Read the entire article that Arno Schut presented at the EC Conference on Functional Coatings & Nanotechnology held in Köln early April.
Mechanical Study of coatings relating salt spray performance & molecular build up
Axcentive will be delivering a speech at the EC Conference on Functional Coatings & Nanotechnology in Cologne, Germany from April 9th to 10th 2024.
Arno Schut will present our recent research work on how new Sol-Gel technology is used as anti-corrosive conversion coatings for aluminium substrates.
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:
At Axcentive we promote sol-gel technology-based products for easy to clean, anti-graffiti and general anti-stick coatings under the EXOCOAT™ brandname.
(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 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
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.
“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.
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 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.
Showcased at ECS 2023 in Nurnberg, coated automobile rims based on EXOCOAT™ technology kept remarkably clean when the rim was smeared with dirt. Applied by simple spray application on a commercial aluminium-based rim suited for a Tesla Model Y, the coating is robust and resistant against chemicals and sustains a CASS (Copper Accelerated Salt Spray) test for more than a week.
This preceramic technology can be adapted for room temperature, forced cure and even for the coil coating application (30 sec, 250oC).
In the domain of industrial finishes, the EXOCOAT™ technology can replace persistent fluorine-based resins such as FEVE, PVDF and PTFE matching their excellent resistance properties. Moreover, with EXOCOAT™’s preceramic technology one may expect better adhesion properties and reduced peel off a typical shortcoming of fluorine resins.
After more than 3 years without the possibility to attend exhibitions, Axcentive was finally present on 2 important fairs by end of first quarter 2023.
European Coatings Show
ECS is the industry for paints and coatings leading trade show. Late March, ECS opened the door of a new edition in Nuremberg.
Axcentive could not miss that event and were pleased to exhibit at ECS 2023 for the third time. Almost 25,000 visitors came to the show. We enjoyed the vibrant atmosphere of this 2023 edition and were thrilled to meet again with our customers & partners at the Show.
We were grateful for the multiple visits paid to our booth and for the fruitful interactions. Our objective was not only to reinforce our presence in the field of additives used in inks, coatings and adhesives, but also to promote our range of innovative coatings solutions. The goal was achieved as most of the visitors welcomed to our stand came for EXOCOAT™ and many interesting projects are already in the pipe.
In addition, we had the chance to present our latest product developments in relation to titanium dioxide based nanotechnologies for smart and functional coatings, during the product presentation led by our Innovation Manager, Arno Schut during the ECS conference.
We can already save the date for 2025. Click here to watch the full video 
Les Nauticales
Les Nauticales is the yachting & watersports event bringing together yacht builders, shipyards and professionals from this industry. It was held in La Ciotat, France from March 18th to 26th.
Our International Sales Manager Juan-Carlos BARONNA was invited to attend the round-table event dedicated to Innovation and Sustainability with other professionals from the yachting industry on March 23rd.
He had the opportunity to explain how nanotechnology-based coatings; which form the basis of the EXOCOAT™ range, allow for ground-breaking and more durable performances in the yachting industry.
