Mastering technology of manufacturing inorganic nano materials and additives for advanced coating technology

Testing solar reflective paint at Cai Lan Petroleum JSC, Ha Long City, Quang Ninh province

Nano additives enhance coating efficiency

Creating coatings to extend the lifespan of materials and protect construction, defense and security structures is a critical priority. Currently, most market products are traditional organic coatings, which are relatively inexpensive and easy to apply but offer limited effectiveness and longevity. Additionally, to enhance the protection duration and effectiveness of organic coatings, various compounds are often added, posing health risks and serious environmental impacts. Therefore, scientists continuously seek methods to improve the protective efficacy of organic coatings while minimizing environmental harm.

Adding nano additives yields outstanding effectiveness, enhancing many characteristics of coatings. Due to their large specific surface area, even small amounts of nano additives can significantly improve the performance and protection of coatings. Optimizing synthesis methods and controlling the size and shape of nano additives are crucial. The dispersion of nano particles can be adjusted by organic surface modification, allowing cross-linking to increase stability or durability of the cured coating.

In Vietnam, research on applying nano additives to coatings is diverse but mainly conducted on a small scale in laboratories, producing only a few grams per batch. Transitioning from lab-scale to practical production is challenging, posing issues such as cost-saving for raw materials, equipment, chemicals, and managing a large amount of solvent waste. Moreover, the market lacks complex multifunctional systems made from various nano particles.

Research and manufacturing

Researching and manufacturing surface-modified nano additives for advanced coatings holds significant scientific and practical potential. Based on this reality, Prof. Dr. Tran Dai Lam and his team proposed and were approved to implement the project "Research on manufacturing some inorganic nanoparticles and additives for advanced coating technologies" (code: TĐVLTT01/21-23), part of the project "Research and development of materials and advanced coating technologies for civilian and defense applications".

Within the research framework, scientists successfully synthesized several high-concentration liquid nano additives in-situ using surfactants such as TOPO, OLA, OA. The nano additives had an average particle size of ≤ 50 nm and were relatively uniform. The efficiency of grafting organic functional groups on the surface was > 90%, with organic content ranging from 5-25%. The nano additives were well-dispersed and stable in organic solvents for up to 12 months. The team also successfully transitioned some nano additives using methods such as ligand exchange or using amphiphilic polymers or silanization reactions to modify the surface, suitable for both water-based and solvent-based paints. Additionally, electrodes for sensors were successfully manufactured using 3D printing techniques with graphene-based ink and conductive metal nanoparticles such as AuNPs, AgNPs, and CuNPs. Two-electrode resistance measurement systems with circuits using IC 555, IC LM393, and automatic resistance measurement devices were successfully created to provide early warnings of corrosion, especially in tropical humid environments and highly corrosive marine environments.

Application image of nano ZrO2@PMAO - One of the nano additives manufactured by the project in exterior wall paint systems reflecting solar heat

The patent for nano additives was granted by the Russian Federal Service for Intellectual Property in April 2023

Prof. Dr. Tran Dai Lam shared: "This task is necessary, with scientific significance and high practical applicability. Manufacturing and surface-modifying some nano additives with suitable organic agents and researching the creation of nanosensors are essential and urgent. The research results have brought significant economic value, directing the supply of nano additives to the market and reducing environmental pollution risks during experimentation. The research team successfully manufactured nano materials with small, uniform size, large specific surface area, with surface organic content ranging widely (5-25%), which can be directly applied to both solvent and water-based coatings without complex modification processes like currently available nano particles. From the successes of the research, scientists hope to continue developing production on a pilot scale and commercializing the products. Prof. Lam hopes this research direction will continue to be developed and become one of VAST's strengths."

Translated by Phuong Huyen
Link to Vietnamese version