U.S. patent number 7,498,362 covers the new eco-friendly coatings.
‘The benefits of the coatings and processes are twofold,’ elucidated Ecology Coatings Chief Executive Officer Bob Crockett. ‘Metal substrates, such as aluminum, chrome or stainless steel, are particularly difficult to adhere to, and require coatings that are corrosive resistant and lightweight. On the other hand, there are many applications where flat steel or aluminum sheets are used in forming and blanking operations and require a high-performance coating that is flexible and moves with the substrate. Our EcoQuik product provides both superior adherence and unequalled flexibility.’
Ecology Coatings’s EcoQuik product family, which was formally introduced in April 2008, includes three coatings lines, clear coatings, pigmented coatings and the barrier coatings, and targets markets in excess of $21 billion in North America.
The new EcoQuik products can replace the decorative chrome by allowing hard chrome substitutes for weight reduction, an important benefit in the automotive industry. There is an increased use of physical vapor disposition (PVD) as a replacement for the traditional chrome or electroplating. EcoQuik products offer a tie coat between the base product like metal or plastic, and the protective overcoat to shield against the corrosion and scratches in the harshest environments. On the more glamorous side, the new EcoQuick product is ideal for use in bright retail packaging of the personal care products, cosmetics, and electronics, where plastic is coated for a desired shiny look.
‘We continue aggressively to expand our intellectual property portfolio of cleantech UV coatings,’ stated Crockett. ‘The award of this particular patent is important because we are highly focused on pursuing license agreements and joint development programs with leaders in the transportation, durable goods, electronics and consumer products sectors — all of which can benefit from our coatings’ ability to adhere to metal and/or flexible substrates.’
Ecology Coatings’s EcoQuik coatings offer advanced wear, scratch resistance and hardness with a single application decreasing coating thickness and providing versatility in the applications. All of company’s coatings are ultraviolet curable, which offers for faster manufacturing speeds, low energy output and a small manufacturing footprint. In addition, the new cleantech coatings have no harmful solvents or other additives, eliminating and protecting against the potential corrosion or flash rusting.
