This is an introductory guide to industrial hydrophilic coatings. These coatings differ from commonly used industrial coatings, which provide corrosion protection and structural durability. Hydrophilic coatings are used for many purposes, such as improved wettability, reduced friction, anti-fog and condensation, and more. In this quick guide, we will dive into what hydrophilic industrial coatings are in more detail. You will also learn some of their biggest benefits and uses across various industries.
What are Hydrophilic Coatings?
The term “hydro” means water, while “philic” means affinity or love. Hydrophilic coatings are surface modifications that make surfaces “water-loving.” The coated surface attracts surrounding water molecules, forming hydrogels with high lubricity and extremely low coefficient of friction.
This friction reducing property makes these coatings an ideal choice for medical device coatings. But they are also extremely useful for numerous industrial uses. At Hydromer®, Inc. we are committed to innovating and applying hydrophilic coating technologies for a wide range of industrial applications. Our team of highly talented scientists and engineers can help you meet the unique requirements of your products or application.
If you are looking for more information you can read our introductory guide Hydrophilic Coatings: What Are They and Common Uses.
Common Chemistries of Industrial Hydrophilic Coatings
Hydrophilic coatings can easily be formulated to fulfill specific needs in industrial applications. They have been used in applications ranging from consumer goods, automotive, logistics, aerospace, and electronics.
Different chemistries can be used to formulate coatings with specific properties and functionality. For instance, Hydromer is an industry leader at designing hydrophilic coatings with specific properties. These include properties, such as lubricity, durability, anti-fog and anti-condensation, scratch resistance, and resistance to environmental stress.
Below are some popular chemistries (and their benefits) used to formulate hydrophilic industrial coatings.
- Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP): When applied to the substrate’s surface, coatings using this material form a stable, lubricious layer. PVP has excellent water-absorbing properties.
- Polyethylene Glycol (PEG): PEG is common for biocompatible and non-toxic medical devices. It is also used for industrial applications, including coatings, adhesives, textiles and more.
- Polymers with Cross-Linking Agents: Cross-linked hydrophilic polymers boost the durability of coatings. They are used in industries such as aerospace that require high mechanical strength.
- Silicon-based Coatings: Silicone is a flexible material that can be easily modified to have water-attractive and heat-resistant properties.
Uses of Industrial Hydrophilic Coatings
Hydrophilic coatings are used for many industrial products, processes, and applications. Their global market size was valued at USD 16.8 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at 6.0% CAGR (USD 22.5 billion) from 2022 to 2027.
These coatings are also used heavily in medical device coatings. If interested in this application, you can learn about the applications and benefits of hydrophilic coatings in the medical industry by reading our article: Hydrophilic Coatings for Medical Devices—Comprehensive Guide.
Regardless of the application, these coatings can be applied to the substrate using common coating methods. The performance of the coating needs to be tested to ensure they meet the product requirements.
Here are a few of the many industrial applications of hydrophilic coatings.
1. Aerospace Industry
Water-loving coatings help prevent ice buildup and freezing on aircraft surfaces. They play a crucial role in ensuring safety and improving aerodynamics in regions with freezing temperatures and high humidity.
A quick list of aerospace parts that are surface treated with hydrophilic coatings:
- Displays
- Sensors
- Cameras
- Visors
- Windshields
- Emergency Breathing Masks
NASA was the first to realize the need for anti-fog coatings. This happened when an astronaut stumbled during a spacewalk due to a continually fogged face shield. The fog impaired their vision. This led to the development of modern, anti-fog coatings.
Hydrophilic coatings are the best choice for anti-fogging. They convert water droplets into a thin film. This is compared to hydrophobic coatings, which are best suited for water-resistant applications.
Learn more about the differences of hydrophilic vs hydrophobic coatings.
2. Automotive Industry
Hydrophilic coatings can be easily modified to have different properties. Examples include anti-icing, antifogging, anti-dust, anti-scratch, and anti-glare properties. These functions are crucial to ensuring best-in-class safety and performance of automotive vehicles.
Industrial Hydrophilic coatings are applied on the following components of cars, trucks, buses, and more:
- Windshields
- Mirrors
- Headlights
- Sensors
- Taillights
Effective anti-fog coatings help reduce your vehicle’s energy consumption. They can also be lifesaving in situations where sudden weather changes cause fogging and impaired vision. Hydromer’s advanced hydrophilic anti-fog coatings can also help prevent heating in engine components.
3. Consumer Goods and Electronics
Hydrophilic coatings have the ability to attract water and spread it evenly over a surface instead of forming beads. These hydrophilic, anti-fog coatings are applied to consumer goods, such as eye wear, face shields, and screens to help them stay clear. Their main purpose is to prevent fogging and condensation. At the same time these coatings boost scratch resistance. All these benefits increase the durability and usability of the products.
Some consumer good products that are treated with hydrophilic coatings include:
- Eyewear
- Touchscreen Devices
- Optical Sensors
- Cameras
Hydrophilic coatings can also repel dust and fingerprints to ensure seamless interaction on touchscreen devices. Hydromer’s hydrophilic optical coatings are durable, thin, and optically clear for a long-lasting experience.
4. Water Purification Systems and Photocatalytic Applications
Hydrophilic coatings can significantly improve the flow rate of water purification systems. These treatments are applied to filter membranes. They can help capture more contaminants and supply an increased amount of water compared to normal filters. They can also act to resist particle adhesion to prevent filter clogging.
It is also possible to formulate innovative, photocatalytic hydrophilic coatings that are self-cleaning, breaking down chemical dirt and impurities. This functionality is possible in the presence of certain light. Such coatings also prevent the adhesion of bio-organisms when applied to equipment immersed in water for extended periods. This class of coatings have been used in applications, such as coating fabrics, paints, glass, tiles and cement.
5. Energy Sector
These water-loving coatings help spread water droplets over the entire surface of solar panels. This allows water to dry quickly. These coatings have proven to be extremely durable and efficient.
Here are a few benefits of using hydrophilic coatings on solar Photovoltaic (PV) panels:
- Repels water
- Helps solar panels capture more sunlight
- Reduces dust buildup
- Minimizes harsh effects of UV exposure
Thus, hydrophilic coatings are emerging as one of the best coating solutions to boost renewable energy and help the environment.
6. Marine Industry
These water-loving coatings have also found use in the marine industry. Hydrophilic coatings, such as Hydromer’s Sea-Slide®, have been developed to optimize watercraft performance by reducing hydrodynamic drag and turbulence. This coating produces a low interfacial energy surface, which reduces turbulence. The result is less hydrodynamic drag, which allows for faster speeds and higher fuel efficiency. Another benefit of these coatings is that they are anti-fouling.
Final Words
Hydrophilic coatings are surface modifications that make surfaces “water-loving.” They can be applied to a variety of surfaces, including metals, plastics, rubber, and glass. These coatings provide many benefits, such as improving lubricity, reducing friction, preventing fog and condensation, and reducing chemical, mechanical, and environmental degradation. These characteristics make them ideal for many industrial uses.
Industrial coatings can be developed and applied to meet specific functional requirements. As a result, custom formulated hydrophilic coatings can be used to accomplish your specific product needs.
Hydromer’s hydrophilic industrial coatings have excellent wettability and lubricity. They attract water molecules from the surrounding environment to create a thin film of hydrogels with extremely low coefficients of friction. Our team can help you develop a hydrophilic coating to meet the unique needs of your industrial application.
Get In Touch
Contact our team for custom formulations that easily address your industr’s and product’s specific needs. We specialize in customized anti-fog, anti-frost, and condensation-control coating solutions for a variety of applications.
What sets us apart from other coating suppliers is our extensive support services. In addition to supplying hydrophilic coatings, we offer a range of services from contract R&D to testing and technology transfer. So no matter where you are in the product lifecycle you will get a partner to help develop a solution. We offer the following contract services to our customers:
- In-house contract coating services
- Research and Development (R&D) services
- Specialized Analytical Testing
- Custom Machine Building
- Turn-key Operations
- Technology Transfer Services
- Technical consulting and support services
