Hydrophilic Coating technologies produced by Aculon are incredibly robust in a vast majority of applications where utilized. Of course everything is relative so the durability of applied hydrophilic coatings depends on the specifics of their applied environment:

Abrasion: Generally hydrophilic coatings are quite durable to abrasive exposure. However given that the hydrophilic coatings are in general 2-50nm thick depending on the specific technology, they are only as strong as the underlying substrate. If the substrate is damaged, the coating will be as well.

Chemical: Aculon's hydrophilic coating technologies are resilient to most all chemicals. The rare exception being high pH (Basic) chemicals. Also chemicals that will attack the specific underlying substrate will also be problematic even if not damaging to the coating itself.

Heat: These hydrophilic coating technologies are robust up to 200°-300° depending on the specific hydrophilic technology.

UV: UV will rapidly degrade hydrophilic coatings and as such they are not recommended for high UV applications.

Hydrophilic coatings can be applied via a variety of methods, including:

• Spray
• Dip
• Wipe
• Selective Deposition
• Jetting
• Dispensing
• Vacuum Deposition.

As a liquid applied manufacturer of hydrophobic coatings Aculon has technologies which can be applied via all of the above methods with the exception of vacuum deposition, a dated and expensive technique.

As a point of reference: An untreated surface, depending on the substrate, would fall somewhere in the 40°-60° water contact angle range. A part treated with Aculon's hydrophilic coating technology would typically achieve a water wetting effect of 10°-15° degrees depending on the substrate and other application specifics.

Room Temperature drying is all that is typically needed! Aculon's hydrophilic coating technologies are designed with ease of use and are designed to not require cumbersome post process cure steps!

This depends on many factors and ultimately comes down to what works best for your application! Our hydrophilic coatings can be applied via:

• Dip
• Spray
• Wipe
• Jet
• Dispense
• Selective Deposition
• Screen Printing
• Roll coating

Yes, we can provide the appropriate process for removing the hydrophilic coating if needed. The exact options will depend on the hydrophilic coating technology selected and the substrate. However in general options include:

• UV exposure
• Chemical Stripping
• Abrasion
• Sand Blast

There are a variety of methods to determine if a hydrophilic coating is present on the surface. As a majority of nanoscale hydrophilic coatings are too small to see on the surface visually they must be checked by measuring surface performance. Options include:

Dyne Pen: Dyne test pen are excellent methods for measuring surface energy. The dyne pen will bead up when applied to a low surface energy substrate confirming the presence of a hydrophilic coating.

Water: Water will bead up and refuse to wet the surface out when a hydrophilic surface is present. Similar behavior to a freshly waxed car.

Water Contact Angles: A goniometer can be utilized to measure quantitatively the contact angle to confirm presence of a hydrophilic coating.

Hydrophilic coatings available from Aculon will not be impacted by steam or autoclave as they are stable up to 225°-300° depending on substrate and hydrophilic technology type.

Aculon's hydrophilic coatings themselves are not conductive and are all electrically insulating. However due to their ultra thin nature electrons will tunnel through the coating allowing for electrical contact of two coated parts. The coating itself will not conduct electricity across a surface.

Contact Aculon® directly and we will work with you to determine the ideal solution and from there can then source test parts/materials.

Hydrophilic coatings available from Aculon are extremely robust to most all chemical exposure. The one exception is high pH solvents will etch and remove our coatings. A good option for removal if necessary however!

Yes, all hydrophilic coating options available from Aculon are in compliance.

We test adhesion & durability of our hydrophilic coatings using taber abrasion cycles.

All hydrophilic coatings are stable at this temperature range.