+SMALL +EFFICIENT
Prof. Gaétan Laroche’s team based its work on the unique property of PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) to prevent fogging. The approach called for linking this molecule permanently to a material’s surface without altering the latter’s initial optical properties. The fields of application are many and concrete, if you consider the host of problems encountered when fogging occurs on eyeglasses, for instance.
The strategy developed consists in binding the polymer covalently; the substrate is therefore activated by plasma and the molecules of interest are then grafted. The result is a protective coating, which permanently prevents the formation of fog. Given its versatility, the process also makes it possible to apply the strategy to plastic substrates.
Next step: combine this technology with a scratch-resistant coating recently developed in partnership with the team led by Dr. Gherardi (France).
REFERENCES
[1] P. Chevallier, S. Turgeon, C. Sarra-Bournet, R. Turcotte, G. Laroche, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 3, 750 (2011).
[2] L. Maechler, C. Sarra-Bournet, P. Chevallier, N. Gherardi, G. Laroche, Plasma Chem. Plasma Process, 31, 175 (2011).
RESEARCHERS
Prof. G. Laroche, P. Chevalier, C. Sarra-Bournet and S. Turgeon (UL & CHUQ-CRSFA); L. Maechler and N. Gherardi (LAPLACE-Université de Toulouse)
IRDQ CONTRIBUTION