| Metallized & Specialty Films |
ITI's proprietary technologies include the metallization of fluoropolymer films from 5-30 mils DFT. An infinite variety of metals can now be vacuum or electrolessly deposited to fluoropolymers in thicknesses up to several microns. Typical metals may include chromium, titanium, nickel, copper, silver, etc. The result is a fluoropolymeric material suitable for a wide variety of industrial and technological applications.
The science of surface activation makes the metalization possible:
- The alcohol functionality created on fluoropolymers (using Integument's surface activation treatment) is highly acidic.
- The acidity of the alcohol functionality and subsequent nucleophilicity facilitate the direct covalent bonding of transition metals to these surfaces.
- The electronic or electron withdrawing characteristics of the bulk fluoropolymer effect the electronic environment of atoms or molecules, which are covalently bonded to these materials.
- The modified fluoropolymer materials are excellent for achieving high bonding strengths to both electroless and vacuum sputtered metal films.
Combining highly corrosion resistant metals with fluoropolymer materials creates unlimited varieties of composite materials for a wide variety of industrial applications and equipment designs. Several fluoropolymer based and metallized materials are currently under development for corrosion resistance in the chemical processing industry and paint replacement and lightning strike protection for military and commercial composite aircraft.
Chemical process applications include reducing fluoropolymer permeability while improving corrosion resistance through the application of highly chemical resistant metals (i.e. titanium, chromium, tantalum, vanadium, nickel) on fluoropolymer films and sheets from 5-30 mils.
Military and commercial aircraft appliqués are being developed to provide protection for composite aircraft (carbon or fiberglass based) from direct lightning strikes.
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