Projects
Understanding droplet generation and layer formation using Ultrasonic Spray Coating for the roughness reduction and application of functional coatings on Additive Manufactured free-form parts Hasselt University
Biobased Coatings Sirris, the collective centre for the technological industry
In order to meet changing consumer requirements in terms of origin and sustainability and European regulations, the coating industry and its users need to adapt. Although everyone in the value chain is convinced of the usefulness of bio-based coatings, their introduction is stagnating. European research and a survey of Flemish companies show that there are various reasons for this delayed breakthrough. However, there are immense ...
Vascular graft coatings to prevent infection: current status and future potentials KU Leuven
Vascular graft infection (VGI) is a nightmare for every vascular surgeon and patient. Aggressive treatment with complete removal of the graft is often necessary. The treatment of VGI has a high mortality and morbidity rate. The financial cost is very high. Therefore, focusing on the prevention of VGI is mandatory. But despite the preventive recommendations of the ESVS guidelines, VGI cannot be ruled out completely. Many attempts were made by ...
Anti-fouling and cell-interactive anti-fouling plasma polymer coatings for cochlear implants Ghent University
A cochlear implant provides a sense of sound to people with severe-to-profound hearing loss. A
complication of these implants is infection, which often leads to implant explantation. A frequently
investigated strategy to avoid infection is preventing adhesion of bacteria on the implant, which is
mostly done by attaching polymeric chains to the implant surface. This technique however has
limitations: (1) it is a costly, ...
Atomic Precision Coatings to Enable Gravitational Wave Observations Ghent University
Gravitational waves (GW) are detected by interferometers with km-long detector arms. The sensitivity of these detectors is limited by the noise originating from the reflective coating of the detector mirrors. The state-of-the-art coating materials do not longer comply with the increasingly strict requirements regarding uniformity, high reflectivity, low optical absorption and low mechanical loss for future GW detectors. Due to the lack of a ...
Development of thermochromic coatings for improved thermoregulation KU Leuven
Global warming has led to extreme weather events, such as heat waves and periods of very cold weather. These conditions result in a higher death rate. Moreover, energy consumed by buildings for heating and cooling have increased by 11% over the last 40 years. High energy prices can cause severe financial hardship among the less well off in society. Therefore, in this project, we focus on improving the thermal efficiency of buildings. Energy ...
Understanding initial growth of interfacial coatings using atomic layer deposition on highly reactive lithium ion battery electrodes Ghent University
Lithium ion batteries (LIB) are essential to various technologies, but their performance remains insufficient to guarantee a sustainable future. Electrode coatings have emerged as an innovative solution to achieve next-gen battery performances by radically enhancing the battery lifetime, energy density and (dis)charge rates. To deposit such artificial interfaces on the electrode surface, atomic layer deposition (ALD) is an exceptional method ...
Developing sustainable polymer based electromagnetic shields using functional coatings KU Leuven
In this thesis, the potential of cold spraying for the generation of EM shielding coatings on polymers will be investigated. Spray formulations will be developed that optimally balance superior electromagnetic shielding performance with durability during mechanical and thermal loading, good scratch resistance and adhesion, and enable a sustainable end-of-use option. Thereby, apart from more traditional metallic coating formulations, coatings ...
Study of the microstructure of polymer based coatings for controlled drug delivery KU Leuven
Film coating of pellets is a common process to create drug delivery systems with controllable drug release kinetics. Film coatings are complex formulations composed of several compounds like film-forming polymers, plasticizers, pore forming agents and colorants that all contribute to the microstructure of the film and hence its permeability for drug molecules. Also the film formation process - solvent based or aqueous dispersion based – will ...