November 2005 - The ILVA Polimeri Research and Development laboratories, since long time engaged on the study of the application of nanotechnologies in the wood coating sector, have developed N-Line, a special range of nanotechnological products for a wide range of industrial applications.
 

In-depth information box: What are nanotechnologies? The term "Nanotechnology" refers to experimental research - still in the initial stages - aimed at applying the principles of nanoscience to the creation and use of materials, appliances and systems on a molecular scale. Nanoscience is a new approach to Research and Development activities, aimed at studying and controlling the structure and basic behaviour of matter at the nanometer-size level, i.e. at the level of atoms and molecules. Observing, manipulating and characterising the properties of matter on the basis of scientific principles, nanoscience, or nanotechnology, can develop materials and appliances with many new functions and improved performance, for many manufacturing fields.

Nanotechnologies and coating products
The main advantage of nanotechnologies in the development of coating products, consists in the possibility of achieving performances level - of hardness, film tenacity and scratch and abrasion resistance - which are impossible with traditional technologies, maintaining at the same time the aesthetic properties of the finish.
This is possible thanks to the high percentage content of nanotechnological inorganic chemical compounds, such as silica, silicates, metallic oxides and others; the use of these substances allows for the modification and improvement of the behaviour of the materials and coating products.
However, it would not be possible to use equal quantities of the same materials in the traditional formulas; these solutions would cause the loss of the fundamental aesthetic characteristics such as, for example, the transparency of the coating film.

Fig. 1 shows two samples of coating compounds containing 30% of silica.

On the left, coating with a high content of common silica, and on the right, coating created with nanometric silicas.
The sample on the left has been created with traditional technologies: the consistency is very dense, almost like mortar; the coating film, if it could be obtained, would completely cover up the support, or at best be semi-transparent.
The compound on the right, obtained with the use of nanometic silica, however, is fluid and perfectly transparent.
The ILVA Polimeri Research and Development laboratories have developed N-Line, an innovative range of products for parquets and for objects such as office and kitchen furniture, and work surfaces, for which extreme hardness and resistance to wear is required.
Coating with N-Line products gives a perfectly transparent film, with hardness up to 6H, and incredible resistance to abrasion and scratches, and even to scrubbing with steel wool pads.


The N-Line range of products also includes water based products for coating on glass surfaces, available in the transparent, coloured and acidulated versions, featuring exceptional adhesion to the support, unmatchable hardness and perfect transparency.

The future of the N-Line research
The ILVA Polimeri Research and Development Laboratories are extending the use of nanotechnologies to a wide range of highly innovative solutions for wood coatinging.

UV water coating products

Thanks to the use of innovative nanometics containing compounds finely distributed and chemically bonded to the reticular structure, it has been possible to obtain finishes with characteristics of transparency and chemical resistance superior to those possible with traditional products.
For these characteristics, the UV water products of the N-Line are particularly suitable for coating high quality articles.

flameproof coating products

The innovative materials on which the polymers engineered with nanocompounds are based, give these products improved and longer-lasting flameproof properties.