Nano coatings: Reduce energy consumption through color changes

China Coatings Online News Information: Proper use of thermochromic nanocoated coatings can help reduce energy consumption. This coating absorbs and reflects heat, depending on its temperature. The researchers will show samples of metal bars using this coating at the Hanover show.
nanoparticles have a very large surface area (the ratio of surface area to volume), which makes nanoparticles very active, even if only a very small number of nanoparticles, can have a very large impact. The Fraunhofer Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT) in Pfenztal is using this feature to create novel coatings. They added this active nanoparticle to the polymer system, and the coatings were as easy to use as paint.
nanoparticles are evenly dispersed
" in polymers, however, their properties can only be revealed if they are fully dispersed and do not gather. Helmut Schmidt said. Scientists and researchers at the institute have developed a new process that allows nanoparticles to be evenly dispersed in polymers. "Furthermore, integrating nanoparticles into plastic systems makes them safer and more reliable, and the presence of binding forces prevents the random release of individual nanoparticles." Schmid said. "We can prove this by using analytical techniques to detect trace elements."
process can be widely used in different nanomaterials. Other advantages include: small amounts of material can be very environmentally friendly combination; Water-based plastic systems hardly volatile organic compounds. The coating can therefore be applied directly, which experts call "direct contact metal" properties. In addition, the coating prevents oxygen from touching the metal and therefore prevents corrosion.
reduce energy consumption through color changes
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute of Chemical Technology, in collaboration with researchers from companies, undershyed a project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, which focused on new nano coatings of wire and steel strips. Experts have developed a thermochromic coating that changes color depending on temperature. The coating therefore absorbs heat, or becomes transparent, and allows it to reflect. "So metal strips with this coating have very special properties. If the temperature is below 30 degrees C, the black coating absorbs heat; As the temperature rises, the color changes; When it becomes transparent, infrared radiation is allowed to be reflected. Schmid explains. Such clad strips and wires are very useful in construction. They can be interwoven and serve as self-adjusting hot-envelope walls to help cool buildings and reduce operating costs. Researchers are continuing to study other properties of nanosystructures, such as coating luminescence. These effects are useful for safety tags, flags, and so on. The coating can also help distinguish between genuine and pirated, as pirates do not have such luminous coatings.
metals and carbon nano-coats
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute's Center for Plasma and Photon Applications, Surface Engineering and the Braunschweig Thin Film Research Center, were also involved in the nanotechnology study. They design the performance of particle surfaces using carbon or metal nanocoated coatings. When the particle surface is covered with a carbon nanocodes of 1-2nm, it becomes a conductive body, which improves the performance of lithium-ion batteries.
particles covered with nanocoated particles have other advantages: stainless steel particles with titanium nitride or copper are no longer aggregated. Powders treated in this way can be used to make thermal materials, such as plastic or paper. But how can this thin layer of metal evenly cover the three-dimensional surface? To this end, IST scientists introduced plasma spraying technology. For example, stainless steel nanoparticles are thermally active when treated with normally pressurized plasma and deposited in thin film on the surface of the material.