Grant: Idea to Innovation

This idea to innovation (I2I) project focuses on a promising new method to synthesize titanium dioxide-polyurethane (nTiO2-PU) nanocomposites for use as self-cleaning coatings. Self-cleaning here refers to the polymers ability to degrade organic or biological molecules that come into contact with its surface in the presence of light, with the byproducts normally washed away with water. For this method, we have recently disclosed a technology in which ceramic nanoparticles of TiO2 can be directly linked to the PU polymer chains by using commercial and synthetic molecules with carboxyl groups (-COOH) for reacting to the titania, and hydroxyl groups (-OH) for reacting to the polyols. Titanium dioxide (TiO2), which is used in food, sunscreen, toothpaste and paint, in the anatase crystalline form is a strong photocatalyst activated by UV light. In the rutile form it is a strong UV absorber, allowing polymers such as PUs to be used for extended periods in outdoor applications. Preliminary results in our disclosure have shown that 50% rutile phase of titania provides protection to the PU polymer while the 50% anatase phase provides photocatalytic strength for self-cleaning and anti-microbial properties. Titanium dioxide species attached to our PU polymer have the ability to break up organic or biological molecules when exposed to light from sources such as sunlight or florescent lighting. NSERC I2I funds are critical to the commercial success of this project and will be applied directly to the resources needed for: scale up, evaluation of key formulation parameters, and conducting field studies in a commercial facility. Sufficient amounts of material will be produced at Western for application techniques for spraying onto various substrates in the food processing industry with our supporting company, Line-X, and examining the resulting materials under real world conditions. The resulting coatings will be examined for their pysico-chemical, optical, and self-cleaning and anti-microbial properties.