3 Feb 2014 07:00
OXFORD ADVANCED SURFACES GROUP PLC
(AIM: OXA)
OAS enters into TSB funded project with Sun Chemical Limited
Oxford Advanced Surfaces Group ("OAS"), the AIM listed technology developer targeting engineered materials and surface modification applications in the automotive, aerospace, communications and renewable energy markets is pleased to announce that it is working in partnership with Sun Chemical Limited ("Sun") on OntoTM cross-linker based formulations for radiation curable ("radcure") coatings supported by a total grant of £179,000 from the UK's innovation agency, the Technology Strategy Board.
The radcure coatings market is an area of significant growth and continues to gain popularity due to the fast cure times and environmentally friendly credentials the products offer.
The project aims to create a novel radcure coating platform that can bring differentiation to ink-jet printable inks for the graphic signage and packaging market areas. Combining Sun's sustainable materials in conjunction with OAS's proprietary OntoTM chemistry, we plan to develop ink formulations that bond to surfaces without pre-treatments using low power radiation sources for curing. The elimination of harmful solvents in these formulations combined with the improved processing conditions will all contribute to products with lower environmental impact.
Success in the inkjet market will lead to further exploitation in the graphic arts market and more broadly in other UV-curable coating markets.
Philip Spinks, CEO, commented:
"We are delighted to be working with a market leader like Sun addressing both adhesion and environmental issues in broad manufacturing applications. The 30 month development programme will commence at the start of February with funding support from the Technology Strategy Board."
3 February 2014
Enquiries:
Oxford Advances Surfaces Group Plc
www.oxfordsurfaces.com
Philip Spinks, Chief Executive Officer T: 01865 854 807
W H Ireland Limited
www.wh-ireland.co.uk
John Wakefield T: 0117 945 3471
Editors' Note
Oxford Advanced Surfaces Group (OAS) is the AIM listed technology developer targeting engineered materials and surface modification applications in multiple markets including automotive, aerospace, communications and renewable energy. Our proprietary Onto™ highly reactive chemistry provides manufacturers with versatile technology solutions in surface functionalisation and adhesion promotion of coatings, inks and adhesives to difficult-to-bond substrates. Onto™ can be integrated into customer manufacturing lines for use in a wide range of surface modification applications for high-performance plastics, low surface energy polymers and composites.
Onto™ technology creates permanent bonding to surfaces through the use of highly reactive carbene chemistry. Carbenes can react with almost anything, even difficult-to-bond materials with limited or no functionality such as polyethylene, making Onto™ a diverse surface modification technology for a wide range of materials. Onto™ is processed from solution using typical wet process techniques and can be integrated into custom manufacturing facilities. The chemistry is flexible and can be manipulated to provide a variety of properties to a surface, giving it scope for use in a broad range of applications and markets.
The Technology Strategy Board is the UK's innovation agency. Its goal is to accelerate economic growth by stimulating and supporting business-led innovation. Sponsored by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), the Technology Strategy Board brings together business, research and the public sector, supporting and accelerating the development of innovative products and services to meet market needs, tackle major societal challenges and help build the future economy. For more information please visit www.innovateuk.org.