Nanoscale polymers for surface functionalisation
About this event
The surface is the interface between a material and its surrounding environment. Even though the surface is considered to be only a few nanometres thick, it influences material performance in many ways ranging from the materials adhesion to the enhancing of catalytic activity.
Coatings are substances applied to a surface to improve the properties and bestow new functionalities, unaffecting the bulk material. Organic molecules are relevant in this context as they have both functional groups and can assemble into functional structures.
Surface engineering and the coating of materials offer enormous opportunities to enhance a material's value; estimated at £11bn pa activity in the UK, underpinning products worth c. £140bn pa.
For example, coatings are suitable to reduce or inhibit the attachment of proteins, cells and living organisms to surfaces, a healthcare problem estimated at $400 bn pa worldwide.
Alternatively, coatings can introduce metal centres and selective absorption sites, improving catalytic performances of a wide variety of surfaces.
However, layers of organic molecules are fragile and require stabilisation to survive the interaction with the environment. It is especially relevant to catalysis, as chemical reactions occur potentially in harsh conditions. In biological environments, stabilisation is needed for the coating to survive exposure to liquids, different temperatures, biomolecules and living organisms.
In this webinar, Alessio Quadrelli, a graduate researcher at Lancaster University’s Materials Science Institute & Department of Physics will discuss polymerisation approaches to functionalise surfaces with nanoscaled polymeric coatings. He will also introduce the characterisation tools to investigate their chemistry and surface structure at the nanoscale.
Who is it for?
- Companies interested in surfaces and coatings technology and characterisation techniques
- Cheshire and Warrington SMEs that want to improve the use and performance of materials in their products and processes, or better understand the properties of their materials and products.
Why attend?
- Learn how nanoscaled polymeric coatings can add functionality to the surfaces of materials to improve the reliability and performance of your products
- Understand the characterisation tools to investigate the chemistry and surface structure of materials at the nanoscale.
- Find out how you can use the experts and specialist facilities at Lancaster University to develop functional coatings for your materials and products – all fully-funded.