Today, end users of smart coatings prefer those products that provide smart functionality, better weather resistance, high performance, improved productivity and increased service life of the component; reduce maintenance costs; along with ease of application and easy cleaning.
As you extend the protection of the payload and/or controlled release aspect of microencapsulation, you can look to a future that includes biocides, effect pigments, antioxidants, flame retardants, catalysts and colors, just to name a few.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge are using microencapsulation technologies developed by Dolomite Microfluidics to develop self-healing construction materials.
Functional coatings are an exciting and viable means to remove indoor air contaminants due to the significant surface area that walls, ceilings, doors and floors provide as a "vehicle" to degrade VOCs.
Smart materials are becoming an important part of our future, and in many cases they are right under (or above) our noses today. Every-day examples range from your child’s forehead thermometer to your sunglass frames.
Adding formaldehyde-free alternatives to the encapsulation arsenal will be beneficial for many manufacturers, especially those creating products used directly by consumers or in building materials used in residential or office buildings.
A report by Transparency Market Research predicts the global smart coatings market will expand at a compound annual growth rate of 29.8% during the period between 2017 and 2025.
Liquid-impregnated surface coatings have untapped potential because they can be applied to a wide variety of industries to advance sustainability by reducing waste, increasing product yields, improving production efficiency, providing consistent dosage and enabling product innovation.
