4 AUGUST 2013

F O C U S O N P O W D E R C O A T I N G S

Innovnano presents nanostructuredpowders for high performanceceramics

Innovnano, an expertmanufacturer of high performanceceramic powder, will be attendingthe European Ceramic Society(ECerS) international conference,23-27 Jun 2013, Limoges, France.At the event, Innovnano willpresent its key product range, aseries of highly purenanostructured powders enablingattendees to gain acomprehensive understanding ofthe ‘nanostructure advantage’ forwide-reaching ceramicapplications with enhancedcharacteristics, including highstrength orthopedic implants,improved thermal barrier coatingsand more efficient transparentconducting oxides. Nuno Neves,Materials Engineer at Innovnano,will also host a presentationentitled ‘Yttria-stabilised zirconiawith improved fracture toughnessand flexural strength’. The talk willprovide insight into Innovnano’spatented Emulsion DetonationSynthesis technology, anddemonstrate how the resultingpowder properties enhance end-product performance and value.

Original Source: Nanotechnology Now, 17Jun 2013, (Website: http://www.nanotech-now.com/). © 7thWave Inc 2013

3-D printing could lead to tinymedical implants, electronics,robots, more

3-D printing now can be used toprint lithium-ion microbatteries thesize of a grain of sand. Theprinted microbatteries couldsupply electricity to tiny devices infields from medicine tocommunications, including manythat have lingered on lab benchesfor lack of a battery small enoughto fit the device, yet providingenough stored energy to power it.To create the microbattery, acustom-built 3D printer extrudesspecial inks through a nozzlenarrower than a human hair.Those inks solidify to create thebattery’s anode (red) and cathode

(purple), layer by layer. A case(green) then encloses theelectrodes and the electrolytesolution added to create aworking microbattery.

Original Source: Nanotechnology Now, 18 Jun 2013, (Website: http://www.nanotech-now.com/) © 7thWave Inc 2013

Allnex introduces CRYLCOAT E04365, a HAA-cured range ofpolyester resins for furniture

Allnex (formerly Cytec CoatingResins) has introducedCRYLCOAT E 04365, a newoffering within its HAA-curedrange of polyester resins. Thisresin is designed to fulfill avariety of outdoor general industryand furniture applications.CRYLCOAT E 04365 exhibitsoutstanding mechanicals, goodflow and appearance, andsuperior boiling water resistance.The Global Marketing Managerfor Powder Coating & Additives ofAllnex said that the new producthas good weathering properties,has appropriate over-bakeresistance and is suited for allgloss levels.

Original Source: Allnex, 2013. Found onSpecialChem Coatings and Inks Formulation,25 Jun 2013, (Website:http://www.specialchem4coatings.com)

MARKETSBASF New Business has acquiredthe technology company DeutscheNanoschicht

BASF New Business GmbH hasacquired all shares of thetechnology company DeutscheNanoschicht GmbH. The BASFsubsidiary and the founder andsole owner of DeutscheNanoschicht, Dr Michael Baecker,have agreed on the acquisition.The parties have signed therelevant agreement. DeutscheNanoschicht has developed aninnovative process for producingthin films by means of chemicalsolution deposition. This processallows high-temperaturesuperconductors to be

manufactured in a much moreefficient and resource-conservingmanner. Superconductors carrycurrent virtually without loss, sothey allow potentially hugesavings in generating andtransporting electricity. Dr MichaelBaecker, Managing Director ofDeutsche Nanoschicht, said:“Wherever large volumes ofelectricity are generated,transported or used, thetechnologies we have developedfacilitate innovative powerengineering systems that operateefficiently with little impact onresources.” Superconductortechnology is of interestparticularly in the fields ofgenerators and motors as well aspower grids in urban areas. Astheir current carrying capacity ishigh compared to copper,extremely compact and lightweightsystems become an option inelectrical engineering.Furthermore, the processDeutsche Nanoschicht hasdeveloped is also interestingwhen it comes to manufacturingthin layers of a broad range ofmaterials. Such thin layers, keyelements in many electricalcomponents, can be produced ina more energy-efficient manner tofeature improved properties.Combined with the strength andexperience of BASF’s research,chemical solution deposition mayform the basis for developing newsystem solutions for energytechnology and electronics. BASFand Deutsche Nanoschicht areworking together to bring theinnovative technology to market.“For BASF, the acquisition ofDeutsche Nanoschicht is a majorstep forward in developing our E-Power Management growth field.Access to this innovativetechnology will enable us tofurther strengthen our position inthe energy and resources growthmarket,” said Dr Stefan Blank,Managing Director of BASF NewBusiness. BASF’s E-PowerManagement growth fieldcomprises technologydevelopments, materials andsolutions for the entire electricity

AUGUST 2013 5

F O C U S O N P O W D E R C O A T I N G S

value chain. It focuses onresource-conserving and efficientelectricity generation, transmission,storage and the efficient use ofelectrical energy. A specialist forthe development of high-temperature superconductors andchemical coatings, DeutscheNanoschicht GmbH is establishinginnovative approaches todistributing and using electricitycost-effectively and with littleimpact on resources. Theinnovative chemical coatingtechnology for achieving ceramicfunctional layers also allows totallynew functionalities to be attained.Deutsche Nanoschicht GmbH wasfounded by Dr Michael Baecker inRheinbach, Germany, on 24 Nov2011. Having started operations on1 Jan 2012, the company todayhas a workforce of about 30employees. The highly qualifiedteam has many years of expertisein the fields of chemical coatingtechnology, electroceramic layers,and plant engineering.

Original Source: BASF SE, D-67056Ludwigshafen, Germany, tel: +49 (0) 621600, website: http://www.basf.com (6 Jun2013) © BASF 2013

Advanced materials fromchemicals sector selected top‘smart cities’ technology

Advanced materials technologyfrom the chemicals sector usedto improve energy efficiency inbuildings has been voted as oneof the top three key innovationsneeded to transform Europeancities by representatives fromEuropean cities participating inthe Smart Cities StakeholderPlatform annual conference.Announced on 5 Jun 2013 at aconference session in Budapest,the selection of advancedmaterials technology was madebased on a proposal submittedby SusChem, of which Cefic is amember. The winning proposalfrom SusChem highlighted fivemajor chemistry-enabled solutionsthat have been tested and provento significantly reduce energyconsumption in buildings,considered ‘low-hanging fruit’ to

reach “EU 20-20-20” targets.Those targets, part of the EUclimate and energy package, aimto: reduce EU greenhouse gasemissions by 20% from 1990levels; raise the share of EUenergy consumption producedfrom renewable resources to20%; and improve by 20% overallEU energy efficiency. Advancedmaterials produced via chemistryto help improve building efficiencyand help reach the EU 20-20-20targets are high-reflectanceindoor coatings; high-reflectanceand durable outdoor coatings;high-performance insulationfoams; high-performance vacuuminsulation panels; and phase-change materials (PCM).

Original Source: CEFIC Communications,Avenue E Van Nieuwenhuyse 4 bte 1, B-1160 Brussels, Belgium, tel: +32 2 676 7211, fax: +32 2 676 73 30, e-mail:mail@cefic.be, website: http://www.cefic.org(6 Jun 2013) © Cefic 2013

Further research on effects ofnanomaterials

How a nanoparticle behaves inthe body is determined by theproperties of the substance itconsists of. The size of theparticles is of secondaryimportance. If a biological effectis present, it can often beweakened by a technique knownas functionalization. These areresults of the NanoGEM(Nanostructured materials –Health, Exposure, and MaterialProperties) project initiated by theFederal Ministry of Education andResearch (BMBF) and involving19 research institutions andcompanies, which have beenworking together for three years.Research topics included theabsorption and distribution ofnanoparticles in the human bodydepending on their size, structure,and surface properties. Theproject, on which the BMBF andindustry have jointly spent about€6.5 M, was led by the Instituteof Energy and EnvironmentalTechnology (IUTA) in Duisburg,Germany. Altogether 16 differentmaterials were examined by theresearchers over the last few

years, among other things to findout what happens to differentnanoparticles when they areinhaled or ingested and how theybehave inside the body. Testsubstances were silicon dioxideand zirconium dioxide, which areapplied, for example, in paints toincrease their scratch resistance,as well as silver particles used inprinting inks for solar technology.For the first time, not only the pureparticles but also the functionalizedparticles were tested. In the latter,organic molecules are bound tothe surface of the particles toimprove properties such asprocessability, solubility, or stabilityof the products. The result: “Themain factors that determinewhether there is a toxic effect arethe actual material properties, inthis case of silicon dioxide, silveror zirconium dioxide,” explained Dr Wendel Wohlleben, whoheaded BASF’s activities. Thecompany has contributed to themanufacturing and characterizationof the nanomaterials, analyzing thelifecycle and toxicity, as well as tothe risk assessment. A toxic effectthat was the same for allnanomaterials and triggered aloneby the small size could not beverified, emphasized Wohlleben.“One important result of the studyis that an existing toxic effect canbe reduced through functionalizingthe nanoparticles by adding afunctional group of the kindpresent in the finished product,” headded. This is because potentialreactions on the particle surfaceare shielded by the functionalgroups. Moreover, some particlesare eliminated again from the bodymore easily. These findings willalso help researchers in riskassessments of othernanomaterials. “If this result isconfirmed in further studies, infuture we would no longer have toexamine all differentlyfunctionalized particles of amaterial to conduct a safetyassessment, but could organizethe materials into groups,” saidWohlleben. “A reliable riskassessment would then be easierand take less time.” This is a great