Nano-Coatings

Nano-coatings are produced by combining elements at the molecular level to form a denser product. One end result is a coating that can be applied to a material to make it stronger and more-durable then in its original form. Reducing the molecular structure improves nearly all of the mechanical properties of the material including yield strength, tensile strength, fatigue strength, and elongation. One downside is that nano-coatings can experience decreased ductility relative to the original coating material. However, current research is focusing on developing nano-coatings that have high strength and durability, while retaining their ductility.

Nano-coatings were initially designed to be applied to steel and other conductive surfaces using electro-plating processes. But further developments have provided a variety of uses and designs for nano technology. Some coatings are made of self-assembling monolayers (SAM), which are thin, one molecule-thick layers spontaneously formed by a substance. SAM coatings have many applications, from scratch resistant coatings for glass to self-cleaning surfaces. Other coatings are applied as spray-on coatings or as powders that are added to composite materials to enhance the physical properties of the base material. Still other nano-coatings are used to increase the efficiency of solar panels by resisting composite and material build-up on the panel facing.