Get a New Perspective on Commercial Applications of Japan’s Cutting Edge Nanotechnology Through Sketch Co., One of Japan’s Leading Innovators

Current Focus of Sketch

Japan is at the forefront of commercializing nanotechnology.  Of particular note are advanced nano-materials and functional ingredients, especially in the area of ultra-fine dispersed materials being developed by Japan’s major chemical manufacturers with the assistance of Sketch Co.  The pace of change over the past five years has been so great that we can almost expect the established views of today to be completely overturned by the introduction of new functional ingredients in the near future.

            Although developments to date have focused on IT-related technologies such as semiconductors, integrated circuits and liquid crystal displays, the range of future applications will broaden to include the fields of medicine and biotechnology.  Sketch has continued its focus on research and development of advanced construction materials and hopes to continue to develop new products with high functionality and thereby create new profitable market opportunities.

The Attractiveness of Nanotech Coatings

Until recently, in the paint industry the micron was the standard unit of measure with clear limitations for ingredient characteristics like color, shape and function.  Application purposes were similarly limited.

In contrast, ultra-fine nano-particles that are one thousandth of a micron exhibit qualities and characteristics that are completely different from micron-sized particles leading to the discovery of new functionalities that do not fit with conventional wisdom.

Under 100 nanos nearly anything is transparent.  The new functionalities of each of the various metal oxides as well as the synergistic interactions of those same materials in compounds yield an almost unlimited number of characteristics or properties.  It is now possible to apply a transparent functional nano-coating on top of an existing product without changing the appearance of the underlying product at all and yet add new functionalities or properties to the existing product.  In contrast to micron-size paints, these new nanocoatings can cover up to 100 m² per liter.  Thus, at a cost of as little as 0.50 per square meter, a wide variety of functions can be added to existing surfaces.

By taking advantage of the advanced technology accumulated by Japan’s leading chemical companies, new products and markets become possible along with new profitable business opportunities.

Sketch’s Role

            In light of the sweeping change, growth and development expected in the nanotech coating field in the near future, Sketch is building on its technology for a binder that is inorganic, strongly adhesive and cured at room temperature.  Sketch’s target is the development of nanotech coatings that will adhere to any substrate, be transparent, form an ultra-thin membrane, dry quickly and exhibit good leveling qualities.

            Proficiency in three technologies is necessary to perfect the ideal functional coatings.

1.         Technology to produce ultra-fine particles of metal oxides and chemical elements that are 10 nanometers or less in size.  Typically, most manufacturers are capable of easily producing particles at the micron scale.  To produce ultra-fine particles of 200 nanos or less in size, particularly those that are less than 10 nanometers requires substantial investment in equipment or partnering with major chemical manufacturers.  Ultra-fine particles less than 10 nanos in size exhibit markedly different or greater functionality than do particles on the micron scale.  Substantial ongoing investment is being made by each of the major Japanese chemical companies to discover new uses or characteristics of ultra-fine metal oxides.  Tomorrow we may be able to produce a product currently unattainable.  Industry will be dramatically affected by the discovery of new functional ingredients and materials.

2.         Technology to Reach Stability Within a Solution of Ultra-Fine Particles of Metal Oxides so that the Particles do not Agglomerate Multiple Times.  The very particles that have been so carefully produced at the 2~10 nano size scale typically recombine or agglomerate to a size of 100~200 nanos.  As a result, transparency is lost and functionality is dramatically reduced.  This is the field where the technological proficiency of Japanese chemical companies is most widely recognized.  Dispersion technology entails significant know-how and cost.  Rather than developing this technology independently, it makes more sense to partner with major chemical companies.  The decisive factor in determining whether to develop a particular requested application is the anticipated market size for the new ingredient.  Providing information on the needs of specialists in the industry is key to success.

3.         Technology to Produce an Ultra-Thin, Strongly Adhesive, Inorganic Binder that Optimizes the Functionality of the Various Nano-Particles that are Evenly Dispersed Throughout the Coating.  There is little value in either covering up the functional ingredients you have spent so much talent and financial resources to develop or to have the functional ingredients not adhere to the target surface.

Only with all three of these technologies available is it possible to complete a multi-functional nano-coating with advanced functionality.

            Cooperating with the largest chemical companies who possess the first two technologies, Sketch has specialized in the third field of inorganic binder technology and has focused on developing a liquid coating that hardens at room temperature and is the thinnest membrane in the world available at a low cost and able to deliver high and varied functionality.

            Sketch is seeking to develop coatings that will be the ultimate delivery systems for the ultra-fine nano-particles with new functionality that are expected to follow one after another and to be able to attach those newly developed materials to all substrates with a room-temperature cured, strongly adhesive coating at a cost advantage to existing products.

            Today, we are already capable of producing a variety of silica binders comprised of silica particles ranging from 0.1~0.5 µ and dispersing three or more metal oxides in such a way that their functionalities are expressed to maximum advantage.  What is attracting most attention at this moment is Sketch’s ability to take a minimal amount of silica binder to firmly attach functional ingredients, such as visible light activated titanium dioxide or electrically dissipative antimony doped tin oxide, to a wide variety of substrates.  Because these functional ingredients can be predictably arranged on the surface of the coating to maximum effect, the amount of the ingredient required can be reduced by as much as 50% of that typically required and still produce an effective coating,.  As a result, production costs similarly can be halved for some products providing substantially increased cost-competitiveness.

            Starting with 5% of the inorganic binder liquid developed by Sketch and 85% methanol, nearly anyone can easily produce a room-temperature cured, super-hydrophilic functional glass coating by mixing in for the final 10% such functional ingredients as visible-light activated titanium dioxide, ATO, tin oxide and silver ions.  By using our binder concentrate, it is possible to produce a super-hydrophilic silica coating with visible light activated titanium dioxide (which we note is available on the market today) at a cost for the complete coating of as little $17.00~25.00 per liter (as compared with competitors’ prices as high as $130.00 per liter).  It is also possible to produce an anti-static electrical coating at a cost of $17.00 per liter (as compared with competitors’ prices of $80).  Functional ingredients are not limited to Japanese companies; chemical manufacturers from every corner of the globe can create a unique product by mixing 10% of their slurry-type functional ingredients to the binder.  Furthermore, by employing Sketch’s binder as a standardized delivery system, one can easily make comparisons of the functional value of the various functional metal particles and solutions.  Being able to test which size of particles and which solutions permit the functional ingredients maximum surface exposure, major chemical manufacturers obtain informational feedback that contributes significantly to the development of high grade materials.  The greatest strength of Sketch’s products is providing immediate feedback on the qualities of ultra-fine particles that are being developed and improved daily.

            Sketch is your ideal partner in finding innovative solutions with advanced functional coatings.  Bring us your challenge or your functional ingredient and we will help deliver solutions and coatings that lead in practical commercialization.