Nasiol Nanocoatings Deliver Unparralleled Protection For Surfaces

Nanocoatings are coatings that are used to seal, protect or color a surface. The coating generally has a liquid form with each consisting of nanoparticles.

These nanoparticles, and by extension the coating itself, are penetrative in nature and tend to be scratch resistant and have high hardness.

Nanocoatings, like Nasiol, are also inherently great water repellents owing to their high hydrophobicity or superhydrophobicity. This means the finished surfaces are water-repellent or ultra-water-repellent, easy to clean, act as great oil repellents (oleophobic) and are, therefore, have stain repellency and scratch resistance.

These properties make nano coatings highly durable making them ideal for heavy-duty applications in many industries from marine applications to automobiles, building applications to monuments or aerospace applications.

Coatings have been used to protect surfaces for a very long time. Compared to nanocoatings most of these are inferior and tend to need maintenance or reapplication over time.

Nanocoatings tend to comprise of either graphene, carbon nanotubes, nano-SiO2 (silicon dioxide), nano-silver, nano-TiO2 (titanium dioxide), and nano-ZnO (Zinc Oxide) depending on the application, surface and intended environment.

Nano coating is an example of biomimicry

Nanotechnology actually mimics or copies a natural phenomenon called the Lotus Effect. This is a process of self-cleaning that results from ultra-hydrophobicity on living things.

Prime examples are the leaves of the "Lotus Flower" (Nelumbo), hence the name. Because the surface of these leaves is so water repellant any dirt particles that build up on the surface is quickly picked up by water droplets and removed.

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The surface of these leaves and other naturally occurring nanocoatings provide this effect due to their micro- and nanoscopic architecture. These have evolved in such a way that it effectively limited the surface area available for water droplets to adhere to.

This effect can also be seen in other plants like Tropaeolum (nasturtium), Opuntia (prickly pear), Alchemilla, cane, and also on the wings of certain insects like butterflies and dragonflies. The Lotus Effect is not only important for self-cleaning but also helps the organism protect itself from pathogens like fungi and algae.

For plants, it is extra important to prevent contamination of photosynthetic surfaces, like their leaves, which could otherwise seriously inhibit the plant's growth.

Like plants and insects protects themselves with the help of lotus effects, nanocoatings are used in a wide range from the aerospace industry to the food industry for protecting different surfaces.

The phenomenon was first discovered by Dettre and Johnson in 1964 whilst studying hydrophobic surfaces. Their work would later develop into a theoretical model based on experiments with glass beads coated with paraffin and PTFE telomer. Some further work was conducted in the 1970s by  Wilhelm Barthlott and Ehler with many biotechnological applications emerging since the 1990s.

This led to an explosion in manmade products from coatings to paints to roof tiles, fabrics and other surfaces that can stay dry and clean themselves. For most this tends to be achieved using special fluorochemical or silicone treatments on structured surfaces or in combination with micro-scale particulates.

In addition to chemical surface treatments, which can be removed over time, metals have been sculpted with femtosecond pulse lasers to produce the Lotus Effect.

What is Nasiol?

Nasiol is a registered trademark of Artekya Technology who is a pioneering protective nanocoating producer in Turkey and Europe. Artekya is actually an off-shoot of Istanbul Technical University's Nano FMG Group who have been conducting research into nanotechnology since 2005.

"Artekya Technology has accomplished and continues to develop effective and innovative products for commercial and easy-spray retail goods under the brand of Nasiol." - Nasiol.

Artekya was founded in 2008 as Nano FMG Group and was the first and only Turkish nanocoating producer as well as only one of thirteen in the world. In 2016, Artekya Technology starts to provide research and development projects on nanotechnology.

Their nanocoatings under the brand of Nasiol are ultra-thin silicon dioxide-based coatings that provide easy cleaning, high-gloss, hydrophobic protection from a variety of environmental contaminants. They have dubbed it as "Smart Silis Tech" meaning that the product material is based on nanotechnology and whole products include “Smart Silis Tech” technology provides excellent cost-effectiveness over the lifetime of the product.

This is because it reduces the use of raw materials and detergents over time and therefore, has a lower environmental impact than some alternatives.

How is Nasiol different?

Most existing nanocoatings tend to be nano-ceramic coatings, anti-graffiti products, anti-scratch coatings and, of course, water repellants. Nasiol coatings have been designed to be applicable to a wide range of surfaces in many different industries from textile to automotive: painted surfaces, glass, ceramics, metal, wood, plastic, textile, metal alloys, and mineral surfaces.

Their nanocoating topcoats are very easy-to-apply and provide surfaces both "protection from environmental aspects and multiple features without changing surface characteristics like color, texture, and breathability." - Nasiol.

Nasiol's nanocoatings have a range of benefits including:

 - Coated surfaces are easy-cleaning. This helps surfaces stay clean and, by extension, saves time and resources that would be otherwise be needed for maintenance.

- Coated surfaces gain corrosion resistance. Surfaces protected by Nasiol nanocoatings have no corrosion for a year to five year period according to the surface type and type of product application.

 - Nasiol coatings provide scratch resistance and high-gloss. The coating provides a superior hardness of the surface which is ideal for delicate paintwork on cars, yachts, eyeglasses, helmets, mobile phones and many other products.

- Their products are water repellent. This ensures visibility through transparent materials like windscreens. It also protects surfaces prone to water damage, like textiles, woods, plastics, painted surfaces, and metals.

- Nanoparticles can also provide UV protection by acting as UV ray filters.

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Via: Nasiol