Thermoplastic Anti-Corrosion Technologies

Larta Institute
posted on 10/10/2007

Technology Description:
UCSD researchers have developed a novel thermoplastic coating taking advantage of certain epoxy functionality to yield a tough, abrasion-resistant coating with both high adhesion and reduced permeability to moisture and chemical agents. The new formulation is based on an ethylene copolymer with a glycidyl functionality highly filled with zinc metal. With the epoxy functionality, this thermoplastic coating adheres well to both metal and other polymers and copolymers, such as ionomers, polyesters and maleic anhydride functionalized polyolefins. The good polymer-to-polymer adhesion also enables the use of a multitude of protective and decorative (colored and or weatherable) topcoats. Thick coatings are also achievable due to the thermoplastic’s ductility.

UCI researchers developed a method that allows for the synthesis of a wide variety of polymer thin films, the fabrication method of which can be combined with photolithography to create surface patterns. Thin film thickness is controlled from 1 nm to the submicron range. The method also supports the creation of “smart surfaces” novel feature extraction technique based on the harmonic spectrum, but also with adaptation for human perceptual tendencies.

Combined, these two technologies provide a broad range of polymer thin film coatings for multiple applications.

Advantages

One is a technique for application, the other is a coating to be applied; use together may be a more efficient way of coating materials with good anticorrosive layers

Innovation Details

File Number: B-202

Other Information:

Intellectual Property:
These technologies are protected by at least two issued US patents: 5,562,989 and 6,861,103; other rights may also pertain.

Additional Information:
Technology Bundling Project
Funded by Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and administered by Larta Institute, the Project’s expert panels examined technologies from 18 Southern California research centers and identified inventions which could be synergistically combined for unique solutions. These Linked-Solutions are now being offered for license, with reduced red tape and “1-stop technology shopping”.

IP Protection