The hard, dense, and smooth coating is a composite consisting of organic and inorganic phases. It resists scratching and chipping and adheres strongly to bare, pretreated, or painted metal surfaces. A variety of other surfaces may be coated as well, such as plastics and composites. The coating is easily applied by immersion, spraying or brushing, in thicknesses ranging from microns to mils, and is available in glossy or matte finishes.

NEI’s extensive line of functional coatings, which includes NANOMYTE® TC-4001-UVP, is already in commercial use in many industrial, aerospace, consumer goods, wireless communication, and other sectors.

1000 Hours Constant UV Exposure: Polycarbonate in QUV Chamber with UVA 340 Lamps @ 0.9 W/m2

The company’s approach has been to be open and receptive to new applications brought to it by its customers. A typical interaction begins by applying the coating on the customer’s parts for evaluation. Parts are either coated at NEI’s applications laboratory or the customer procures a sample quantity of liquid coating for in-house application. The implementation process then moves through pilot scale tests and eventual qualification. NEI’s engineers support the development and qualification efforts of its customers every step of the way, including drawing up technical specifications and engaging with third party coating applicators, if necessary.

Additional Information: NANOMYTE® TC-4001-UVP Technical Data Sheet (TDS) | Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

View / Download Press Release (pdf) ↓

About NEI Corporation:

NEI is an application-driven company that utilizes materials science & chemistry to develop and produce Advanced Materials. NEI offers an array of Functional Coatings for metal and polymer surfaces. The coatings have tailored functionalities, such as Easy-to-Clean, Anti-Ice, Self-Healing, Corrosion resistant, Anti-Fog, and Abrasion Resistant.

For more information, give us a call or email us.

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NEI’s UV-Protect Technology featured in Coatings World Magazine

September 2018

NEI has introduced UV-Protect (UVP) technology to formulate enhanced versions of its popular NANOMYTE® coating products, which offer unique functionalities in coatings with unparalleled durability. The NANOMYTE® line of protective coatings and surface treatments provide tailored functionalities, such as hydrophobicity, superhydrophobicity, oleophobicity, superoleophobicity, self-healing, fog resistance, self-cleaning (or easy-to-clean), scratch resistance, anti-corrosion, and anti-icing. They have found wide applicability in the industrial and automotive markets for their versatility and ability to be applied to a variety of surfaces – including glass, plastic, fiber-composite, metal, and ceramic. UVP technology imparts enhanced protection from the effects of sun and weather exposure to maintain the unique properties of their coating products when subjected to long-term outdoor exposure.

The newly-introduced product lineup consists of:

Read the Complete Article:

https://www.coatingsworld.com/issues/2018-09-01/view_breaking-news/nei-introduces-uv-protect-coating-technology

About NEI Corporation:

NEI Corporation is an application-driven company that utilizes nanotechnology to develop and produce advanced materials. The company’s core competencies are in synthesizing nanoscale materials and prototyping products that incorporate advanced materials. NEI offers an array of Advanced Protective Coatings for metal and polymer surfaces, with tailored functionalities such as anti-corrosion, self-healing, scratch resistance, ice-phobic, and self-cleaning.

For more information, give us a call or email us.

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NEI Corporation introduces UV-Protect Technology to NANOMYTE® Coating Line

March 7, 2018

Somerset, New Jersey (USA) – NEI Corporation announced today that it has introduced UV-Protect (UVP) technology to formulate enhanced versions of its popular NANOMYTE® coating products, which offer unique functionalities in coatings with unparalleled durability. The NANOMYTE® line of protective coatings and surface treatments provide tailored functionalities, such as hydrophobicity, superhydrophobicity, oleophobicity, superoleophobicity, self-healing, fog resistance, self-cleaning (or easy-to-clean), scratch resistance, anti-corrosion, and anti-icing. They have found wide applicability in the industrial and automotive markets for their versatility and ability to be applied to a variety of surfaces – including glass, plastic, fiber-composite, metal, and ceramic. UVP technology imparts enhanced protection from the effects of sun and weather exposure to maintain the unique properties of their coating products when subjected to long-term outdoor exposure.

The newly-introduced product lineup consists of:

UVP Technology Brief (pdf)

NANOMYTE® coating products with UVP technology have demonstrated their ability to endure a minimum of 1,000 hours of weatherability testing per ASTM D4587, “Accelerated Weathering under Fluorescent UV-Condensation Exposure.” The testing was performed in a QUV chamber under the conditions specified in ASTM G154, Cycle 1, the most commonly used exposure cycle designed to simulate severe outdoor service conditions. The UVP functionality has been incorporated into each coating system without degrading other performance characteristics or ease of application. The cured film is both inherently resistant to the sun’s UV radiation, as well as capable of providing UV protection for the underlying surface. This, for example, allows the NANOMYTE® MEND product line to maintain excellent gloss and appearance in outdoor applications, such as automotive coatings. Polymer and composite materials can be particularly sensitive to the effects of UV exposure, which can have a variety of undesirable effects, beginning at the surface and often spreading throughout the bulk of the material. Surface attack immediately begins to compromise coating adhesion, eventually resulting in cracking and peeling. UV-degraded materials may also change colors, often resulting in the familiar yellowing of plastics and lose mechanical strength, making them prone to failure. UVP coatings block UV radiation, which protects surfaces by preserving coating adhesion and aesthetics, and prevents further penetration of UV light which can compromise the material’s strength and appearance.

Outdoor exposure can present additional challenges for surfaces to resist buildup of dirt, airborne contaminants, corrosion, and even ice. NEI’s line of durable protective topcoats, formulated as one-component, ambient-cure systems for ease of use, now offer UVP technology to extend their performance and shield sensitive surfaces. NANOMYTE® SR-500EC-UVP can protect a wide variety of surfaces from the effects of outdoor exposure, coupled with an easy-to-clean functionality with enhanced weatherability. For surfaces prone to icing, NANOMYTE® SuperAi-UVP not only helps keep surfaces clean, but also enhances their ability to shed ice buildup, all while providing excellent protection from the elements. Both of these coatings can maintain excellent hydrophobicity, with a static water contact angle of 100 – 105°, even after 2,000 hours of QUV exposure, while NANOMYTE® SuperAi-UVP maintains a low ice adhesion value of less than 1 psi after more than 1,000 hours of exposure. NANOMYTE® TC-4001-UVP and TC-5001-UVP have been optimized for metals to form a hard, durable coating with excellent barrier properties to prevent moisture penetration and corrosion.

NEI’s coating products featuring UVP technology can be applied by conventional processes, such as dipping, brushing or spraying. NEI also offers in-house coating services for customer’s parts, as well as coating development services, wherein coating formulations are created to address specific customer requirements. The development of NANOMYTE® UVP functional coatings has come about as a result of NEI’s capabilities in creating functionalized nanocomposite coatings. In addition to imparting protective and aesthetic properties, NANOMYTE® coatings lead to gains in productivity and efficiency and therefore can be used in many applications that traditionally have not used paints or coatings.

Additional Information:

Download Press Release (pdf) ⇓

About NEI Corporation:

NEI Corporation is an application-driven company that utilizes nanotechnology to develop and produce advanced materials. The company’s core competencies are in synthesizing nanoscale materials and prototyping products that incorporate advanced materials. NEI offers an array of Advanced Protective Coatings for metal and polymer surfaces, with tailored functionalities such as anti-corrosion, self-healing, scratch resistance, ice-phobic, and self-cleaning.

For more information, give us a call or email us.

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Latest Test Results Confirm Performance of NEI’s Newly Optimized Anti-Ice Coating

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October 25, 2016

Somerset, New Jersey (USA) – NEI Corporation announced today that it has enhanced the performance of its anti-ice coating, NANOMYTE® SuperAi, and confirmed its efficacy through rigorous testing under a variety of icing conditions. SuperAi is a nanocomposite coating that imparts anti-ice properties to the underlying substrate. As a consequence of the engineered properties of the anti-ice coating’s formulation, it reduces ice buildup on surfaces, and provides a hard, dense, smooth finish.

Surfaces treated with NANOMYTE® SuperAi exhibit reduced ice adhesion, thereby reducing ice buildup. Precisely calibrated Ice Adhesion measurements showed that SuperAi has an Ice Adhesion Reduction Factor of greater than 5 (relative to a polished metal surface), indicating that NANOMYTE® SuperAi reduces the adhesion of ice by more than 80%, compared to smooth, bare metal and painted surfaces. The performance remains unaltered after repeated icing-deicing cycles, as well as after mechanical abrasion. Further, Icing Wind Tunnel experiments showed that SuperAi allows ice to be removed with minimal force, confirming its usefulness under practical use conditions.

superai_applications

NANOMYTE® SuperAi can be applied to a variety of substrates, including plastic, metal, glass, and ceramic. In some instances, a suitable primer may be required for long term durability of the anti-ice coating. SuperAi is a single component coating that is easily applied by spray or brush. The dry film thickness can be adjusted to be in the range of 5 – 25 microns (1/5th to 1 mil), and only one coat is required to cover the substrate. Current applications include occurrences where ice removal is a challenge (e.g., wind turbine blades, power transmission lines and cables, cellular phone towers, windshields and other glass surfaces in automobiles, aircraft wings, and unmanned aerial vehicles, UAVs). SuperAi also provides corrosion protection, which is an added benefit. The use of SuperAi enhances productivity for the user and provides rapid payback, as well as a good return on investment.

Contact us to obtain detailed test results on NANOMYTE® SuperAi.

Additional Information: NANOMYTE® SuperAi Technical Data Sheet | Safety Data Sheet

For more information, contact:
Ms. Krista Martin
+1 (732) 868‐3141
sales@neicorporation.com
###

View / Download Press Release (pdf)

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NEI Expands Self-Healing Line of Coatings and Broadens Patent Portfolio

November 3, 2015

Somerset, New Jersey (USA) – NEI Corporation announced today that it has expanded its NANOMYTE® MEND line of top coats where a physical self-healing phenomenon leads to gap closing and crack sealing. The innovative technology platform is applicable to a broad range of substrates such as metal, wood, and polymers – including those that require maintaining a clear glossy appearance. NANOMYTE® MEND coatings can be healed multiple times at the same defect location, thereby reducing life cycle costs by increasing the service life and reducing maintenance costs of the various substrates to which it is applied.

Healing_MEND2

In response to the need for self-healing required in different environments, four MEND products have been introduced. MEND 1000 is based on US Patent 8,987,352, where a thermally induced physical self-healing phenomenon leads to gap closing and crack sealing. The self-healing coating involves a unique phase-separated morphology that facilitates the delivery of the self-healing agent to the damage site (such as a scratch or crack) thereby restoring the coating appearance & function. The coating can be self-healed by the application of warm air for several seconds with a simple device, such as a household hair dryer. Additionally, the properties of the coating – such as hardness, gloss, and refractive index – can be altered as needed for the specific application. The more recently developed, patent-pending MEND 2000 allows self-healing at near ambient temperature. MEND 3000 is a solvent-borne self-healing coating that can be cured at room temperature. MEND 4000, on the other hand, is a waterborne polyurethane-based, self-healing coating (US Patent 8,664,298). The current series of MEND coatings are based on polyurethane, but the principle is applicable to other coating systems as well – including acrylics and epoxies, as well as UV-curable systems.

MEND_Selection_Guide

Self-healing principles can also be applied to surface treatments of metals. To this end, NEI has developed a series of pretreatments for different metals, where a chemical self-healing mechanism imparts corrosion resistance. The US Patent and Trademark Office has issued a notice of allowance for NEI’s patent on another self-healing coating technology. The allowed claims describe a chemical conversion coating for protecting magnesium alloys from corrosion (NANOMYTE® PT-60). PT-60 mimics the performance of chromate conversion coatings. The nanoscale structure of the magnesium surface allows ions to diffuse on demand to the damage site, forming a barrier that prevents further corrosion. Additionally, PT-60 has been engineered to act as a tie layer that bonds the overlying primer with the metal. Excellent field performance has been observed in select applications.

The NANOMYTE® MENDTM family of coatings complement NEI’s portfolio of Advanced Protective Coatings and Surface Treatments which provide tailored functionalities, such as hydrophobicity, superhydrophobicity, oleophobicity, superoleophobicity, self-healing, fog resistance, self-cleaning (or easy-to-clean), scratch resistance, anti-corrosion, and anti-icing. In addition to imparting protective and aesthetic properties, NANOMYTE® coatings lead to gains in productivity and efficiency and therefore can be used in many applications that traditionally have not used paints or coatings. The coatings are versatile and can be applied on a variety of different substrates – including glass, plastic, fiber-composite, metal, and ceramic.

Download Press Release (pdf) »

 

About NEI Corporation:

NEI Corporation is an applications driven company that utilizes nanotechnology to develop and produce advanced materials. The company’s core competencies are in synthesizing nanoscale materials and prototyping products that incorporate the advanced materials. Founded in 1997, the company manufactures and sells advanced materials products, provides materials development services, and performs contract-based R&D for public and private entities. NEI has built a strong manufacturing and R&D infrastructure that enables rapid transition of concepts to products. The company’s products are backed by a suite of issued and pending patents and sold under the registered trademark NANOMYTE®.

For additional information on our MEND coatings, including product specs & a summary presentation, contact us.

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A New Perspective on Coatings and Surface Treatments

NEI Corporation’s Patented Technologies Provide a New Perspective on Coatings and Surface Treatment

Patents1Gains in productivity and efficiency are possible when a coating or surface treatment provides functionalities beyond the usual protective and aesthetic properties. This realization has sparked great interest in functional coatings in recent years for applications that traditionally have not used paints or coatings. A good example is the use of anti-ice coatings on power transmission lines. Mitigating ice accumulation will help prevent power outages, which has a tangible and beneficial economic impact. Another example is the use of a surface treatment to increase the efficiency of power generation turbines.

Examples of functionalities of interest for both industrial and consumer applications include:

  • Self-Healing: the coating or surface treatment autonomously repairs damage
  • Hydrophobicity: coated surfaces vigorously repel water droplets
  • Oleophobicity: prevents “oil” molecules from sticking to the surfacePatents2
  • Self-Cleaning / Easy-To-Clean: minimizes or eliminates the need for chemicals during washing

While great strides have been made in academic circles to understand the different surface phenomena of these so called ‘smart coatings’, commercial products to date have met with limited success because they are not engineered to meet all of the functional performance requirements that an application may need. For example, commercially available superhydrophobic coatings repel water droplets, but do not prevent the diffusion of water vapor – minimizing moisture ingress is a critical functionality for most protective coatings.

Patents3More often than not, many of the functionalities mentioned above need to be integrated into a single coating or surface treatment. For example, a transparent coating that resists finger printing also needs to be scratch resistant and durable. A coating that prevents fogging in eyewear and other transparent surfaces must also be durable and resistant to chemicals. Further, in order to meet the cost criteria, application of the coating must be compatible with conventional coating methods such as spray, dip, brush or flow. Over the past few years, NEI Corporation’s concerted efforts to develop and implement practical, multi-functional coatings are now coming to fruition.

Patents4Backed by a bevy of issued and pending patents, NEI has introduced an array of coating products under the registered trade name NANOMYTE®. For example, NANOMYTE® MEND is based on US Patent 8,987,352, where a thermally induced, physical self-healing phenomenon leads to gap closing and crack sealing. The self-healing coating involves a unique phase-separated morphology that facilitates the delivery of the self-healing agent to the damage site (such as a scratch or crack) thereby restoring the coating appearance & function. Utilizing commonly available polymer materials and nanoparticles arranged in a unique morphology to achieve self-healing, MEND offers a practical self-healing solution to common polymer coating systems. In response to the need for waterborne, self-healing coatings for non-metallic substrates, NEI developed a waterborne, polyurethane-based, self-healing coating. NANOMYTE® MEND for wood (US Patent 8,664,298) specifically targets the wood cabinet market. A more recent patent-pending version of MEND, referred to as MEND-RT, allows self-healing at near ambient temperature. It is used as the inter-layer of a coating stack and has been shown to enhance the corrosion resistance of traditional coating systems. The MEND coating platform is based on polyurethane, but the principle can be applied to other coating systems as well.

Patents5Self-healing principles can also be applied to surface treatments of metals, whereby the pretreatments can mimic the performance of chromate conversion coatings. To this end, NEI has developed a series of pretreatments for different metals where a chemical self-healing mechanism imparts corrosion resistance. For example, NANOMYTE® PT-60 is a patent-pending conversion coating for use on magnesium alloys. The nanoscale structure of the surface allows ions to diffuse to the damage site, forming a barrier that prevents further corrosion. In addition, PT-60 has been engineered to act as a tie layer that bonds the overlying primer with the metal, thereby leading to excellent performance in the field. Similarly, NEI’s NANOMYTE® PT-10M provides self-healing protection for aluminum, while patent-pending PT-20 is designed for use on steel, and PT-30 (US Patent 8,741,074) is used on copper alloys.

As previously mentioned, combining multiple functionalities in a coating, such as self-healing and superhydrophobicity, presents new opportunities not available until now. For example, NEI has been issued a patent (US Patent 8,968,459) for a superhydrophobic coating composition that also has a self-healing function similar to that of plant leaves. This self-healing, superhydrophobic coating mimics lotus leaves, which maintain their superhydrophobicity by repairing the damaged surface layer with a continuously-secreting hydrophobic epicuticular wax. Equipped with the ability to repair or renew itself, the novel NEI coating overcomes the durability problem of traditional superhydrophobic coatings.

Patents6Durable hydrophobic coatings are highly desirable for numerous applications as they usually impart easy-to-clean and stain-resisting properties to surfaces. For aesthetic reasons, there is also a need for a thin, transparent, easy-to-clean coating that does not add excess weight and does not change the appearance of the substrate to be coated. Further desirable properties of such coatings include a high degree of scratch/abrasion resistance, excellent adhesion, and chemical resistance, all of which are critical in maintaining a durable coating. In addressing these needs, NEI’s recently developed NANOMYTE® SuperCN and SR-100EC products are patent-pending transparent coatings with a unique combination of properties, including easy-to-clean and stain-resisting properties, excellent abrasion/scratch resistance, as well as good adhesion with a variety of substrates – including polymers, metals, and ceramics.

Patents7Scratch resistance is a sought-after property for coatings in a variety of applications, such as ophthalmic and sports-wear lenses, automobile and airplane windows. Plastic substrates, such as polycarbonate and acrylic, can scratch easily and lose transparency quickly during daily use and maintenance. Hard and optically transparent coatings for plastic substrates possess a significant market potential. NEI offers a patented (US Patent 9,006,370) transparent, scratch-resistant coating called NANOMYTE® SR-100, which exhibits significantly better abrasion resistance than commercially available, scratch-resistant coating products. A matte version of SR-100 has also been developed and is now commercially available.

Download Coatings Technology Brief (pdf) »

 

About NEI Corporation:

NEI is an application driven company that manufactures and sells Advanced Materials products, provides materials development services, and performs contract-based R&D for public and private entities. NEI’s products, which are sold under the registered trademark NANOMYTE®, are backed by a suite of issued and pending patents. NEI has built a strong manufacturing and R&D infrastructure that enables rapid transition of concepts to products. The company has a 10,000 square foot, state-of-the-art materials manufacturing and testing facility in Somerset, New Jersey, which includes high temperature furnaces with controlled atmospheres, mixing, blending and drying equipment, coaters, particle characterization instruments, corrosion testing equipment, polymer films & coatings characterization, and a Li-ion battery testing laboratory. Since its inception, NEI has partnered with small companies, large multinational corporations, U.S. Defense Laboratories, U.S. National Laboratories, and Universities. The relationships take on different forms, ranging from a strategic partnership to joint development efforts targeted at specific applications.

Contact Us »

 

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NANOMYTE® PT-60 Eliminates Physical Spacers using Self-healing Corrosion Protection

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May 18, 2015

Somerset, New Jersey (USA) – NEI Corporation issued a product update today for NANOMYTE® PT-60, a patent-pending conversion coating with active corrosion protection functionality. Isolation strategies for fastening steel bolts on magnesium components include the use of aluminum shims and spacers. PT-60, presents an alternative where the cost associated with spacers can be avoided without sacrificing performance. Neutral salt spray testing of PT-60 treated magnesium, with a standard epoxy primer, exhibits better performance than the current practice. Tests show enhanced protection against galvanic corrosion between zinc plated steel bolt and magnesium substrate. Additionally, PT-60 significantly reduces general corrosion. Minimal corrosion build-up at the scribe demonstrates the self-healing corrosion inhibition mechanism at work.

PT-60_PIC1

NANOMYTE® PT-60 is a chromate-free, self-healing conversion coating for magnesium that is a drop-in replacement for chromate. It can be applied as a thin conversion coating that protects the metal from corrosion, or as a pretreatment that improves adhesion with overlying paint. The coating is available in 1 liter, 1 gallon, & 55 gallon quantities.

PT60_SALT_FOG

Technical Information:

About NEI Corporation:
NEI Corporation is an application-driven company that utilizes nanotechnology to develop and produce advanced materials. The company’s core competencies are in synthesizing nanoscale materials and prototyping products that incorporate the advanced materials. NEI offers an array of Advanced Protective Coatings for metal and polymer surfaces. The coatings have tailored functionalities such as anti-corrosion, self-healing, scratch resistant, impact resistant, ice-phobic, and self-cleaning.

For more information, contact:
Ms. Krista Martin
(732) 868‐3141
sales@neicorporation.com
###

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NEI’s New Coating Technology Provides Self-Healing Protection for Traditional Coating Systems

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March 24, 2015

Somerset, New Jersey (USA) – NEI Corporation announced today that it has introduced NANOMYTE® MEND-RT, a self-healing, polymer nanocomposite coating for use as an intermediate layer in coating systems on metal substrates. When the coating system is physically damaged, the self-healing intermediate layer repairs the damage autonomously at near ambient conditions, closing and sealing the gap and protecting the metal from exposure to the elements. This new feature of physical gap closing provides an alternative to chemical self-healing observed in chromate coatings. The universal nature of this new technology makes it applicable in any chromate-free coating system where self-healing is desired. This unique feature can lead to preserving the aesthetics of a coated surface or providing active corrosion protection on metal surfaces, without changing the formulation of the conventional coating. The intermediate layer can be easily applied by dip, spray, brush or drawdown methods.

The MEND-RT layer is introduced in a traditional coating system without deteriorating the original properties of the coating stack. The technology is applicable to coatings on both ferrous and non-ferrous metals and alloys, such as magnesium, aluminum, copper, zinc and alloys thereof, and steel. The efficacy of the NANOMYTE® MEND-RT coating was confirmed on aluminum alloys, which are used extensively in the aerospace industry. Two sets of coating systems were applied and compared for corrosion resistance. The first coating stack consisted of a chromate-free corrosion resistant pretreatment, a chromate-free epoxy primer, and a standard polyurethane topcoat. The second stack was identical to the first one, with the additional MEND-RT layer inserted between the primer and topcoat. Corrosion resistance was evaluated using the Salt Spray Test (SST) ASTM B-117 method. Artificial defects were made on the coated panels before exposing them to salt spray. The first set of panels, i.e. without the self-healing inter-layer, exhibited early signs of corrosion with white corrosion buildup in the scribed region. The samples with MEND-RT showed enhanced protection with no signs of corrosion after 1,250 hours of exposure.

MEND-RT_Fig.2

Photographs showing trends in corrosion resistance for Al 2024 and 7075 4” x 6” panels after 1,250 hours in salt spray test – (a) Commercial non-chromate coating system; (b) Commercial non-chromate coating system with NANOMYTE® MEND-RT.

NANOMYTE® MEND-RT is available as a two-part product. Given that different applications utilize a variety of coating systems, NEI can undertake an in-house study to evaluate the efficacy of MEND-RT in the specific coating system used by the customer. If needed, the MEND-RT formulation can be customized to suit the requirements of the application. Alternatively, customers also have the option of purchasing MEND-RT and applying the coating at their facilities or through their vendors.

Additional Technical Information:

About NEI Corporation:
NEI Corporation is an application-driven company that utilizes nanotechnology to develop and produce advanced materials. The company’s core competencies are in synthesizing nanoscale materials and prototyping products that incorporate the advanced materials. NEI offers an array of Advanced Protective Coatings for metal and polymer surfaces. The coatings have tailored functionalities such as anti-corrosion, self-healing, scratch resistant, impact resistant, ice-phobic, and self-cleaning.

For more information, contact:
Ms. Krista Martin
(732) 868‐3141
sales@neicorporation.com
###

View / Download Press Release (pdf)

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A New Approach To Using Self-healing Coatings

Utilizing a Self-Healing Coating to Impart Enhanced Corrosion Protection to Metals

A traditional protective coating system on a metal substrate generally consists of a pretreatment, primer, and a topcoat. The base metal is pretreated and primed for enhanced adhesion and corrosion resistance. A topcoat is then applied on the primer. Many of the coatings in use today to inhibit corrosion are “passive” in nature, in that they provide only barrier protection and/or promote adhesion between the metal and overlaying paint. While these are important attributes, passive solutions do not offer the same level of protection as coatings that provide “active” corrosion protection. To date, coatings that repair themselves when damaged are limited to either unconventional chemistries or uncommonly used polymers, which require forming a complex molecular network and are too soft to satisfy the mechanical robustness required in a protective topcoat.

An “active” corrosion protection coating, or self-healing coating, can be categorized into two classes according to their self-healing mechanisms: chemical or physical. The traditional chromate-based corrosion protection coating uses hexavalent chromium either in the pretreatment or the primer, or both, to achieve chemical self-healing. In contrast, NEI’s self-healing coating involves physical gap closing and crack sealing, which has the potential to impart performance that matches that of a chromate-based system. Figure 1 illustrates the coating architecture containing NANOMYTE® MEND-RT, a self-healing intermediate layer between the topcoat and the primer. When the coating is physically damaged, the self-healing intermediate layer physically repairs the damage autonomously, closing and sealing the gap and providing an active physical barrier.

Self-Healing Coating System Architecture – (a) A defect occurs in the coating system; (b) The self-healing coating, MEND-RT, closes the defect and prevents further crack propagation.

Self-Healing Coating System Architecture – (a) A defect occurs in the coating system; (b) The self-healing coating, MEND-RT, closes the defect and prevents further crack propagation.

An obvious advantage with the use of a self-healing intermediate layer as shown in Figure 1 is that the topcoat is a standard topcoat, which satisfies all industrial standards. The main function of NANOMYTE® MEND-RT, the intermediate self-healing layer, is to self-repair damages. By separating the topcoat functions and the self-healing function into two distinct layers, a self-healing capability is added to the conventional coating system. The composition of MEND-RT is such that the adhesion between the primer and the topcoat is preserved. The MEND-RT layer can be introduced in any coating system, without deteriorating the original properties of the coating stack. MEND-RT can be used with any coating system applied on ferrous or non-ferrous metals, such as magnesium, aluminum, copper, zinc and alloys thereof, and steel.

The efficacy of the self-healing intermediate layer, MEND-RT, was verified using the standard accelerated test method. A chromate-free, self-healing coating system was applied on aluminum 2024 and 7075 alloys. Aluminum was selected for this evaluation as it is extensively used with chromate coatings in the aerospace and aircraft industry due to its high strength and light weight. Two sets of coating systems were applied and compared for corrosion resistance. The first coating stack consisted of a chromate-free corrosion resistant pretreatment, a chromate-free epoxy primer, and a standard polyurethane topcoat. The second stack was identical to the first one, but had MEND-RT inserted between the primer and topcoat. Corrosion resistance was evaluated using the Salt Spray Test (SST) ASTM B-117 method. Artificial defects (“X” shaped scribes) were made on the coated panels before exposing them to salt spray. The photographs in Figure 2 show the progression of corrosion on Al 2024 and 7075 coupons after 1,250 hours of SST.

MEND-RT_Fig.2

Photographs showing trends in corrosion resistance for Al 2024 and 7075 4” x 6” panels after 1,250 hours in salt spray test – (a) Commercial non-chromate coating system; (b) Commercial non-Chromate coating system with NANOMYTE® MEND-RT.

The first set of panels, i.e. without the self-healing interlayer, exhibited early signs of corrosion with white corrosion buildup in the scribed region. The samples with MEND-RT showed enhanced protection with no signs of corrosion. Examination under the microscope revealed that the defects in the coating were physically sealed by the MEND-RT coating. In addition, the gap closing occurred at near ambient temperature, without any external heat or other stimuli. This is direct evidence that the introduction of MEND-RT enhances the corrosion resistance of a coating system, leading to a longer lifetime of the coating.

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About NEI Corporation

NEI is an application driven company that manufactures and sells Advanced Materials products, provides materials development services, and performs contract-based R&D for public and private entities. NEI’s products, which are sold under the registered trademark NANOMYTE®, are backed by a suite of issued and pending patents. NEI has built a strong manufacturing and R&D infrastructure that enables rapid transition of concepts to products. The company has a 10,000 square foot, state-of-the-art materials manufacturing and testing facility in Somerset, New Jersey, which includes high temperature furnaces with controlled atmospheres, mixing, blending and drying equipment, coaters, particle characterization instruments, corrosion testing equipment, polymer films & coatings characterization, and a Li-ion battery testing laboratory. Since its inception, NEI has partnered with small companies, large multinational corporations, U.S. Defense Laboratories, U.S. National Laboratories, and Universities. The relationships take on different forms, ranging from a strategic partnership to joint development efforts targeted at specific applications.

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NEI Development Update on NANOMYTE® TC-5001, a Protective Coating for Zinc-Plated and Galvanized Steel

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November 5, 2014

Somerset, New Jersey (USA): NEI Corporation has issued a product update, following the successful introduction of NANOMYTE® TC‐5001 – a nanotechnology-enabled, anti-corrosion coating for zinc‐plated and hot‐dip galvanized (HDG) steel. TC-5001 is a nanostructured composite coating consisting of organic and inorganic phases. It can be used either as a standalone coating or with the water-based, self-healing pretreatment, NANOMYTE® PT-100. In its current form, TC-5001 can be applied on metallic parts that have a zinc-based finish. Recent developments on its effectiveness and usage are outlined below.

Field Trials

Over the past couple of years, TC-5001 and related products have found use in several applications in different industries. Examples include:

Automotive Components and Support Structures

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Automotive parts coated in-house were subjected to salt-spray testing (ASTM B117) for over 1,000 hours to test the effects of corrosion; the TC-5001-coated parts showed no signs of white rust. Additionally, parts plated with alloys of zinc and aluminum were also coated with TC-5001 and are currently undergoing field testing.

Examples of structural parts that can be coated with TC-5001 (or related products) for corrosion protection are shown on the right.

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Automotive_Components

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Outdoor Structures

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Strain Insulators

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NANOMYTE® TC-5001-coated structures provide significant corrosion protection while supporting power lines in service. The coating has been successfully demonstrated to protect electrical grid components still in service for several months to date.

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Hardware Components

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Various TC-5001-coated nuts, bolts, and screws were exposed outside for 5 continuous months and showed no visible signs of corrosion.

To the right is a pair of galvanized steel screws after 5 months of outside exposure. The uncoated screw (left) shows the emergence of white rust on the threads while the coated screw (right) is still protected.

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Bolt Diagram

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Ease of Application and Curing

TC-5001 is amenable to dipping, brushing, and spraying. The ease of application of the coating is illustrated in the following video: Applying TC-5001

Methods of Application

  • Spraying: The coating is applied on clean surfaces using a commercial high volume, low pressure (HVLP) spray gun. Touchup spraying can be carried out to protect small pieces or tight locations using a touch up sprayer.
  • Rolling: Coating is done in a cross-pattern; left to right, then up and down as quickly as possible since the coating dries quickly.
  • Brushing: Brush application is carried out in a cross-pattern; up and down, then left to right.

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Faster Curing

A new development that was requested by metal finishers was to accelerate the curing of TC-5001. For applications requiring faster cure times, the coating can be brought to “dry to the touch” conditions in a matter of 5 to 10 seconds with thermal curing at 150°C to 200°C. This facilitates easy incorporation of the coating in a production line with continuous moving parts on a conveyer. Once the coating is dry to touch (partially cured), subsequent coatings can be applied and cured together.

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Related Products

NANOMYTE® PT-100 – Self-healing Pretreatment

This waterborne pretreatment improves adhesion and minimizes white & red rust formation when used in conjunction with TC-5001.

NANOMYTE® SR-500EC – Introduction of Hydrophobicity

In order to further enhance the degree of protection provided to metal parts, NANOMYTE® SR-500EC has been introduced. It is a transparent coating designed to provide easy-to-clean surfaces. The product is a nanostructured composite consisting of organic and inorganic phases and provides a hard, dense, and smooth coating finish. SR-500EC strongly adheres to metal, glass, and ceramic surfaces, and resists scratching and chipping. Additionally, it has superior water repellency and soil resistance. The hydrophobicity of the coating can be tailored as per application requirements. The coating is a single component product that is easily applied by dip, spray or brush and can be cured at room temperature. Currently, SR-500EC is undergoing field trials on metal, glass, and polymer surfaces where both anti-corrosion and hydrophobic properties are desired.

About NEI Corporation:

NEI Corporation is an application-driven company that utilizes nanotechnology to develop and produce advanced materials. The company’s core competencies are in synthesizing nanoscale materials and prototyping products that incorporate the advanced materials. NEI offers an array of Advanced Protective Coatings for metal and polymer surfaces. The coatings have tailored functionalities such as anti-corrosion, self-healing, scratch resistance, ice-phobic, and self-cleaning.

For more information, contact:

Ms. Krista Martin
NEI Corporation
(732) 868‐3141
sales@neicorporation.com
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