By incorporating fluoride or similar groups in the initial mixture, a range of low wettability, chemical resistant and electrically insulating surfaces can be obtained with sol-gel
Sol-gels are colloidal metal alkoxide materials that can be applied by normal coating processes such as dipping or spraying, to metal and ceramic surfaces.
When coated the parts are heat treated, causing the sol-gel to polymerise forming a smooth continuous glass-like surface.
By incorporating fluoride or similar groups in the initial mixture, a range of low wettability, chemical resistant and electrically insulating surfaces can be obtained with sol-gels.
The process which was originally developed at the Institute for New Materials at the University of Saarbruken, has been further developed, as have been application and process parameters, by Nanosol - particularly for the internal and external coating of hollow needles used in clinical chemistry analysers.
Because much less liquid adheres to a treated tube compared to an untreated tube, the amount of material transferred from one sample next, even without intermediate washing, is greatly reduced. Cross-contamination which could lead to a false positive result is therefore almost eliminated.
Other typical applications are low friction surfaces, coating of injection mould tools to improve the release properties, easily cleanable dirt shedding surfaces and protection against chemical attack.
