TÜBİTAK Support for Next-Generation Coatings

Assoc. Prof. Hikmet Çiçek from Erzurum Technical University (ETÜ), Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, continues his work on next-generation protective coatings. The developed project received support under the TÜBİTAK 1001 Scientific and Technological Research Projects Support Program. This project, which aims to obtain next-generation compact protective coatings by combining self-healing materials made with smart materials in appropriate geometry and composition, received support under the TÜBİTAK 1001 Scientific and Technological Research Projects Support Program.

Material losses also decreasing

Providing comments on this pioneering technology he has developed, Assoc. Prof. Hikmet Çiçek noted that surface coatings are the most common and effective protective application used to protect machine components from damage caused by friction and wear under service conditions. Assoc. Prof. Çiçek stated: "To date, many different methods and alloys have been used to prevent or delay damage caused by friction and wear, and very good results have been achieved. In most coatings produced so far, the primary objective has been to reduce friction and wear, decrease energy losses caused by friction, and minimize material losses resulting from wear." Assoc. Prof. Çiçek noted that coatings lose their protective properties when scratches, cracks, and wear marks occur and can separate adhesively from the machine component surface. Stating that after damage occurs in protective coatings, the machine component is generally replaced with a new one or the coating is removed and reapplied, Çiçek said: "In both cases, time and financial costs are involved.

Effectiveness of protective coatings can be enhanced

New and compact methods are needed to further increase the effectiveness of protective coatings and extend service life. By producing new types of compact, intelligent coatings that not only prevent damage but also can self-heal when damage occurs, the effectiveness of protective coatings can be further enhanced and a new momentum can be created. With our project, we believe we will bring a new perspective and a new momentum to protective coatings. Through this, we hope our project, which we believe will save both time and costs, will benefit the country's economy," he said.  

Source: (IHA)