Recent decelopment around EXOCOAT™ 143 and EXOCOAT™ AC

  • September 2024

At the Lab we developed synergistic surface treatments for enhanced functionality. EXOCOAT™ 143 and EXOCOAT™ AC represent a two-step surface treatment system designed to optimize the performance of aluminum and various other metals. This approach leverages the complementary properties of each coating to achieve superior functionality.

EXOCOAT™ AC:  This initial conversion coating utilizes a chromate-free approach based on sol-gel technology. This layer enhances the adhesion of subsequently applied coatings and promotes corrosion resistance by offering a passive barrier against aggressive environments. The specific mechanism of EXOCOAT™ AC involves sol-gel conversion of the metal surface resulting in excellent adhesion and excellent intercoat adhesion to subsequent layers.

EXOCOAT™ 143:  Following the conversion coating, EXOCOAT™ 143 serves as a ceramic clearcoat. This layer possesses easy-to-clean properties, due to a low surface energy that minimizes contaminant adhesion.

EXOCOAT™ 143 is made PFAS free, in which the organometallic resin provides water and oil repellent characteristics. This property not only simplifies cleaning and maintenance but can also offer additional benefits like improved stain resistance and reduced susceptibility to fingerprint smudging. EXOCOAT™ 143 may be used as low maintenance anti-graffiti coating to which no tag adheres.

Synergy and Performance:  The combined action of EXOCOAT™ AC and EXOCOAT™ 143 provides a powerful surface treatment solution. The conversion coating by EXOCOAT™ AC improves the overall adhesion and corrosion resistance of the metal substrate, while the easy-to-clean properties of EXOCOAT™ 143 offer a user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing surface. This system can be particularly advantageous for applications in demanding environments or where frequent cleaning is necessary.

Material Compatibility: EXOCOAT™ AC and EXOCOAT™ 143 function well on aluminum and a variety of other metals.  For optimal performance, it’s always recommended to technical team to check the compatibility for specific application and desired metals.

EXOCOAT™ AC and EXOCOAT™ 143 are both applied as thin layers (total DFT 10-15 micron) and give good corrosion protection properties with up to 3000hrs neutral salt spray resistance. Both products can be cured at room temperature with moisture from the air or can be baked at elevated temperatures, 90 to 150oC.

man with high pressure tool in the end washing graffitis on a tramway

EXOCOAT™ IS AT ACS 2024 !

  • April 2024

From April 30th to May 2nd Indiana Convention Center is hosting the American Coatings Show 2024.

ACS is the showcase for innovations and trends in the coatings industry. It gathers players from all around the world to present and discuss their latest developments.

Axcentive is glad to return to ACS this year and exhibit EXOCOAT™, its range of nanotechnology and innovative coatings solutions. This is the perfect opportunity to meet companies that are looking for innovative solutions in the field of coatings.

The EXOCOAT™ range includes clear coat sol-gel and preceramic resins as well as nanoparticle technology for formulators.

EXOCOAT™ offers functionalities like anticorrosion, fire retardance, self-cleaning, superhydrophilic, supherhydrophobic, easy-to-clean and anti-graffiti. The latter are offered as PFAS free systems.

The whole team would be pleased to welcome you on our booth #523.

How Sol-Gel technology can replace PFAS ?

  • January 2024

In our research laboratory, we continue to develop new sol-gel formulations.

One target area is sol-gels as replacement for PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) containing materials. PFAS are persistent chemicals, meaning difficult to breakdown and are potentially harmful to humans as they bioaccumulate in human tissue. PFAS have been used to incorporate hydrophobic and particularly oleophobic properties into materials such as coatings and plastics.

Sol-gel technology is a promising alternative to PFAS for a variety of applications due to its ability to create durable, hydrophobic, oleophobic, and non-toxic coatings as pointed out below:

  • Being partly of fully inorganic sol-gel coatings are very durable and can withstand harsh conditions, such as high temperatures, strong wear, and abrasive chemicals.
  • Sol-gel coatings can be made to be very water and oil-repellent. This makes them suitable for applications where stain resistance is important, such as non-stick cookware and easy to clean coatings.
  • Sol-gel coatings are generally non-toxic and are made of non-harmful chemicals.

At Axcentive we promote sol-gel technology-based products for easy to clean, anti-graffiti and general anti-stick coatings under the EXOCOAT™ brandname.

Axcentive’s partner in Sol-Gel Materia Nova ASBL inaugurated its new building

  • January 2024

On November 23rd, our Sol-Gel development partner, Materia Nova, opened its doors on the initial site in Mons

(where they have been operating for more than 20 years) for the inauguration of its new building and the implementation of new pieces of equipment with exceptional performance in surface treatments and analysis:

It was a festive opportunity for our scientific experts and our customers to discuss projects and needs for new functional performance of materials in order to meet the challenges of energy and environmental transitions.

For more information about the equipment and what we can do for you, contact Materia Nova

 

Axcentive remains part of the Top 100 of coatings suppliers ingredients on Specialchem

  • December 2023

Axcentive is proud to be ranked within the Top 100 of the most popular suppliers of coatings ingredient listed by Specialchem  for the 3rd consecutive year.
It is an opportunity to amplify the awareness around EXOCOAT™ and the transformative solutions it brings to the market. Our sol-gel and nanotechnologies are more than products: they acknowledge our determination to continue delivering solutions that go beyond expectations.

Top 100 suppliers of coatings ingredients 2023

Axcentive SARL & Materia Nova ASBL officialized their cooperation

  • December, 2023

Materia Nova ASBL and Axcentive SARL officialized their intentions to combine their skills in the field of wet organic sol gel hybrid chemistry for smart and functional coatings on hard surfaces.

 

Materia Nova supports companies in the development, scaling up and industrialization of new technological solutions. The company has been involved for many years in the development of functional surface coatings.
Axcentive produces and markets innovative technologies in coatings and related markets and has successfully targeted the smart and functional coatings market, globally.
Both entities are joining forces to come together in a strategic partnership to foster innovative nanotechnology and enable their customers to remain at the forefront of their markets.
The partnership has been endorsed on September 26 th, 2023, in Mons, Belgium by the Management Team of both organizations.

 

The Foundations of the strategic partnership between Materia Nova and Axcentive lay on their complementarity.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Cube-MN.png “Our collaboration with Materia Nova is an exciting step forward in our growth in the smart and functional coatings market and our dedication to provide unique coating materials. We further strengthen our ability to meet the evolving market needs and accelerate the development of products allowing for ground breaking and sustainable performances in OEM environments, coating formulations or end applications, explains Sarah Koehler, Director of Axcentive and pursues: Together with Materia Nova’s know-how and strengths in the field of sol gel technology, we can further develop our advanced range of smart and functional coating materials marketed under the EXOCOAT™ brand.This marks a new chapter for Axcentive.”

Arno Schut, Innovation Manager at Axcentive: “As Axcentive we have always been in favor of joint cooperations with customers and research laboratories for the simple reason it is more efficient than carrying the total development as a sole company. Together with the Materia Nova experts we will be even better able to innovate and capitalize on the existing know-how.”

“Materia Nova’s mission is to transfer technological innovations to markets and customers. Through the various projects carried out over the past few years, we have acquired solid know-how in functional wet coating technologies. Most of the time, the products resulting from our developments are exclusively intended for very specific tailor made applications. Based on Axcentive’s knowledge of markets and specifications, and thanks to its marketing capabilities, we can adapt these developments to meet other needs for other applications and markets”, says Martine Bouvet, in charge of the business development activities at Materia Nova.

Mireille Poelman, scientific expert for wet coating technologies at Materia Nova: “this collaboration gives us the means to push our research efforts even further and offer truly innovative and differentiating solutions.”

Sol-gel technology is an excellent process for producing hybrid coatings which are intermediates between organic coatings and ceramics.They are sometimes called “ceramic like”. These coatings are obtained under mild chemical conditions, at temperatures lower than those of conventional synthesis routes. These conditions offer the possibility of combining organic and mineral species for ancient families of hybrid compounds with new properties. A method particularly suitable to produce films and coatings, for example for the treatment of surfaces such as glass, metal, wood, paper or plastics. It is possible to disperse fillers in the sol-gel matrices, to add additives to give them specific functionalities: hydrophobic/oleophobic, anti fouling, antimicrobial, mechanical resistance, anti corrosion, membership promoter, etc.

 

Hybrid organic sol-gel wet chemistry has evolved significantly in recent years. Under the restrictive impetus of new regulations for environmental protection, certain dangerous products or components must be eliminated from surface coatings. This is how Materia Nova develops sol gels which represent excellent alternatives to zinc layers, chrome VI, polyfluorinated alkyl substances, etc. Materia Nova and Axcentive are strongly involved in the replacement of PFAS in coatings. The Horizon Europe project BIO SUSHY (coordinated by Materia Nova, Axcentive being advisory board member), offers a complete operating framework to develop sustainable PFAS free water and oil repellent organic and hybrid coatings, targeting the textile,food packaging and cosmetics markets. Materia Nova demonstrates the ability of Sol-Gel to respond to very demanding applications,
for example in the aeronautics sector with the Stellar project to mitigate insect contamination and preserve laminar flow.

 

The market for smart and functional coatings is growing rapidly and is fueled by rising demand for sustainable, durable, high performance coatings. Over the last few years, the boost of nanotechnology and functional materials has promoted the development of new smart and functional coatings, and this trend will continue to rise in the next coming years. These coatings bring surface functionalities such as extreme water repellence, self cleaning, antifogging, antimicrobial, anti graffiti, superhydrophobic, anticorrosion, or easy to clean properties. They are widely used in various industries including building and construction, automotive and transportation, aviation and marine industries. The importance of functional coatings lies in their ability to improve product performance, durability, reduce maintenance costs and improve overall process efficiency in industrial applications. Walls, solar panels and glass can be made self cleaning. Trains can be coated with a layer of true anti graffiti coating to which tag does not stick and can be easily wiped off. All kinds of flat surfaces can be made easy to clean.

 

The combination of Axcentive and Materia Nova expertises in the wet coating technologies will open new innovative opportunities for the rising demand for sustainable, durable,high performance coatings.

Axcentive SARL & Materia Nova ASBL are forging ties

  • September, 2023

Axcentive SARL and Materia Nova ASBL are joining forces to foster innovative nanotechnology and enable their customers to remain at the forefront of their markets. Both entities have decided to come together in a strategic partnership.

“Our collaboration with Materia Nova is an exciting step forward in our growth in the smart and functional coatings market and our dedication to provide unique coating materials. We further strengthen our ability to meet the evolving market needs and accelerate the development of products allowing for ground-breaking and sustainable performances in OEM environments, coating formulations or end applications”, explains Sarah Koehler, Director of Axcentive and pursues:

“Together with Materia Nova’s know-how and strengths in the field of sol-gel technology, we can further develop our advanced range of smart and functional coating materials marketed under the EXOCOAT™ brand. This marks a new chapter for Axcentive.”

 

Axcentive in external advisory board BIO-SUSHY

  • August, 2023

Axcentive has accepted a position on the External Advisory Board (EAB) in the Horizon 2020 Project: BIO-SUSHY.

The BIO-SUSHY project aims to develop innovative coating solutions that meet the EU’s chemical strategy for sustainability by creating safe and durable water and oil-repellent coatings.

Effective water and oil-repellent coatings today are almost solely fluorine based.
Fluorine based coating raw materials have been scrutinized due to their persistence, i.e., they are difficult to breakdown by nature and toxicity. Recently, Europe ECHA has announced its proposal to ban certain fluorine based compounds, also called forever chemicals, from 2027 on forward. USA and China governing bodies move in similar ways.

The BIO-SUSHY development project is planned over 4 years in which the research on viable F-free alternatives is supported by lab work, the use of computational modelling, toxicity assessment and SSbD (safe and sustainable by design) methodology.

Arno Schut, Innovation Manager at Axcentive is excited about the project: “Axcentive has been active in the market for water and oil-repellents with products free of the targeted fluorine chemicals. Hence, we are in a good position to advise on research directions and especially to find further improvements in current technology.”

Part of the BIO-SUSHY project is Materia Nova ASBL research institute, strategic partner of Axcentive in sol-gel and related technologies.

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