Sol-Gel Technology
Certain precursor materials of silicon, titanium, aluminium or zircon are so condensed that the smallest particles emerge. These can either be processed into nano-powder or can be stabilised as a colloidal solution.
Another reaction with inorganic-organic hybrid materials, modifiers and stabilisers enables an abundance of chemical variations and allows a very special adaptation to different surfaces and functionalities.
Sol-Gel technology is an inexpensive alternative to vacuum processing, in which a sol is applied to the surface, in the form of a varnish, using conventional procedures, such as e.g. dipping, spraying or spinning and a gel coating is formed. This gel coating is sintered or hardened into a ceramic coat in a follow-up process.
This ceramic coats influence the modification of material and product surfaces in two different ways. On one hand, existing signs of use (wear resistance, corrosion resistance, hydrophobia) can be repaired, which will extend the life-span of products.
On the other, function coatings (conductive, electrochromic or microlens-arrays) can be used for developing completely new products.
Nanotechnology combines all scientific fields and is internationally applicable as one of the key technologies of the 21st century.
It includes the development, manufacture and application of systems that are combined of nanometre sized (10-9 m) components.
A nanometre corresponds with a millionth of a millimetre.
Materials with basic units of only a few nanometres, open the door to a new dimension of material development. Domains that just a few years ago were deemed to be physically unachievable, have now slipped immediately next to feasible.
With systems of this scale, completely new characteristics and functions of products and processes have been achieved.
