Solid surface modification
The process involves coating the required surface [base material] - whether in sheet, fabric or other macro-molecular form - with a wet treatment of the ONTO® species followed by curing with heat, UV or other suitable energy source. This generates a molecular layer bonded permanently to the base polymer.
The modification of the surface can be carried out to micron precision allowing the preparation of highly patterned materials. The ONTO® process can also be applied to deliver two or more sets of functionalities to a surface. This can be achieved either homogenously or with patterning to create a material with channels or discrete areas of functionality.
More than one different ONTO® species can be blended and cured at the same time. Other different commercially available materials can also be blended with the ONTO® species. These mixtures allow coatings with multiple different effects to be prepared.
Particle surface modification
Particles are dispersed in water. A polymer is selected that will provide a deposition or dispersion benefit and that is insoluble in water. This is dispersed into the particle dispersion and agglomerates around the particles. The dispersion is cured to generate particles coated by a polymer network.