Tunable nanocoating technology for enhanced adhesion and bond strength
Swift Coat's thin-film nanocoating technology (<25 nm, <$0.10/m²) dramatically improves adhesive bond strength by 3–10X across multiple adhesive/substrate systems. Applied via a proprietary dry spray process, the colorless, nanoscopically rough coating offers a cost-effective drop-in enhancement for industrial bonding applications.
Overview
Swift Coat is offering an advanced thin-film coating technology designed to significantly improve adhesive bond strength across a wide range of substrate and adhesive combinations. The coating is ultra-thin (<25 nm), inexpensive (<$0.10/m²), colorless, and features a precisely tunable nanoscopic surface roughness. By selecting the appropriate coating material and tuning its thickness and roughness, bond strength between substrates and adhesives can be increased by more than 5X. This drop-in solution is intended to enhance existing substrate and adhesive systems without requiring major process changes, offering manufacturers a cost-effective way to improve product durability and reliability.
Technical specifications
- Proprietary deposition process: Utilizes Aerosol Impaction-Driven Assembly (AIDA), a dry spray method enabling precise control of thin-film thickness and surface roughness on large-area and complex substrates.
- Coating profile: Ultra-thin films under 25 nm, colorless, and low-cost at less than $0.10 per square meter.
- Tunable surface roughness: Nanoscopic roughness can be engineered to match specific adhesive/substrate system requirements.
- Validated performance: Tested across four adhesive types (acrylate, synthetic rubber, acrylic polymers, and silicone) on two substrates (glass and steel) using ASTM D3330 (180-degree pull test), yielding 3–10X improvements in bond strength for three of four adhesives.
- Environmental durability: Demonstrated resilience in high-humidity environments, with coated silicone/stainless steel samples maintaining bond strength after 7-day water soak testing.
Technology readiness level
The technology is currently at a commercial validation stage. Initial proof-of-concept work has demonstrated dramatic bond strength improvements, and a structured 12-month project plan outlines clear deliverables: achieving 5X bond strength improvement on 5"x5" substrates, demonstrating >50% lower failure after low-temperature exposure, passing mechanical and chemical durability tests, scaling to full-tile deposition, and transferring the equipment and process to a sponsor's pilot line. The company is actively seeking a sponsored research partnership to advance these milestones toward full commercial deployment.
About Swift Coat, Inc.
Swift Coat, Inc. is a nanotechnology company specializing in advanced functional coatings, particularly thin-film deposition technology. The company utilizes a proprietary process known as Aerosol Impaction-Driven Assembly (AIDA), a dry spray method that allows for the precise tuning of refractive index and surface roughness on complex, large-area substrates. By applying these engineered nanostructures, Swift Coat creates high-performance coatings that provide anti-reflective, anti-fog, and anti-soiling properties, significantly enhancing the durability and efficiency of critical components across the aerospace, solar, and semiconductor industries.
Originally a spinout from Arizona State University, the company has transitioned from research to commercial-scale manufacturing to address the rising demand for resilient high-tech materials, including specialized solutions for NASA’s xEMU spacesuit and the U.S. satellite market. By providing coatings that improve solar cell power output and ensure clearer optical systems for space missions, Swift Coat enables customers to optimize the performance of technology deployed in both extreme orbital environments and terrestrial applications. The company continues to scale its manufacturing capacity and workforce in Phoenix, Arizona, supported by federal research grants and strategic partnerships with industry and economic organizations.
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