Applications and Opportunities
Synthetic polymers and composites are an integral part of our modern world, and for good reason.
Polymers offer a unique combination of properties that can’t be replicated with other materials, providing low-density strength, corrosion-resistance, and thermal and electrical insulation, while often being cheaper to produce and easier to work with than more traditional materials. The proliferation of polymers has led to lighter and more efficient vehicles, better insulated and more efficient homes, next-level innovations in high-end electronics, super lightweight textiles pushing sport to the extreme, and life-altering breakthroughs in medical applications, to name just a few innovations made possible.
Despite their advantages, a long-standing challenge of working with these materials – particularly high-performance / low-surface-energy polymers – has been their resistance to engaging with coatings, dyes and adhesives. This is where XLYNX is changing the way in which we think about polymers.
Unlike traditional primers, adhesives or surface treatments, which can be destructive and costly, XLYNX diazirine-based crosslinking products create strong, irreversible covalent bonds when activated by near-UV light or moderate heat. This facile formation of highly stable carbon-carbon bonds between otherwise unreactive polymer surfaces is a major breakthrough in polymer technology and the industrial applications are only just beginning to be realized.
Industry applications and commercial opportunities for XLYNX diazirine-based crosslinking molecules include:
Universal Adhesive
Create ultra-strong covalent bonds between a wide range of “impossible-to-bond” materials:
- Failure-resistant adhesion compared to conventional mechanical bonds
- Easily bond challenging polyolefin polymers, such as polyethylene and polypropylene, as well as a wide variety of polymers containing aliphatic C-H bonds like polystyrene, acrylics, polyurethanes, aramids, and more.
- Form bonds with fluoropolymers under some conditions
- Also bonds polymers to glass, ceramics, wood, paper, textiles, leather, elastomers, and some metals (eg. Aluminum)
- Simple activation with near-UV light or moderate heat
Functionalizing Primer
Prime polymer surfaces to engage with commercial adhesives, dyes, or coatings:
- Bond polymers together or combine with other materials using commercial cyanoacrylate or epoxy adhesives
- Create polymer surfaces that are receptive to irreversible dye or coating treatments
- Promising stabilizing surface treatment potential for use in organic semiconductors and photo-patterning applications
- Activate with non-invasive UV light rather than relying on toxic, destructive or expensive pre-treatments like grinding, blasting or chemical processes
Fabric/Fiber Strengthener
Enhance woven, braided and knitted polymer materials to increase puncture, tear and tensile performance:
- Create ultra-strong, light-weight, previously-impossible composite laminates
- Enhance light, strong fabrics and composites for use in sport and recreation markets, such as kite surfing, sailing and outdoor textiles
- Strengthen materials used in ballistic body armour for greater stopping power without adding weight
Material Transformation
Strengthen, harden, and improve resistance properties:
- Improve stability and resistance of perovskite solar cells, organic electronics (OLEDs) and circuits
- Improve stability of de-icing coatings and other surface coatings
- Increase surface hardness to deliver longer-wearing medical components
- Increase the working lifespan of medical implants such as prosthetic hips
Confirmed Substrates
XLYNX’s pioneering crosslinking technology has been successfully tested on a wide range of polymer/polymer and polymer/non-polymer combinations, including:
- Polyethylene (LDPE, HDPE, UHMWPE)
- Polypropylene (PP)
- Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
- Polystyrene (PS)
- Polycaprolactone (PCL)
- Acrylics
- Polyisoprene elastomers
- Polyurethanes
- Aramid and UHMWPE fabrics
- Glass, ceramics, wood, paper, textiles, leather, elastomers, and some metals
