Surface conversion
technology, also known as mineralization or the science of minetics, is
the ability to grow a very thin layer of minerals on metal surfaces
for useful purposes.
Engineered surfaces form when mineral-forming reactants are delivered
to the surface
of a metal or metal-containing article via novel modifications of known
base formulations (e.g. paint, gel, grease, aqueous suspension).
Substrates
contribute donor ions to react and/or interact with delivered reactants,
forming a very thin layer of mineral (utilizing present metal oxides,
carbonates, and hydroxides), which chemically bond to the surface of
the substrate (metal) and has been measured to be only a few monolayers
thick.
In many
applications, lattice-forming oxides anchor to this surface-adhesion
layer and polymerize
into a three-dimensional inorganic framework structure until the
final coating thickness is 50-200
angstroms. (A piece of paper is approximately 1,000,000 angstroms
thick.)
The result
is an effective barrier between the anodes and cathodes (which exist
in every metal) from electrolytes that initiate and maintain the corrosion
process. This means new systems are protected from corrosion and existing
corrosion is brought to a standstill.
Engineered
mineralization products have been developed to deliver the mineral-forming
reactants in a wide variety of formulations including paints, coatings,
synthetic
gels, greases, thread dressings, sealants, adhesives and water gels.
Several patents
and patent applications cover the delivery of novel formulations as
well as the mineralized layer that is formed as a result of an interaction
between the applied coating and the underlying substrate.
The presence
and uniqueness of the mineralization layer can be confirmed by conventional
analytical surface methods such as x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
(XPS) or atomic
force microscope (AFM).
Benefits
of Engineered Surfaces:
- Outstanding corrosion
prevention
- Direct application
on rusted surfaces
- Fast and efficient
mineralization, including a unique self-healing mechanism
- Environmentally
friendly
Click here for the data sheet in pdf format
Mineralization
Layer
Microscopic
Detail
