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Volvo and self cleaning paint
Posted by Jim Hammill
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Volvo and self cleaning paint May 15, 2004 02:58AM |
Registered: 17 years ago Posts: 751 |
<HTML>Volvo had a new concept car on shpw at the Geneva motor show, which had self cleaning. or stay clean paint on it . Whilst it is not certain to ever reach production , it is an intresting story. More info on it in this story from abc science online.
"Leaf secret inspires self-cleaning paint
Friday, 28 March 2003
The ability of leaves to clean themselves in the rain has inspired the development of a self-cleaning paint.
A self-cleaning paint inspired by lotus leaves is being developed by Australian researchers.
A paint compound, which is currently being tested by its developers at the Centre for Advanced Materials Technology at the University of Sydney is designed to prevent dirt from sticking to its surface.
According to Dr Nagu Nagarajan, who is charged with future commercialisation, the initial inspiration for the paint came from nature.
One researcher noticed that while lotus plants live in water, water never sticks to their leaves, Nagarajan told ABC Science Online. "We asked 'can we mimic this property?'."
Plant leaves keep clean because a thin, and slightly bumpy, coating of wax on them enables rain to easily wash the dirt from them. The team have mimicked the natural cleaning action of water on leaves by creating a synthetic compound - consisting of a water-repellent polymer filled with a microscopic powder - which is designed to decrease the strength of the bond between dirt and the surface of paint.
"Even if something sticks in a light way the rain will take it away," Nagarajan said.
If it proves itself, the new paint compound is designed to become part of the normal mixture of paint chemicals which include solvent, pigment and oxidants.
The paint could be used on house exteriors, cars, road signs and billboards which would then be washed clean any time it rained. It could also make food surfaces easier to wash and could potentially be used on ceramic tiles and even help with the problem of graffiti.
"Graffiti is an ink, the concept should cover that as well although it does need to be tested," said Nagarajan.
Early days
The concept is yet to undergo a lot of testing.
"Testing needs to be done outside and in certain conditions, and under certain temperatures," Nagarajan said. “Surfaces that are exposed to high UV radiation will require paint that needs to be tested for longer periods.”
"We are still working at laboratory scale, and will patent once proof of concept is achieved.”
The team anticipate it will take between 18 months to two years for the new product to reach the market. "We have a long way to go," he said. Because it is self-cleaning we want it to last for years.”
Nagarajan’s group is currently trying to get commercial interest in the project and would like to keep new technologies within the University.
"Initially we are aiming to have Australian backers, but we don't want good technology to die a natural death," he said.
The self-cleaning paint is being showcased at Australia’s first Commercialisation Forum and Fair of Ideas being held in Sydney this week.
Danny Kingsley - ABC Science Online
Jim.</HTML>
"Leaf secret inspires self-cleaning paint
Friday, 28 March 2003
The ability of leaves to clean themselves in the rain has inspired the development of a self-cleaning paint.
A self-cleaning paint inspired by lotus leaves is being developed by Australian researchers.
A paint compound, which is currently being tested by its developers at the Centre for Advanced Materials Technology at the University of Sydney is designed to prevent dirt from sticking to its surface.
According to Dr Nagu Nagarajan, who is charged with future commercialisation, the initial inspiration for the paint came from nature.
One researcher noticed that while lotus plants live in water, water never sticks to their leaves, Nagarajan told ABC Science Online. "We asked 'can we mimic this property?'."
Plant leaves keep clean because a thin, and slightly bumpy, coating of wax on them enables rain to easily wash the dirt from them. The team have mimicked the natural cleaning action of water on leaves by creating a synthetic compound - consisting of a water-repellent polymer filled with a microscopic powder - which is designed to decrease the strength of the bond between dirt and the surface of paint.
"Even if something sticks in a light way the rain will take it away," Nagarajan said.
If it proves itself, the new paint compound is designed to become part of the normal mixture of paint chemicals which include solvent, pigment and oxidants.
The paint could be used on house exteriors, cars, road signs and billboards which would then be washed clean any time it rained. It could also make food surfaces easier to wash and could potentially be used on ceramic tiles and even help with the problem of graffiti.
"Graffiti is an ink, the concept should cover that as well although it does need to be tested," said Nagarajan.
Early days
The concept is yet to undergo a lot of testing.
"Testing needs to be done outside and in certain conditions, and under certain temperatures," Nagarajan said. “Surfaces that are exposed to high UV radiation will require paint that needs to be tested for longer periods.”
"We are still working at laboratory scale, and will patent once proof of concept is achieved.”
The team anticipate it will take between 18 months to two years for the new product to reach the market. "We have a long way to go," he said. Because it is self-cleaning we want it to last for years.”
Nagarajan’s group is currently trying to get commercial interest in the project and would like to keep new technologies within the University.
"Initially we are aiming to have Australian backers, but we don't want good technology to die a natural death," he said.
The self-cleaning paint is being showcased at Australia’s first Commercialisation Forum and Fair of Ideas being held in Sydney this week.
Danny Kingsley - ABC Science Online
Jim.</HTML>
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Re: Volvo and self cleaning paint May 15, 2004 03:02AM |
Registered: 17 years ago Posts: 505 |
<HTML>Was a big "thing" about 4 years ago.
Doesn't work, and if you read the fine print about how the plant does it, it is basically a "self produced" wax, emitted by the plant.
I will let your logic now take over and figure out how an organic paint system is going to continually emit a wax over the life of a vehicle.
Ketch</HTML>
Do it right or don't do it all!
Doesn't work, and if you read the fine print about how the plant does it, it is basically a "self produced" wax, emitted by the plant.
I will let your logic now take over and figure out how an organic paint system is going to continually emit a wax over the life of a vehicle.
Ketch</HTML>
Do it right or don't do it all!
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Re: Volvo and self cleaning paint May 15, 2004 03:12AM |
Registered: 17 years ago Posts: 751 |
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Re: Volvo and self cleaning paint May 15, 2004 03:22AM |
Registered: 17 years ago Posts: 1,838 |
<HTML>Speaking of self-cleaning (and I don't mean to change the subject) here's something I heard and probably Ketch, you know something about it, since you worked closely with boat manufacturers.
One of the members at a yacht club I work at says his 2002 50' Jefferson Yacht never needs waxing. I heard the same thing about Lexus, but I still detail Lexus vehicles.
What's the truth behind the new Jeffersons needing no wax -- just a washing is needed?</HTML>
Take care,
Brian
Precision Auto & Marine
Learn to detail boats! Visit www.detailtheboat.com
One of the members at a yacht club I work at says his 2002 50' Jefferson Yacht never needs waxing. I heard the same thing about Lexus, but I still detail Lexus vehicles.
What's the truth behind the new Jeffersons needing no wax -- just a washing is needed?</HTML>
Take care,
Brian
Precision Auto & Marine
Learn to detail boats! Visit www.detailtheboat.com
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Re: Volvo and self cleaning paint May 15, 2004 01:27PM |
Registered: 17 years ago Posts: 505 |
<HTML>Not really sure, unless some new high tech gel coat has been developed in the past two years, doubt it.
Gives them some thing to "sizzle market", and will only serve to confuse the owner of the boat and require detailers to educate the customer regarding reality.
Even then, as those of us who have been around the business of detailing for years are aware, car sales people were telling customers when clearcoats first came out that "they never need to wax their car again, it has a magic clearcoat that never requires more than washing.".
How many customers have told you that? I bet lots of them, as they gaze at their dull, etched vehicle they brought to you to fix after it may be too late.
Sizzle my friend, sizzle!!
We all know better.
The new Lexus paints are not anything special other than a very fine, thin portion of the clear which is what "nano" is all about.
This is use of ceramic technology combined with newer resin systems to create a very thin, hard, mar resistant top layer. This material "rises" to the top of the clear as the curing takes place, like any other film former/binder resin system does.
In meetings a couple of weeks ago with PPG, at their facility in the Detroit area, we were addressing this very issue.
A large concern is the use of dealers and owners using old style compounds, especially those with crystilline silica abrasives, to remove minor marring.
The top coat of the "nano" is so thin, it is easily removed by a wool or foam pad and the wrong compound and too fast of buffer speed.
The other issue is the refinishing of panels when collision repairs are made.
It is a problem these days with painters attempting to "blend" panels with clear now. We all see the result of this in a few months following the repair, but with this "nano" clear, it is an even bigger issue.
One that is going to piss off a lot of customers if not done correctly.
Ketch</HTML>
Do it right or don't do it all!
Gives them some thing to "sizzle market", and will only serve to confuse the owner of the boat and require detailers to educate the customer regarding reality.
Even then, as those of us who have been around the business of detailing for years are aware, car sales people were telling customers when clearcoats first came out that "they never need to wax their car again, it has a magic clearcoat that never requires more than washing.".
How many customers have told you that? I bet lots of them, as they gaze at their dull, etched vehicle they brought to you to fix after it may be too late.
Sizzle my friend, sizzle!!
We all know better.
The new Lexus paints are not anything special other than a very fine, thin portion of the clear which is what "nano" is all about.
This is use of ceramic technology combined with newer resin systems to create a very thin, hard, mar resistant top layer. This material "rises" to the top of the clear as the curing takes place, like any other film former/binder resin system does.
In meetings a couple of weeks ago with PPG, at their facility in the Detroit area, we were addressing this very issue.
A large concern is the use of dealers and owners using old style compounds, especially those with crystilline silica abrasives, to remove minor marring.
The top coat of the "nano" is so thin, it is easily removed by a wool or foam pad and the wrong compound and too fast of buffer speed.
The other issue is the refinishing of panels when collision repairs are made.
It is a problem these days with painters attempting to "blend" panels with clear now. We all see the result of this in a few months following the repair, but with this "nano" clear, it is an even bigger issue.
One that is going to piss off a lot of customers if not done correctly.
Ketch</HTML>
Do it right or don't do it all!
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Re: Volvo and self cleaning paint May 15, 2004 01:42PM |
Registered: 17 years ago Posts: 505 |
<HTML>The "self cleaning" paint thing is the result of some professors getting a large grant to explore new techology, develope it in a lab so the Germans can continue to be the leaders in developing new paint systems and resin systems for the paints.
The Volvo thing is a "concept" used to draw interest to their vehicle products.
Even if it would actually work, do you have any idea of what it would cost the vehicle manufacturers to change over their paint kitchens in the hundreds of assembly plants around the world?
A small update in an assembly plant to the paint application line is usually no less than $5 million US.
To do a complete change over to apply totally new systems would be very hard for the bean counters to swallow.
It takes an act of congress for most plants to get an approval and funds in order to correct minor concerns.
I spend a lot of time around these assembly plant paint kitchens (just an insider term used for the paint line), and I don't forsee any changes other than the "nano" being applied to high line vehicles, in the next 10 years.
Ketch</HTML>
Do it right or don't do it all!
The Volvo thing is a "concept" used to draw interest to their vehicle products.
Even if it would actually work, do you have any idea of what it would cost the vehicle manufacturers to change over their paint kitchens in the hundreds of assembly plants around the world?
A small update in an assembly plant to the paint application line is usually no less than $5 million US.
To do a complete change over to apply totally new systems would be very hard for the bean counters to swallow.
It takes an act of congress for most plants to get an approval and funds in order to correct minor concerns.
I spend a lot of time around these assembly plant paint kitchens (just an insider term used for the paint line), and I don't forsee any changes other than the "nano" being applied to high line vehicles, in the next 10 years.
Ketch</HTML>
Do it right or don't do it all!
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Re: Volvo and self cleaning paint May 19, 2004 02:06AM |
Registered: 17 years ago Posts: 3,550 |
<HTML>"Nanotechnology" is the study of particles that are 1 billionth of a meter is size. Actually it is the study of particles between about 10-100 nanometers. You cannot see anything smaller than about 10,000 nanometers and the human hair has an average size of about 50,000 nanometers. The theory about nanotechnology (this is a new buzz word) is that smaller size particles behave differently than their larger counterparts. For instance, talc that has nano sized particles will behave differently than standard talc (absorb differently, conduct differently, etc.)
An entire array of new materials with different properties can be utilized if made "nano size."
Hope this offers some incite on the subject.
Regards
Bud Abraham</HTML>
buda
An entire array of new materials with different properties can be utilized if made "nano size."
Hope this offers some incite on the subject.
Regards
Bud Abraham</HTML>
buda
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Re: Volvo and self cleaning paint May 19, 2004 02:21AM |
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Re: Volvo and self cleaning paint May 19, 2004 02:33AM |
Registered: 17 years ago Posts: 751 |
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