Summary
- Profile Type
- Technology offer
- POD Reference
- TORO20230428010
- Term of Validity
- 28 August 2023 - 27 August 2025
- Company's Country
- Romania
- Type of partnership
- Research and development cooperation agreement
- Targeted Countries
- All countries
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General information
- Short Summary
- Process of impregnation of surfaces made of natural stone or synthetic materials that consists in the use of siloxane-type compounds with functional groups that show affinity to silver, gold, copper nanoparticles with the role of conferring antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-algal activity by preventing the formation biofilm on the treated surface. The created compounds can be applied on various new surfaces with a preventive, antibacterial role or surfaces already in use.
- Full Description
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The impregnation process consists in treating the mineral substrate, natural stone or composite, concrete, brick, terrazzo, resin-based synthetic materials and natural stone. The siloxane compounds used as coupling or silanization agents, with the general formula (RO)3Si-CaHbSH form covalent bonds with the treated substrates by means of (RO3)Si-type groups, while CaHbSH, the thiol groups ensure the formation of new groups, of the type covalently with silver, gold, copper nanoparticles (Figure 1).
The presence of hydrophobic hydrocarbon chains with a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated C8-C20 type structure associated with the thiolic group capable of binding the nanoparticles confers detergent character. The self-cleaning character is of a biomimetic nature, these chains in the presence of air currents, similar to cilia from the respiratory tract or some structures related to leaves, insect wings, which have the role of removing microorganisms, water particles from the treated surface or oil they tend to deposit. Thus, these compounds ensure the efficient cleaning of the surfaces of mineral substrates both through the reactive groups similar to cationic type detergents, and through the "cilia" type movement effect. Coupling agents of the siloxane type show an increased reactivity for inorganic, mineral or composite substrates through the SiOH-type groups. The presence of siloxane Si-O-Si compounds resulting from the condensation reaction between the reactive groups on the support and the functionalization reagent leads to the formation of a network which has the role of partially reducing the pores of the treated surface, through the lining effect of pores.
The presence of coupling agents on the surface of the materials to be treated ensures, through the mercapto (-SH) reactive groups, covalent combinations (1) with the silver, gold and copper nanoparticles, forming a barrier with an antimicrobial role by positioning them on the surface of the substrate as well as inside the pores. These nanoparticles will remain fixed for a long time and therefore the beneficial activity is long lasting.
The technology is patent pending (RO135219 (A0)).
The treatment of mineral and synthetic surfaces with compounds based on siloxanes ensures the selective sealing of the pores, reduces the water penetration capacity, but allows the surfaces to breathe, which gives them the resistance over time of the treated material. The presence of thiol-type groups (SH) will allow the covalent decoration of the surface following the treatment with the colloidal solution of silver, gold or copper (usually, with a concentration of 10-1000 ppm depending on the synthesis route of the nanoparticles and the substrate to be treated ) reason why these nanoparticles will not wash away in time and the activities induced by the presence of nanoparticles will be long-lasting. By applying the solutions in two successive layers, with covalent structures, no negative environmental aspects are foreseen. - Advantages and Innovations
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• • Compared to other processes that use siloxane-based compounds, the coupling agents exemplified by the general formula (RO)3Si-CaHbSH are characterized by a chain of carbon atoms of the CaHb type found in the structure of detergents (C8-C20) and is used without other surfactants or emollients. The -SH type reactive group has the role of fixing gold, silver, copper nanoparticles with the role of ensuring antimicrobial/antibiofilm, antifungal, antiviral activity.
• • The method of impregnation with siloxanes and nanoparticles allows the compounds to be easily applied to various substrates by brush, stencil or spray.
• • The presence of silver, gold or copper nanoparticles gives antimicrobial, antibiofilm, antialgic, antifungal and antiviral character to the treated surfaces, and this activity is maintained for a long period of time. The presence of thiol-type groups (SH) will allow the covalent decoration of the surface following the treatment with the colloidal solution of silver, gold or copper (usually, with a concentration of 10-1000 ppm depending on the synthesis route of the nanoparticles and the substrate to be treated ) reason why these nanoparticles will not go away in time and the activities induced by the presence of nanoparticles will be long-lasting
• • Compared to other existing impregnation processes on the market, this patent offers compounds with reduced toxicity both for the human factor and for the environment. The presence of nanoparticles on the treated surface is achieved through chemical bonds with the rest of the silane/siloxane coupling agents. - Stage of Development
- Lab tested
- Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being
- IPR status
- IPR applied but not yet granted
- IPR notes
- RO135219(A0)
Partner Sought
- Expected Role of a Partner
- Capitalizing on the technology obtained through a license contract granted to an interested economic partner, with the possibility of continuing a collaboration based on a research contract, to increase the TRL level of the technology from the level of the current development phase (TRL 3).
- Type and Size of Partner
- R&D Institution
- SME 50 - 249
- SME 11-49
- University
- Type of partnership
- Research and development cooperation agreement
Dissemination
- Technology keywords
- 02002002 - Coatings
- 02007015 - Properties of Materials, Corrosion/Degradation
- Market keywords
- 08001015 - Other speciality materials
- 08001017 - Industrial chemicals
- 08001023 - Other chemicals and materials (not elsewhere classified)
- 08001021 - Other speciality chemicals
- Targeted countries
- All countries