Hybrid biopolymer–wax coatings for enhanced particle adhesion in aqueous systems
Innovative carrageenan–wax hybrid coatings offer superior particle adhesion in water, enabling robust and responsive surface interactions. These coatings provide flexible control over particle attachment through temperature, pH, and solvent adjustments, useful in various wet applications.
Overview
Hybrid biopolymer–wax coatings, developed using carrageenan and wax, present a novel solution for enhancing particle adhesion in aqueous systems. This dual approach involves using the hybrid as a sprayed matrix to bind particles to surfaces or as a direct coating on particles. The result is a robust adhesive layer that is responsive to temperature changes (due to wax) and pH, salt, or solvent variations (due to carrageenan). These coatings are ideal for applications requiring flexible and durable control over particle–surface interactions in wet environments.
Technical specifications
Key features:
- Carrageenan provides strong wet adhesion and is responsive to pH and salt changes.
- Wax components offer hydrophobicity and temperature-controlled adhesion.
- The carrageenan:wax ratio can be adjusted to tailor adhesive or release properties.
- Suitable for creating coatings or filtration layers that require robust performance in water.
- Renewable and scalable components, ensuring sustainable application.
Applications:
- Wet environment coatings
- Filtration systems
- Agriculture and food industry applications
Technology readiness level
The technology is currently at TRL 2, having been defined conceptually with plans for further validation through model particles and application scenarios. Future development will focus on optimizing formulation and performance testing for specific use cases.
About Sofia University
Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" gives corporate R&D teams a foothold into Southeast Europe's most established research base, with formal mechanisms already built for outside partners. Its INSAIT institute, structured as an international AI and computer science center, actively recruits global faculty and runs frontier research that industry can plug into directly. The university's dedicated High-tech Business Center and technology transfer function, developed in partnership with WIPO, EPO, and EUIPO, exist specifically to move research into commercial hands through licensing and IP agreements. Sponsors also gain access through credit-bearing internships, corporate research collaborations, and joint EU consortia, giving multiple structured routes from early contact to a working engagement.
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