Coating for sensing thermal and impact damage
AssigneeTopasol, LLC
InventorsUschi M. Graham, Rajesh A. Khatri
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Coating compositions containing resins with dispersed nanoparticle precursors and methods for using said coatings as visual indicators of thermal and impact damage. The nanoparticle precursor/resin system reduces the nanoparticle precursor to its nanoparticle state when subjected to heat and/or physically impacted. The nanoparticles formed impart a color upon the coating at the point of exposure due to surface plasmon resonance. Microencapsulated leuco dyes are utilized to impart color when the coating is struck. The dye within the microcapsule is released as the microcapsule wall bursts or melts. Solubilizing agents can be utilized to improve the solubility of the nanoparticle precursor in the resin.
Claims14
A method of forming a surface thermal and/or mechanical stress indicating coating, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) applying a substantially transparent coating to a surface, said coating comprised of at least one inorganic nanoparticle precursor material and a curable resin applied in at least one layer, said resin capable of facilitating a heat induced chemical reduction of said at least one inorganic nanoparticle precursor material which creates a plurality of inorganic nanoparticles within said coating which impart a color change to said coating;
- and
- (b) curing said coating on said surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.