Surface-Modified Plastic Film acts as protective coating.March 12, 2003 - Abrasion-resistant plastic film, used as protective coating, provides barrier against chemical and water attack to substrates. Proprietary surface-modification enables plastic films to be adhesively applied. Film is based on high-density polyethylene, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, polyvinylidene difluoride, and polyvinyl chloride. Amenable adhesives include epoxy, polyurea, polyurethane, and specialty fluoropolymer systems.
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Original Press release
Fluoro-Seal, Inc.
16360 Park Ten Place, No. 325
Houston, TX, 77084
USA
Fluoro-Seal Introduces Surface-Modified Film for Use as Protective or Decorative Coating
Houston, TX - Fluoro-Seal, Ltd. has begun selling a family of surface-modified plastic film that is used as a protective coating. These films provide outstanding barriers to chemical and water attack to substrates, and extraordinary abrasion resistance. The company's proprietary surface-modification enables the plastic films to be adhesively applied like wallpaper.
Dr. Bernard D. Bauman, vice president of Fluoro-Seal, said that the new film products are being used in place of epoxy and other coatings because they give superior performance, greater longevity, and reduced costs. One of the first commercial applications of this product is as a floor coating on concrete for areas where acids are used, such as battery rooms.
Customers use the surface-modified UHMW PE film to create "coatings" that have lower coefficient of friction and far greater abrasion resistance than can be achieved with any liquid coating.
"When a paint or coating is used," explained Dr. Bauman, "one starts with relatively small molecules and uses various chemistries to link those molecules together to form a film with an extremely high molecular weight. However, the chemical links used to cross-link the molecules, be it urethane, epoxy, or alkyd, represent sites for chemical and environmental attack over time. Furthermore, there are concerns about controlling thickness and pinholes. In contrast, by using a thermoplastic film, such as polyethylene or polypropylene, one does not have the labile functional groups, film thickness is accurately controlled, and pinholes are nonexistent. These film coatings are also more cost effective than most coatings in terms of material and installation costs."
"We have been surface-modifying films like this on a toll basis for years", said Dr. Bauman. "But most customers do not want to go to the trouble of selecting a type of film, sourcing and buying a small supply, and sending it to us for treatment. They prefer to simply buy what they need."
The first types of film being offered are based on high-density polyethylene (HDPE), ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW PE), polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Amenable adhesives include epoxy, polyurea, polyurethane, and specialty fluoropolymer systems.
Fluoro-Seal is the world leader in surface-modification of plastics with reactive gas. Founded 20 years ago, the company fluorinates over 100 million plastic containers annually at its 11 plant locations across the U.S. The company also has licensees in seven foreign countries around the world.
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