Holistic approach to multifunctional coatings and surface engineering for sustainable future

涂层和表面工程(CSE)是一种使人们能够通过提高底层基材的性能来为其增加新功能和价值的技术。尽管CSE制造工艺和涂层结构取得了进展，但由于缺乏对功能涂层在经常恶劣的工作条件下的耐久性的基础和全面知识、其与微结构的复杂关系以及预测和补偿的途径的可用性，这一领域的接受和进一步发展往往受到限制。此外，CSE方法通过在多功能场景中添加新功能的组合来进一步提高性能，同时控制纳米级的微结构和/或添加动态(智能)功能。为应对科学技术驱动力和不断增加的经济挑战，该项目侧重于开发新一代基于“清洁”蒸汽的技术，用于合成纳米结构涂层材料和涂层系统，用于对加拿大至关重要的不同部门。这些领域包括光学、节能、航空航天和制造业。具体地说，与普惠加拿大公司合作开发的新涂料将提高飞机发动机部件的效率、可靠性和耐用性，并将与Guardian Glass LLC合作，为未来的绿色建筑改善智能低发射率窗户的性能。新的多功能涂层将提高EssilorLuxottica生产的眼镜的眼镜片质量，从而改善公民的视力、健康和生产率，而对于Velan Inc.来说，它们将促进能源、采矿和石化行业阀门技术的发展。作为一个整体，该项目将对加拿大未来劳动力的培训产生重大影响，并将有助于加拿大新产品和新工艺的开发，并提高其国际技术和经济竞争力。

Coating and surface engineering (CSE) is an enabling technology that allows one to add new functions and value to the underlying substrate materials by enhancing their performance. Despite the progress in CSE fabrication processes and coating architectures, the acceptance and further advances in this area are frequently limited by the lack of fundamental and comprehensive knowledge of the durability of functional coatings in the frequently harsh environment of the working conditions, its complex relation to the microstructure, and the availability of pathways to predict it and to compensate for it. In addition, the CSE approaches to further improve the performance by adding a combination of new functions in a multifunctional scenario, while controlling microstructure on the nanoscale and/or adding dynamic (smart) functionalities. In response to scientific and technological driving forces, and to ever-increasing economic challenges, this project focuses on the development of a new generation of "clean" vapor-based technologies for the synthesis of nanostructured coating materials and coating systems, for use in different sectors of vital importance to Canada. These include optics, energy saving, aerospace, and manufacturing. Specifically, the development of new coatings in collaboration with Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. will increase the efficiency, reliability, and durability of aircraft engine components, and in collaboration with Guardian Glass LLC, will improve the performance of smart and low-emissivity windows for the green buildings of the future. The new multi-functional coatings will increase the quality of ophthalmic lenses of spectacles manufactured by EssilorLuxottica and thus improve the vision, health, and productivity of citizens, while for Velan Inc. they will enable the evolution of valve technology for the energy, mining, and petrochemical industries. Taken as a whole, the project will have a significant impact on the training of the workforce of the future in Canada and will contribute to the development of new products and processes in Canada and increase its technological and economic competitiveness internationally.