Development of a Manufacturing Technology for Functional Surface Finishing

该项目满足了加拿大制造业在耐腐蚀/耐磨/耐侵蚀涂层新材料系统领域的需求，并提供了具有超疏水性（防湿、防结冰、自清洁）、热管理（导电性、热膨胀系数）和装饰性（颜色）性能的金属表面处理。这些新颖的表面处理将通过共沉积电镀技术制成，使用纳米晶镍基材料，其中含有聚合物乳胶球，工业金刚石或植物衍生色素。该项目的制定和执行将与多伦多的Integran技术公司密切合作，该公司是可持续技术纳米材料领域的全球领导者。它将建立在一个现有的纳米技术平台上，该平台以前是通过大学-工业合作研究和开发努力开发的。预计在未来5-10年内，这项技术可以转化为为加拿大广泛的制造业提供革命性的新涂层解决方案，为汽车、航空航天、电气、电子、能源、林业、采矿、建筑、机械、消费品、国防和绿色技术应用提供零部件。这项研究将产生新的知识，培养高素质的人才，并为加拿大创造新的知识产权。最终，这项完全由加拿大拥有的新技术有望带来新的商业机会，从而带来新的收入和就业机会。

This project addresses the needs by Canadian manufacturing industries in the area of new material systems for corrosion/wear/erosion-resistant coatings with the added functionalities of providing metallic surface finishes with superhydrophobicity (anti-wetting, anti-icing, self-cleaning), thermal management (conductivity, coefficient of thermal expansion) and decorative (color) properties. These novel surface finishes will be made by a co-deposition electroplating technology using nanocrystalline nickel based materials containing either polymer latex spheres, industrial diamond or plant-derived pigments. The project was formulated and will be executed in close collaboration with Integran Technologies Inc., Toronto, a world leader in nanomaterials for sustainable technologies. It will be built upon an existing nanotechnology platform previously developed through collaborative university-industry research and development efforts. It is expected that this technology can be transitioned to generate, within the next 5-10 years, revolutionary new coating solutions for a wide range of Canadian manufacturing industries making parts for automotive, aerospace, electrical, electronics, energy, forestry, mining, construction, machinery, consumer products, defense and green technology applications. The research will generate new knowledge, train highly qualified personnel and create new intellectual property for Canada. Ultimately, expanded and new business opportunities resulting in new revenues and job creation are expected from this wholly Canadian-owned new technology.