Researchers’ smart coating makes super-protective surfaces possible

Kingston, ON – A new technology, developed at Queen’s University, could see contaminants, ice, fingerprints and graffiti losing their grip on a wide range of surfaces. Discovered by researchers Guojun Liu and Dean Xiong (Chemistry), the coating has shown promise in repelling undesired water and oil-based deposits on multiple surfaces including glass, metal, wood, ceramics, plastics and fibres.

Lorama Inc, a manufacturer and supplier of novel additives to the paint and coatings industry, is working with the researchers and PARTEQ Innovations, the university’s technology transfer office, to commercialize the technology for a broad suite of uses, including anti-graffiti, anti-icing, anti-fingerprint or smudge, and anti-fouling.

“Our discovery was inspired by the lotus leaf, which has given us a wonderful example of a self-cleaning system, designed by nature,” says Dr. Liu, a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Materials Science and an award-winning researcher.

The industry-academic collaboration is supported by Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE), which is following up an initial investment of $25,000 with an additional $200,000 in development funding.