Nanotechnology Now - Press Release: UK Sport and P2i team up to create winning formula as cycling and sailing sporting equipment benefits from nano-coating technology

Home > Press > UK Sport and P2i team up to create winning formula as cycling and sailing sporting equipment benefits from nano-coating technology

Abstract:
UK Sport, the nation's high performance sports agency, has announced a unique innovation partnership with P2i, the world leader in liquid repellent nano-coating technology, to help protect equipment and accessories developed through UK Sport's Research and Innovation programme in cycling and sailing, two of Britain's leading sports.

UK Sport and P2i team up to create winning formula as cycling and sailing sporting equipment benefits from nano-coating technology

Abingdon, UK | Posted on May 15th, 2012

The liquid repellent coating dramatically reduces the surface energy of a product, so that when liquids come into contact with it, they form beads and simply runoff.

By repelling the uptake of liquids, the nano-coating will ensure that the sporting equipment and accessories don't gain any extra weight during the competitions that they enter, remaining lightweight and dry.

Scott Drawer, Head of Research and Innovation at UK Sport, said: "Our job is to ensure our athletes make it to the start line among the best prepared and most feared in the world.

Britain has a wealth of expertise in science, engineering and technology and by creating novel partnerships with world leading companies like P2i, we can tap into a much wider

network of skills and abilities from other industries to ensure we are leaving no stone unturned in our pursuit of sporting excellence."

Stephen Coulson, CTO, P2i said: "P2i has been identified by UK Sport to bring winning advantage to the sports men and women of this country by applying our award-winning nano-coating technology to protect cycling and sailing equipment and accessories developed through UK Sports's Research and Innovation programme. For example, our technology applied to the footwear of outdoor cyclists means that even in the harshest of conditions, they will remain lightweight and dry. In a year when sportsmanship is at the forefront of our nation's minds, we are delighted to be able to present our cutting edge process into the sporting world to improve the chances of success."

Chris Boardman, Head of Research and Development, British Cycling, said: "British Cycling has recognised for some time that to succeed at the highest level in modern sport, you need to do more than just be fit and healthy. Every detail, every nut and bolt has to be scrutinised and perfected.

"In our Research & Development programme we have learned that the big changes nearly always come from outside the sport, new people bringing new thinking and ideas. This was very much the case with P2i who are helping us bring a cutting edge process into the sporting world to enhance our chances of winning."

Peter Bentley, Technical Projects Manager for RYA Skandia Team GBR, said: "The P2i process allows us to virtually eliminate water absorption in some of our technical equipment. This reduces all-up weight by a few grams, which in turn equates to seconds saved around the race course; all part of our leave-no-stone-unturned strategy."

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About P2i
P2i is the world leader in liquid repellent nano-coating technology. It was established in 2004 to commercialise liquid-repellent treatments developed by the UK’s Ministry of Defence.
Now on a commercial scale, P2i’s patented process has been successfully applied to a wide range of products in a wide range of markets including Lifestyle, Electronics, Life Sciences, Military & Institutional and Filtration & Energy.
In consumer sectors, the presence of P2i’s technology is indicated either by ion-mask™, its brand for Lifestyle (including footwear and accessories) or Aridion™, its brand for Electronics.

About UK Sport

UK Sport is the nation’s high-performance sports agency. Its mission is to work in partnership to lead sport in the UK to world-class success.

Primarily this means working with our partner sporting organisations to deliver medals at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. But it also gives us responsibility for activities best delivered
at a UK level, such as: bidding for and staging major sporting events in this country; increasing our sporting activity and influence overseas; and promoting sporting conduct, ethics and diversity in society. UK Sport is funded by a mix of Government Exchequer and Lottery income, as well as private investment through Team 2012. More @ www.uksport.gov.uk.

How the P2i technology works

P2i’s technology works by applying a nanometer-thin polymer layer over the entire surface of a product. Using an ionized gas (plasma) this layer is molecularly bound to the surface and will not leach away. The process confers superior oil and water repellency by reducing the surface energy to ultra-low levels – down to one third that of PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene).

In footwear and textile applications, P2i’s technology also minimises liquid absorption from outside elements and evaporated perspiration.

Tests show that P2i's patented nano-coating technology can deliver performance benefits for a wide range of materials, including polymers, metals, fabrics, leather, ceramics, glass and paper.

Even complex, 3D objects incorporating several different materials can be treated successfully with the P2i process: from footwear to hearing aids, bio-consumables to filtration.