06/07/2016 | Technology
Fraunhofer-Institut für Silicatforschung ISC

New non-stick coatings for production systems

 

In Germany, strict guidelines for food products are the common standard. Manufacturers are required to clearly specify all allergenic ingredients on their product packaging. This requirement is augmented by the voluntary notification that the products can possibly contain traces of other allergens due to production-related factors.

Since even the smallest amounts of such allergens can trigger dangerous reactions among allergy sufferers, virtually no manufacturer refuses to make these declarations. This severely restricts the food product choices available for those affected. With special, very thin coatings from The Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC, this problem could soon be history. These coatings demonstrate outstanding non-stick properties and could be easily be ­integrated into and used in production systems.
Food products and their ingre­dients are viewed critically, which is ­attributable in part to increasing food intolerance. Allergy sufferers in particular pay very close attention to possibly dangerous ingredients in packaged food products that they purchase. Warnings regarding allergens that could be contained such as “Can contain traces of nuts” are found on many food product packages, since even the strictest production conditions cannot exclude the possibility that the smallest traces of nuts, eggs, soy or milk make their way into a food product.
With its non-stick lacquers for production systems, the Fraunhofer ISC could now offer a long-term alter­native solution to accustomed pro­cedures. The institute has long been ­involved in researching functional coatings for the widest variety of applications, including anti-dust coatings. For example, the institute developed and successfully applied such coatings as protective glazing for the windows at Cologne Cathedral.
The special coating ensures that virtually no dust collects on the windows, eliminating the need for expensive cleaning procedures. The cathedral windows were first applied with this special protection 15 years ago, and the coating continues to demonstrate its full effect. In the last 18 months, Fraunhofer ISC has tested the protective coating on six different locations in desert regions, where it must stand up to sandstorms and the glass cannot be cleaned with water due to a shortage of water.
For over half a year now Walther Glaubitt and his team at Fraunhofer ISC have additionally tested whether the coating is also suitable for other types of dust. The initial tests with materials from manufacturers of printing inks and food products are already successfully underway. The wet chemical lacquer is made of non-metallic ­inorganic materials with special structures that reduce the adhesion of particles such as process dust from sticking to surfaces, similar to the ­well-known lotus effect. The lacquer is temperature-resistant, suitable for food products, free of hydrocarbons containing fluorine and it demonstrates a long product life and functionality. It can be applied to indi­­­vidual system parts made of glass, ceramic or metal by either dipping or spraying them, and then hardened at 500° C. Certain plastics can also be coated with special lacquer composition coatings which already harden at temperatures up to 120° C. Even new process facilities can be affordably equipped with the coating with little added material expenditure prior to their assembly. Since this coating is significantly less than 1 µm thick, surfaces such as those of pipes or transport belts remain virtually unaltered.
With the non-stick coatings from Fraunhofer ISC, the surfaces of components subject to heavy particle ­exposure can be equipped to prevent particle adhesion requiring expensive cleaning measures. For the food products industry, this means that traces of allergens in nutritional products could be significantly reduced or even eliminated entirely.
Fraunhofer ISC offers cooperative endeavours with plant manufacturers, bottlers and manufacturers for coming up with solutions for their applications, conducting customer-specific tests and support in the transfer of this technology into their own production processes.   

 
 
 
 

http://www.isc.fraunhofer.de