Nitroxide Mediated Polymerization (NMP) for High Performance Coatings
Coatings are integral for materials used in the automotive and aerospace industries. In this competitive sector, coating formulations must exhibit resistance to cracking, prevention of shrinkage and adhesion to particular substrates. Additional key requirements are non-flammability and self-healing characteristics. Flammability resistance is particularly critical thus lowering of flammability via reduction of volatile organic content (VOC), which in turn lends itself to greener processes (eg. water-borne coatings). Self-healing properties are desirable, as materials that revert and close any surface damage/defect eliminates costly scratch-removal procedures. Block copolymers as coating materials via CRP is particularly suitable as one segment can be designed to strongly adhere to the substrate while the other segment can provide a tough hydrophobic protective covering.