Belgium based Europlasma, a world leader in low pressure plasma technology, is happy to announce the launch a new family of nanocoatings under the “Nanofics 110” brand name. “Nanofics” refers to nanoscaled functionalization into the core of complex shaped materials and products. It is Europlasma’s patented and patent pending nanocoating technology platform, first applied on industrial scale in 1998.

The “Nanofics 110” coatings are highly water repellent (water contact angle of 110 degrees according to ASTM D5964) and highly oil repellent (oil repellency level 6 according to ISO 14419) fluoropolymer type of nanocoatings deposited by low pressure plasma technology.

The unique aspect of these coatings is that they are completely free from PFOA and PFOS. The “Nanofics 110” coating technology is patented and patent pending by Europlasma.

Traditional nanocoatings with high levels of water and oil repellency are derived from long molecular chains which contain traces of PFOA and PFOS. There is a general trend to move away from these chemistries for health reasons.

Europlasma’s Product Manager Peter Martens comments: “In wet chemical DWR (durable water repellent) coating of technical textiles the switch from longer to shorter molecules is already well advanced. It is only a matter of time until the same switch will take place in the nanocoating market. Europlasma is now the first to offer PFOA- and PFOS-free nanocoatings for technical textiles. And we are able to apply these coatings on an industrial scale, with coaters such as in below picture able to handle rolls with widths up to 1,6 meter, and diameters up to 0,8 meter.”

The “Nanofics 110” coatings are an addition to the existing “Nanofics 120” family of nanocoatings and other custom designed coating systems.  The Europlasma low pressure plasma machines have the flexibility to use both the “Nanofics 110” and “Nanofics 120” nanocoating systems. This gives to the Europlasma customers the freedom to switch from one to another chemistry when they think their products or their markets require different coating specifications.

Europlasma’s Managing Director Filip Legein adds: “Europlasma was the first company to put an industrial nanocoater in the field in 1998. This low pressure plasma machine was already capable of depositing different types of fluoropolymer nanocoatings to repel water and oil.

In 2003 Europlasma was the first company to deposit these nanocoatings on complex three dimensional structures instead of flat substrates, an invention that was patented by Europlasma. Since 2003 Europlasma has brought many other patented and patent pending innovations to this market. Now Europlasma is the first company to realize the transition from longer to shorter chained chemistries in the nanocoating market.  I am proud thatour team of engineers and scientists confirm Europlasma’s role as a true pioneer and innovator in this emerging industry.”