Application
- Corrosion is a costly global problem, with an estimated annual cost of $2.5 trillion. Up to 35% of this cost could be reduced using effective corrosion-control methods.
- Current coatings for iron and steel surfaces have limitations such as low chemical and thermal stability, poor adhesion, and limited protection against surface defects. There is a pressing need for a non-toxic, effective coating that can protect large-scale iron and steel surfaces from corrosion in harsh environments.
Our Innovation
Our novel dual-layer coating promises up to 99.5% efficiency in protecting large-scale iron and steel surfaces from corrosion. The coating consists of two interconnected layers:
- N-Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) monolayer strongly anchored on iron.
- Secondary protecting the NHC monolayer from degradation.
The NHC layer functions as a double-sided organic glue, resulting in strong adhesion of the secondary film coating to the iron surface. This unique combination enables exceptional corrosion protection efficiency with prolonged stability.
Advantages
- Up to 99.5% corrosion protection efficiency compared to uncoated iron samples.
- Non-toxic and non-hazardous.
- Constructed from chemically available materials.
- Easily deposited on extended metal surfaces.
- High stability under harsh corrosive environments.
- Versatile application through photo-polymerization and thermally induced polymerization methods.
Opportunity
- Our technology has immense potential in the production and maintenance of iron and steel-based materials, which are widely used in infrastructure, manufacturing, and transportation.
- The coating can be applied on-site and integrated into pipes, bridges, railways, aircraft, and cars. Several companies, including Europe-Asia Pipeline Company (EAPC), Israel Railway System, Israel Chemicals (ICL), Elta, and Refael, have already expressed interest in our technology. With the achievement of our research aims, we will be well-positioned to transfer our technology from academia to industry and commercialize this groundbreaking solution for corrosion mitigation.