NEI Corp launches UV-resistant coating used to disinfect coronavirus

NEI Corporation has shown that its newly developed NANOMYTE® TC-4001-UVP product offers protection against damage from short-wavelength ultraviolet radiation.

Ultraviolet radiation in the 100–280nm wavelength range, also referred to as UV-C, is increasingly being considered as a means for disinfecting surfaces that large numbers of people are likely to come in contact with, such as parts of transit systems, theme parks, cinema theatres, public restrooms, airports and other areas of high traffic.

The COVID-19 virus has made frequent cleaning of surfaces a top priority for maintenance managers of high traffic areas.

However, UV radiation causes significant damage to painted surfaces by creating free radicals that then cause polymer degradation.

The NANOMYTE® coating offers protection for surfaces exposed to UV-C radiation.

NANOMYTE® TC-4001-UVP shows a remarkable ability to block UV-C, as evidenced by spectroscopic measurements shown in the adjacent figure.

All radiation below 350nm is blocked completely by a film that is only 1/5mil (5 microns) thick.

The transparent coating is a single component formulation designed to protect metals and other surfaces from degrading, preserving their structural integrity and appearance.

The hard, dense and smooth coating is a composite consisting of organic and inorganic phases.

It resists scratching and chipping and adheres strongly to bare, pretreated, or painted metal surfaces.

A variety of other surfaces may be coated as well, such as plastics and composites.

The coating is easily applied by immersion, spraying or brushing, in thicknesses ranging from microns to mils, and is available in glossy or matte finishes.

NEI’s extensive line of functional coatings, which includes NANOMYTE® TC-4001-UVP, is already in commercial use in many industrial, aerospace, consumer goods, wireless communication and other sectors.

The company’s approach has been to be open and receptive to new applications brought to it by its customers.

A typical interaction begins by applying the coating on the customer’s parts for evaluation.

Parts are either coated at NEI’s applications laboratory or the customer procures a sample quantity of liquid coating for in-house application.

The implementation process then moves through pilot scale tests and eventual qualification.

NEI’s engineers support the development and qualification efforts of its customers every step of the way, including drawing up technical specifications and engaging with third party coating applicators, if necessary.