Home > Press > Battelle Creates Smart Coating to Fight Rust: Innovation by Scientists Can Lead to Billions in Savings for National Defense, Airlines
![]() |
Battelle's Smart Coating would make it possible to detect corrosion before it can do damage. (Photo: Business Wire) |
Abstract:
Today, Battelle researchers have taken his words to heart. In their innovative heads, they have come up with a smart coating that can reveal where corrosion is forming on metal even though one can't see the degradation with the naked eye.
Ramanathan Lalgudi, a principal research scientist, and Barry McGraw, a program manager, both of whom work in Battelle's Advanced Materials Applications Department, were working on a nanomaterial project when a new application for their work jumped out at them.
They were attaching groups of chemicals on the surface of nanomaterials and studying their effectiveness towards the environment. That led them to the idea of using the same technical approach to detect corrosion. What if the corrosion product on a material could react with the functional nanomaterials?
The end result: A true early corrosion detection method. They created a smart coating derived from the functional nanomaterial that could be applied between a primer and topcoat and fluoresces once a corrosion product is generated from the metal. In this case, the metal is aluminum, but the chemistry can be tweaked for other metals.
This will be invaluable for many industries. Any metal object begins to falter as it corrodes—airplanes, cars, bridges—just to name a few. The Department of Defense estimates that corrosion of its equipment costs $10 to $20 billion per year. If one can repair metal before it's demonstrably compromised, the savings could be astronomical in terms of time, energy, material and money.
Imagine this: An airline mechanic goes over the outer shell of an airplane with a hand-held device, shining it all over its surface. He sees a spot, determines it is corrosion, and he fixes it before it can do any damage.
Lalgudi said the smart coating could even be married to a primer or integrated with the scanning device. Battelle has a provisional patent for the intellectual property and though the material is two to three years away from commercialization, Lalgudi and McGraw and their business line colleagues are seeking partners to help take it to market.
####
About Battelle
Battelle is the world’s largest non-profit independent research and development organization, providing innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing needs through its four global businesses: Laboratory Management, National Security, Energy Technology, and Health and Life Sciences. It advances scientific discovery and application by conducting $4 billion in global R&D annually through contract research, laboratory management and technology commercialization. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Battelle oversees 20,400 employees in more than 120 locations worldwide, including seven national laboratories which Battelle manages or co-manages for the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Battelle’s Global National Security business applies science and technology to solve complex technical challenges for the military services and federal agencies. Including the operations of national laboratories, Battelle annually performs nearly $1.6 billion in national security-related work contributing to advances in chemical and biological defense, homeland security, armor, technology refreshment, and undersea technology.
For more information, please click here
Contacts:
Battelle
Katy Delaney
Public Relations Manager
410-306-8638
or
T.R. Massey
media relations specialist
614-424-5544
Copyright © Business Wire 2009
If you have a comment, please Contact us.Issuers of news releases, not 7th Wave, Inc. or Nanotechnology Now, are solely responsible for the accuracy of the content.
Related News Press |
News and information
Flexible electronics integrated with paper-thin structure for use in space January 17th, 2025
Quantum engineers ‘squeeze’ laser frequency combs to make more sensitive gas sensors January 17th, 2025
Marine/Watercraft
Strain-sensing smart skin ready to deploy: Nanotube-embedded coating detects threats from wear and tear in large structures July 15th, 2022
A sunlight-driven “self-healing” anti-corrosion coating May 27th, 2022
Quantum tech in space? Scientists design remote monitoring system for inaccessible quantum devices February 11th, 2022
Expanding the freedom of design: powder coating on FRP thanks to conductive gelcoats with graphene nanotubes March 3rd, 2021
Discoveries
Quantum engineers ‘squeeze’ laser frequency combs to make more sensitive gas sensors January 17th, 2025
Materials/Metamaterials/Magnetoresistance
Chainmail-like material could be the future of armor: First 2D mechanically interlocked polymer exhibits exceptional flexibility and strength January 17th, 2025
Enhancing transverse thermoelectric conversion performance in magnetic materials with tilted structural design: A new approach to developing practical thermoelectric technologies December 13th, 2024
FSU researchers develop new methods to generate and improve magnetism of 2D materials December 13th, 2024
Announcements
Quantum engineers ‘squeeze’ laser frequency combs to make more sensitive gas sensors January 17th, 2025
The National Space Society Congratulates SpaceX on Starship’s 7th Test Flight: Latest Test of the Megarocket Hoped to Demonstrate a Number of New Technologies and Systems January 17th, 2025
Military
Quantum engineers ‘squeeze’ laser frequency combs to make more sensitive gas sensors January 17th, 2025
Chainmail-like material could be the future of armor: First 2D mechanically interlocked polymer exhibits exceptional flexibility and strength January 17th, 2025
Single atoms show their true color July 5th, 2024
NRL charters Navy’s quantum inertial navigation path to reduce drift April 5th, 2024
Automotive/Transportation
Researchers’ approach may protect quantum computers from attacks March 8th, 2024
Aerospace/Space
Flexible electronics integrated with paper-thin structure for use in space January 17th, 2025
The National Space Society Congratulates SpaceX on Starship’s 7th Test Flight: Latest Test of the Megarocket Hoped to Demonstrate a Number of New Technologies and Systems January 17th, 2025
Bringing the power of tabletop precision lasers for quantum science to the chip scale December 13th, 2024
![]() |
||
![]() |
||
The latest news from around the world, FREE | ||
![]() |
![]() |
||
Premium Products | ||
![]() |
||
Only the news you want to read!
Learn More |
||
![]() |
||
Full-service, expert consulting
Learn More |
||
![]() |