A knowledge-based company has developed an environment-friendly method to increase the resistance of metallic equipment and parts to corrosion by using a nanocoating.
One of the cost-effective and common methods for surface coating in different industries is the use of conversion coatings which, in addition to increasing the anti-corrosive quality of the metal, increases the paint’s adhesion to the surface.
Schiller Farayand Pars Company is the producer of the new zirconium nanocoating for metal equipment and parts, the news portal of Vice Presidency for Science and Technology reported.
Phosphate or chromate conversion coatings are the most commonly used coatings, but studies have shown that these coatings are harmful to the environment and human health, apart from being economically unviable for the producer. Therefore, researchers were looking for another material to replace phosphate and chromate coatings such as zinc oxide, titanium oxide and vanadium oxide.
The chromate conversion coating is used on many metals and their alloys, but the main problem is its toxicity. One of the toxic compounds created by this coating is hexavalent chrome, which is carcinogenic.
Phosphate coating (also known as zinc phosphate coating) is not intrinsically toxic, but the post-treatment can give rise to poisonous chemicals that threaten human health.
Zirconium coatings produced by the domestic company are a good alternative because, unlike phosphate and chromate coatings, they do not create environmental problems and the coating process is done at ambient temperature and requires less time compared with other methods.
Another important feature of zirconium coatings is their lower weight compared with chromate and phosphate coatings.
Creating a coating with a thickness of less than 100 nanometers on metal surfaces, the absence of substances harmful for human health and the environment, and the lower cost of application are among the advantages of the Iranian nanocoating.
The company claims that applying a very thin layer of coating (in nanometers) on steel, aluminum and galvanized surfaces improves the adhesion of the organic coating, increases resistance to paint corrosion and prevents the paint’s cathodic separation.
Domestic Nanocomposite Insulation
A domestic company has produced insulation with nanotechnology that can be used in construction and industrial sectors.
Insulation produced by Sazeh Paidar Elahie Company can be installed in boiler rooms and cut energy consumption by an estimated 60%. The product is a foam-like elastomeric nanocomposite useful for thermal and acoustic insulation.
The insulation, produced from acrylonitrile butadiene rubber/polyvinyl chloride (NBR/PVC) polymers, is considered one of the most widely used insulations in buildings, hotels, towers, hospitals, petrochemical firms and refineries. The insulations produced as sheets, pipes and closed cell structure are good for insulating heating and cooling pipes, channels, air conditioning systems, utility equipment and tanks.
They are durable and have a longer life than normal insulations due to their solid resilience to humidity and penetration of water vapor.
Another important advantage of this nanocomposite insulation is germicidal properties in environments with high humidity and temperature fluctuations.
Standard tests conducted on this type of insulation compared to simple closed-cell elastomeric insulation without nanoparticles show that the surface of nanocomposite insulation is not suitable for the growth and proliferation of microorganisms, which is due to its antibacterial properties.
The insulation can be used in sanitary areas, water and air channels, coolers or places prone to the growth of microbes and bacteria.
Nanocomposite insulations have much lower thermal conductivity than glass wool.
The coefficient of thermal conductivity of this nanocomposite insulation is about 0.0368 K/W/m, which is less compared to glass wool insulation.
Also, closed-cell elastomeric foam insulation has very high resistance coefficient against water vapor penetration ≥ 7000 μ, which is of much higher value than mineral wool insulation. It is more effective in preventing corrosion of insulated metal surfaces.
Nanotech Optimizes Desalination
A knowledge-based company had earlier designed an electrodialysis system for desalination that can meet part of Iran’s drinking water needs.
Given the declining rainfall, growing population and the rising industrial demand for water worldwide, desalination is the best option for countries with access to seawater. Nevertheless, the process is expensive and consumes a great deal of energy.
However, with the use of an electrodialysis process, which consumes less energy, Payamavaran Nanotechnology Fardanegar Company has been able to provide a cost-effective solution using nanotechnology for desalination.
The process uses an electrochemical technique, whereby contaminants are removed from the aqueous solution using anionic and cationic membranes with the help of an electric current.
Some features of this domestic process include the possibility of desalination of both brackish water and seawater with an efficiency of 85-95%, consumption of less energy compared to other methods, allowing membranes to last more than five years, decreasing operating costs and making pre-treatment unnecessary.
Experts and technologists have been using different processes to bring seawater into the consumption cycle in the most environmentally friendly and inexpensive way.
In Iran, knowledge-based and innovative companies have started to localize these processes to compensate the country’s chronic water deficit.
