High-performance
Our researchers and laboratory are dedicated to the development of advanced materials and coatings
SPECIFIC POLYMERS focuses its R&D on the development of high-performance materials and multifunctional coatings for high-value-added applications.
As the demand for materials with enhanced functionalities across various applications grows, the production of high-performance materials and coatings has become essential. At SPECIFIC POLYMERS, we focus our research efforts on developing the materials of the future.
HIGH-TEMPERATURE RESINS FOR STRUCTURAL APPLICATIONS
In the current context of global changes, where CO2 emissions are required to be as low as possible, composites appear to be attractive materials since they are their lightweight and easy to manufacture. However, the extreme conditions that materials encounter in aeronautics and automotive applications have, so far, prevented the use of composites which are traditionally made from polyamide, epoxy, vinyl ester, phenolic, polypropylene or unsaturated polyester.
Resins such as bismaleimides, polyimides, cyanate esters, benzoxazines and phthalonitriles are interesting alternatives as they have been made to be able to withstand higher service temperatures. For instance, the PMR polyimides (polymerization of monomeric reactants) exhibit very high thermal stability with a continuous temperature use above 290°C while phthalonitriles show thermal degradation onset above 500°C.
Nevertheless, improvements are still required to extend their thermal resistance and adjust their mechanical properties to the specificity of the application, while containing the product cost.
At SPECIFIC POLYMERS, specific attention is paid to the development of the next generation of phthalonitrile resins and their optimization in terms of toughness and the maintenance of mechanical performance after ageing. Different strategies are investigated to bring these new resins up to the requirements of various high demanding sectors, relying on the synthesis of new precursors and their formulation with suitable additives.
Overview of current heat-resistant resins – the dilemma between excellent mechanical properties and high continuous use temperature
DISCOVER OUR FIRST FORMULATED PHTHALONITRILE RESIN SP-3414_A
SP-3414_A is a mono-component phthalonitrile resin specifically tailored for use in processes like vacuum infusion and RTM (Resin Transfer Molding). This phthalonitrile resin offers exceptional thermal stability, high glass transition temperature, flame retardancy, and superior mechanical strength.
SP-3414_A phthalonitrile resin is available at 250g, 500g, 1kg + Bulk on request.
ADVANCED COATING TECHNOLOGIES FOR OPTIMAL PERFORMANCES
Our approach is based on a deep understanding of the relationships between the chemical structure of materials and their functional properties.. By combining custom-designed polymer matrices with suitable organic and/or inorganic additives, we continuously advance the development of high-performance, multifunctional coatings for diverse industrial and high-tech applications. This methodology allows us to design coatings that meet the specific needs of each application. Within this activity, we concentrate our research efforts on the following properties and applications :
Anti-corrosion Coatings
Anti-corrosion coatings play a critical role in various industries by protecting materials from the damaging effects of corrosion. In the automotive industry, these coatings safeguard vehicle bodies and undercarriages from rust and deterioration caused by exposure to moisture, salt, and road chemicals. In the marine sector, they are essential for shielding ships and offshore structures from the corrosive effects of seawater and harsh marine environments. Construction projects benefit from anti-corrosion coatings on steel structures, bridges, and pipelines, ensuring longevity and structural integrity. The oil and gas industry relies on these coatings to protect pipelines, storage tanks, and drilling equipment from corrosive substances and challenging operational conditions. These diverse applications highlight the necessity of anti-corrosion coatings in maintaining the durability and functionality of vital infrastructure and equipment.
Our expertise in developing coatings with specific anti-corrosion properties allows us to address a wide range of applications, providing optimal protection and extending the lifespan of critical assets.
Anti-Erosion Coatings
Coatings that provide anti-erosion properties are also important in various application fields. In aerospace, they protect aircraft surfaces and components from the erosive effects of high-speed airflows and harsh environmental conditions. In the wind energy sector, these coatings are applied to wind turbine blades to shield them from rain, sand, and other erosive elements, thereby enhancing their lifespan and efficiency. In the automotive industry, anti-erosion coatings safeguard vehicle exteriors and undercarriages from road debris and environmental wear. In construction, these coatings are used on structures exposed to severe weather conditions, such as bridges and buildings, to prevent material degradation and maintain structural integrity. These applications highlight the vital role of anti-erosion coatings in improving durability and performance across various sectors.
Within SPECIFIC POLYMERS, we have experience in the development of coatings in sectors such as aerospace and wind turbines, and we can leverage this experience to achieve similar objectives in the aforementioned applications.
Anti-Contamination / Anti-Icing Coatings
Anti-contamination coatings are of great importance for maintaining cleanliness and functionality across various sectors. In the automotive industry, these coatings are applied to vehicle exteriors and interiors to prevent the buildup of dirt and contaminants, enhancing durability and appearance. In the medical field, they are used on medical devices and surfaces to reduce the risk of infection and facilitate sterilization. In the electronics industry, these coatings protect components from moisture and contaminants, ensuring reliable performance. In the food processing sector, anti-contamination coatings are applied to equipment and surfaces to repel water, oil, and grease, making cleaning easier and ensuring hygiene standards are met. Additionally, de-icing coatings are crucial in the aerospace and transportation industries, preventing the accumulation of ice on surfaces and ensuring safety and efficiency.
Over the last decade, we have been developing coatings that repel water, oil, grease and ice. Our extensive experience allows us to address projects in various sectors. Our hydrophobic, hydrophilic and/or oleophobic coatings can be of interest in very different kinds of applications such as glass/metal surfaces treatments or surface functionalization of high performance textiles. For oil repellency, since the new regulations are restricting the use of Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) because of Human health concerns associated with these products, SPECIFIC POLYMERS now focuses a part of its research to fluorine free-coatings.
Electroconductive Coatings
In aerospace, conductive coatings provide essential protection against lightning and shield against electromagnetic interference. Similarly, in electronics, these coatings are integral to the functionality of printed circuit boards, touchscreens, and electroactive devices. The automotive industry also relies on conductive coatings for both lightning protection and the protection of electronic components in vehicles. In the green energy sector, they are applied in energy storage systems, such as supercapacitors. In construction, conductive coatings are used in applications like smart windows and underfloor heating systems. These diverse applications highlight the wide-ranging importance of conductive coatings in modern technologies.
A key focus of our work has been the development of highly conductive paints specifically designed for lightning protection. By optimizing the distribution of metallic and carbon-based particles, we achieve high conductivity with minimal filler content. Furthermore, we offer the ability to tailor coatings with varying levels of electroconductivity, making them suitable for a range of applications. This adaptability allows us to meet the specific needs of each sector, ensuring optimal performance and functionality.
SPECIFIC POLYMERS researchers can contribute to a variety of projects that aim at developing electrically conductive coatings for diverse uses. Depending on the application, the required conductivity can range from semi-conductive to ultra-conductive.
Self-healing coatings
Self-healing coatings represent a significant advancement in material science, offering numerous benefits across various industries. These coatings have the unique ability to autonomously repair minor damages, such as scratches and cracks, without the need for external intervention. This self-repairing capability extends the lifespan of the coated materials, reducing maintenance costs and downtime. In the automotive industry, self-healing coatings can keep vehicles looking new for longer by automatically fixing minor surface damages. In aerospace and construction, these coatings enhance the durability and safety of structures by preventing the propagation of small defects that could lead to larger failures. Additionally, self-healing coatings contribute to sustainability by reducing the frequency of recoating and the associated environmental impact. Overall, the development of self-healing coatings offers a promising solution for enhancing the longevity, performance, and sustainability of various products and infrastructures.
SPECIFIC POLYMERS can also support your R&D toward coatings having the ability to repair damage by themselves or thanks to external stimuli. Such coatings are of great interest in various applications in electronic, automotive, aeronautic in which protective or anticorrosive coatings. Self-healing properties can be obtained through physical or chemical approaches, either thanks to supramolecular interactions (H-bonding, ionic interactions) or associative of dissociative Covalent Adaptable Networks (CANs).
Apart from these main research areas, we also have experience and we can bring support in developing other types of coatings, such as:
- Thermal Barrier Coatings to protect composites from high temperatures.
- Fire-proof coatings, for instance, based on phosphorus-based flame retardants that promote char formation to prevent polymer decomposition and flame propagation.
- Coatings that exhibit strong adhesion to a variety of substrates, ensuring versatile and reliable performance across different applications.
- Antifouling coatings that prevent the accumulation of biofouling organisms on surfaces, enhancing the longevity and efficiency of marine and industrial equipment.
In most cases, it is not just one but multiple properties that are sought after. The advantage of working with SPECIFIC POLYMERS is our ability to address these complex requirements through customized development, ensuring tailored solutions that meet the specific needs of each project.
Our approach is based on a deep understanding of the relationships between the chemical structure of materials and their functional properties.. By combining custom-designed polymer matrices with suitable organic and/or inorganic additives, we continuously advance the development of high-performance, multifunctional coatings for diverse industrial and high-tech applications. This methodology allows us to design coatings that meet the specific needs of each application. Within this activity, we concentrate our research efforts on the following properties and applications :
Anti-corrosion Coatings
Anti-corrosion coatings play a critical role in various industries by protecting materials from the damaging effects of corrosion. In the automotive industry, these coatings safeguard vehicle bodies and undercarriages from rust and deterioration caused by exposure to moisture, salt, and road chemicals. In the marine sector, they are essential for shielding ships and offshore structures from the corrosive effects of seawater and harsh marine environments. Construction projects benefit from anti-corrosion coatings on steel structures, bridges, and pipelines, ensuring longevity and structural integrity. The oil and gas industry relies on these coatings to protect pipelines, storage tanks, and drilling equipment from corrosive substances and challenging operational conditions. These diverse applications highlight the necessity of anti-corrosion coatings in maintaining the durability and functionality of vital infrastructure and equipment.
Our expertise in developing coatings with specific anti-corrosion properties allows us to address a wide range of applications, providing optimal protection and extending the lifespan of critical assets.
Anti-Erosion Coatings
Coatings that provide anti-erosion properties are also important in various application fields. In aerospace, they protect aircraft surfaces and components from the erosive effects of high-speed airflows and harsh environmental conditions. In the wind energy sector, these coatings are applied to wind turbine blades to shield them from rain, sand, and other erosive elements, thereby enhancing their lifespan and efficiency. In the automotive industry, anti-erosion coatings safeguard vehicle exteriors and undercarriages from road debris and environmental wear. In construction, these coatings are used on structures exposed to severe weather conditions, such as bridges and buildings, to prevent material degradation and maintain structural integrity. These applications highlight the vital role of anti-erosion coatings in improving durability and performance across various sectors.
Within SPECIFIC POLYMERS, we have experience in the development of coatings in sectors such as aerospace and wind turbines, and we can leverage this experience to achieve similar objectives in the aforementioned applications.
Anti-Contamination / Anti-Icing Coatings
Anti-contamination coatings are of great importance for maintaining cleanliness and functionality across various sectors. In the automotive industry, these coatings are applied to vehicle exteriors and interiors to prevent the buildup of dirt and contaminants, enhancing durability and appearance. In the medical field, they are used on medical devices and surfaces to reduce the risk of infection and facilitate sterilization. In the electronics industry, these coatings protect components from moisture and contaminants, ensuring reliable performance. In the food processing sector, anti-contamination coatings are applied to equipment and surfaces to repel water, oil, and grease, making cleaning easier and ensuring hygiene standards are met. Additionally, de-icing coatings are crucial in the aerospace and transportation industries, preventing the accumulation of ice on surfaces and ensuring safety and efficiency.
Over the last decade, we have been developing coatings that repel water, oil, grease and ice. Our extensive experience allows us to address projects in various sectors. Our hydrophobic, hydrophilic and/or oleophobic coatings can be of interest in very different kinds of applications such as glass/metal surfaces treatments or surface functionalization of high performance textiles. For oil repellency, since the new regulations are restricting the use of Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) because of Human health concerns associated with these products, SPECIFIC POLYMERS now focuses a part of its research to fluorine free-coatings.
Electroconductive Coatings
In aerospace, conductive coatings provide essential protection against lightning and shield against electromagnetic interference. Similarly, in electronics, these coatings are integral to the functionality of printed circuit boards, touchscreens, and electroactive devices. The automotive industry also relies on conductive coatings for both lightning protection and the protection of electronic components in vehicles. In the green energy sector, they are applied in energy storage systems, such as supercapacitors. In construction, conductive coatings are used in applications like smart windows and underfloor heating systems. These diverse applications highlight the wide-ranging importance of conductive coatings in modern technologies.
A key focus of our work has been the development of highly conductive paints specifically designed for lightning protection. By optimizing the distribution of metallic and carbon-based particles, we achieve high conductivity with minimal filler content. Furthermore, we offer the ability to tailor coatings with varying levels of electroconductivity, making them suitable for a range of applications. This adaptability allows us to meet the specific needs of each sector, ensuring optimal performance and functionality.
SPECIFIC POLYMERS researchers can contribute to a variety of projects that aim at developing electrically conductive coatings for diverse uses. Depending on the application, the required conductivity can range from semi-conductive to ultra-conductive.
Self-healing coatings
Self-healing coatings represent a significant advancement in material science, offering numerous benefits across various industries. These coatings have the unique ability to autonomously repair minor damages, such as scratches and cracks, without the need for external intervention. This self-repairing capability extends the lifespan of the coated materials, reducing maintenance costs and downtime. In the automotive industry, self-healing coatings can keep vehicles looking new for longer by automatically fixing minor surface damages. In aerospace and construction, these coatings enhance the durability and safety of structures by preventing the propagation of small defects that could lead to larger failures. Additionally, self-healing coatings contribute to sustainability by reducing the frequency of recoating and the associated environmental impact. Overall, the development of self-healing coatings offers a promising solution for enhancing the longevity, performance, and sustainability of various products and infrastructures.
SPECIFIC POLYMERS can also support your R&D toward coatings having the ability to repair damage by themselves or thanks to external stimuli. Such coatings are of great interest in various applications in electronic, automotive, aeronautic in which protective or anticorrosive coatings. Self-healing properties can be obtained through physical or chemical approaches, either thanks to supramolecular interactions (H-bonding, ionic interactions) or associative of dissociative Covalent Adaptable Networks (CANs).
Apart from these main research areas, we also have experience and we can bring support in developing other types of coatings, such as:
- Thermal Barrier Coatings to protect composites from high temperatures.
- Fire-proof coatings, for instance, based on phosphorus-based flame retardants that promote char formation to prevent polymer decomposition and flame propagation.
- Coatings that exhibit strong adhesion to a variety of substrates, ensuring versatile and reliable performance across different applications.
- Antifouling coatings that prevent the accumulation of biofouling organisms on surfaces, enhancing the longevity and efficiency of marine and industrial equipment.
In most cases, it is not just one but multiple properties that are sought after. The advantage of working with SPECIFIC POLYMERS is our ability to address these complex requirements through customized development, ensuring tailored solutions that meet the specific needs of each project.
What a pleasure to hear from you!
Do not hesitate to contact us if you require more information or if you have any questions about our expertise in high-performance materials and coatings.