Multifunctional coatings with nanoscale polymers - An overview

An overview on multifunctional coatings with nanoscale polymers was one of the main topics discussed at the 33rd Aachen Textile Conference, held from November 29-30, 2006. Chemical nanotechnology in multifunctional coatings addresses bottom-up approach for material synthesis, ceramics/glasses, hybrid inorganic-organic polymers, coatings, and surface finishing. The sol gel process for the production of water based multifunctional coating materials makes use of silanes, alkoxides, sol, and wet films and provides advantages of low temperature process, high purity materials, molecular composites/transparency, and easy shaping processes. Anti-microbial coatings prevent the growth of microorganisms such as saccharomyces cerevisiae and micrococcus luteus. Multifunctional coatings also provide several properties such as scratch and abrasion resistance, better heat and light stability, and preservation of natural, optical, and haptic properties in leather finishing.