ICMCTF2010 Session G5/H5: Coatings for Renewable Energy Harvesting Systems

Monday, April 26, 2010 10:00 AM in Room Royal Palm 4-6

Monday Morning

Start	Invited?	Item
10:00 AM	Invited	G5/H5-1 Evaluation of the Anti-Fouling Properties of Atmospheric Plasma Deposited Siloxane Coatings Denis Dowling, Charles Nwankire (University College Dublin, Ireland) Both organic and inorganic fouling is a significant problem for a range of surfaces used in industries as diverse as milk pasteurization and paper making. The objective of this study is to evaluate the anti-fouling properties of fluorinated and non-fluorinated siloxane coatings. These nm thick coatings were deposited onto silicon wafer and stainless steel substrates using the atmospheric plasma jet system called PlasmaStream^TM. The plasma polymerised coatings were obtained from a range of fluorinated and non-fluorinated siloxanes precursors, which were nebulized into the atmospheric plasma. The adhesion of both inorganic (calcium carbonate) and organic (Casein protein) foulants were assessed with changes in coating chemical functionality and surface roughness (Ra). The properties of the deposited coatings were examined using optical profilometry, SEM, ellipsometry, contact angle and XPS. These techniques were used to evaluate surface morphology, thickness, surface energy and chemical functionality respectively. The erosive wear resistance of the nm thick coatings was compared using an ultrasonic jet treatment in an aqueous slurry of silicon carbide particles for periods up to 30 minutes. Casein adhesion was evaluated under dynamic flow conditions from aqueous mixtures of the protein using the spectroscopic ellipsometry technique. The optical measurements enabled the rate of protein adhesion and its thickness to be measured. The thickness of the protein layer was verified using quartz crystal microbalance measurements. In the case of calcium carbonatethe quantity of the inorganic fouling was assessed on steel substrates after immersion of the coated and uncoated metal in an aqueous slurry of the carbonate. For both the inorganic and protein foulants investigated in this study the level of foulant adhesion was found to be influenced by both the coating chemistry and roughness.
10:40 AM		G5/H5-3 Cold Atmospheric Plasma Treatment of Energy System Components Hana Barankova, Ladislav Bardos (Uppsala University, Sweden) Fused hollow cathode (FHC) atmospheric plasma source and Hybrid Hollow Electrode Activated Discharge (H-HEAD) source have been tested for surface treatments of epoxy glass laminates used for wind turbine blades and of steel surfaces used in ocean buoys driving the linear wave energy converters. Argon, neon, nitrogen and air mixtures have been used for the plasma treatments and the resulting surface energy has been examined by contact angle measurements. Plasma parameters and process conditions leading to highly hydrophobic surfaces in wind turbine blades preventing for example formation of ice have been tested. Conditions for hydrophilic surfaces have been examined on steel surfaces before subsequent painting or coating suitable for long protection lifetimes in harsh ocean environment. Results of tests under different plasma parameters are presented and discussed.