A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony was held to highlight a recent collaboration between Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and a Malaysian company that specialises in coating development in the pursuit to promote joint research and expertise exchange in the field of nanotechnology.
During the ceremony, UTM was represented by its Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation), and witnessed by the Deputy Dean (Academic & Student Affairs) Faculty of Science while the company was represented by its Chief Operating Officer and Head of Business and witnessed by its Chairman.
The MoU covered academic partnership and research development, academic staff and student exchange including undergraduate and postgraduate students, joint seminar/conference, and co-supervision of postgraduate students between UTM and the company. Through the MoU, both parties also agreed to develop the first-ever satellite lab in the Faculty of Science to facilitate the intense research work in bilateral fusion.
The collaborative effort seeks to enhance the technical ability and upscaling process for nanoparticles usage in paint and coating technology. As one of the leading research universities in Malaysia, UTM has always been putting high interest in identifying research collaboration and networking particularly in the field of technology. UTM also wished to dedicate a special acknowledgement to Platinum Coatings (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. counterparts in making this cooperation possible.
The collaboration was initiated by the UTM Faculty of Science Senior Lecturer and was the result of a previous collaborative contract research grant on the novel synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) commencing in May 2021.
The Global Nanocoatings Market is growing at a high CAGR of 24.5% during the forecast period (2021-2028). Nanocoatings are substrates coated with nanomaterials by a film of a thickness in the nano-range. These coatings provide weather resistance to protect painted surfaces from getting degraded.
The global nanocoatings market is being driven by rising technological advancement and an increase in research and development in the world. For instance, in 2017 the Leibniz Institute for New Materials introduced new nano-coatings that reduce the effort required for cleaning heat exchangers as well as their corrosion. In these new coatings, the research scientists combine antiadhesive, anticorrosive and, antimicrobial properties.
Additionally, the rise in the growth of nanotechnology has led to the increasing adoption of nanocoatings on a global level. In addition to this, the growing emphasis on renewable energy facilities also drives the usage of nanocoatings.
By application, the global nanocoatings market is segmented into medicine, energy, electronics, the food industry, space technology, and other applications. Currently, medical held the largest market share in the global nanocoatings market and is expected to continue its dominance during the forecast period. The constant release of the active substance, antimicrobial effect, no chemical impurities and no later discolouration of the device or equipment material are some of the benefits of nanocoatings in the medical industry. The increasing market of pharmaceuticals is also fuelling the demand for nanocoatings in the healthcare industry.
Further, the electronics segment is anticipated to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period owing to the increasing use of nanotechnology in the electrical and electronics industry. The Asia Pacific region is anticipated to witness the most significant growth rate in the market over the forecast period. The countries like India, China, and Indonesia are slowly heading towards a more substantial market share across all end-user industries. Further, new technological innovations will boost the development of the market.
