CO2-responsive agents for uses in protective coatings

Solvent-based coatings are used for protecting transportation vessels, buildings and infrastructures. They give glossy and durable coatings to protect materials, but their continued use is dangerous to workers and causes environmental damage. Environmentally friendly and safer water-based alternatives exist, but they are less durable and suffer from inferior performance. Unfortunately, the process used to make water-based coatings requires the use of surfactants, which cause the performance problems. We use a novel CO2-responsive surfactant that switches to a non-surfactant as the coating dries. For the first time, a high performance water-based coating can be made that may replace certain solvent-based approaches. The research and development in this coating will be critical in giving industry an alternative coating technology that is more environmentally benign and safer than current coatings.

Faculty Supervisor:

Philip Jessop;Michael Cunningham

Student:

Jaddie Ho

Partner:

Discipline:

Chemistry

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

Queen's University

Program: