Functional Coatings

In this course, ideal for TUDelft Engineers from multiple faculties, we introduce the design fundamentals that control specific properties in coatings, surface treatments and functional coatings and the techniques used to apply them and test them. The goal is therefore to provide the fundamentals of chemistry (at level engineers can understand it) and physics that explain structure-property relationships relevant to understand and design surface treatments/coatings with: (i) all-round relevant properties such as adhesion, mechanical response, active (inhibitors) and passive (barrier) corrosion protection; and (ii) increasingly relevant functional properties such as antiicing, self-cleaning, self-healing, drag, structural colors, storage/release of active chemicals with nano and microparticles, and antifouling.

Since material design rules are directly related to application methods, different technologies for coatings application will be covered such as electrophoretic deposition, powder coatings, anodizing, sol-gel and plasma electrolytic oxidation. Characterization strategies to obtain information about key properties will also be discussed.

The fundamentals and characterization strategies covered in the course are applicable to coatings, adhesives and composites of interest in aerospace applications and other engineering domains.

Despite the breath of the course is large, the emphasis is on fundamental concepts that lead to material behavior. This is reinforced with an individual report focused on a topic selected on the grounds of curiosity-driven. Each student will present the outcome of his/her report in a joint session with fellow students to maximize knowledge transfer without impact on the final grade.

Depending on the year, there will be invited presentations from industry.