Molecular modification

A UK company has developed a technology that is claimed to be able to modify a wide range of materials by changing their surface properties at the molecular level.

The Onto (just about anything) platform, developed by Oxford Advanced Surfaces (OAS), involves coating the surface of a substrate with a solution of a reactive molecule via dip or spray, then curing the agent under thermal or photo-irradiation conditions to create a molecular layer that bonds permanently to the substrate. The process could be used to make a hydrophobic material, such as Teflon, hydrophilic.

OAS said that the technology has generated interest from a number of companies wishing to enhance their materials to expand application possibilities, including DuPont Advanced Fiber Systems — the company responsible for Kevlar.

'In essence, what we do is develop advanced materials by modifying existing materials with specific tailored properties at the surface. We developed a formulation that will carry the chemistry you need to coat the material — that can be anything, a fibre, particle, a roll of film or a tiny diamond.