Modified polysiloxane liners for metal cans and aqueous-contact surfaces
Georgetown University researchers offer expertise in modified polysiloxane materials designed as protective liners for cans and other metal surfaces in contact with aqueous liquids. The team proposes systematic tuning of viscosity, hydrophobicity, processability, durability, and adhesion to deliver cost-effective liner solutions using commercially available starting materials.
Overview
This offering centers on a class of modified polysiloxane materials being developed as protective liners for metal cans and other metal surfaces that come into contact with aqueous liquids. The research team, led by an experienced polymer scientist at Georgetown University, aims to engineer polysiloxane formulations that achieve the right combination of viscosity, hydrophobicity, processability, durability, and adhesive properties needed to perform reliably in food, beverage, and industrial packaging applications. The approach leverages inexpensive, commercially available starting materials and builds directly on the team's extensive prior work with closely related polysiloxane systems.
Technical specifications
Key features and capabilities:
- Tailored viscosity and rheology to support coating, curing, and film formation on metal substrates
- Hydrophobic surface behavior designed to resist water and aqueous formulations
- Adhesive properties that promote bonding to metal surfaces such as aluminum and steel
- Durability under conditions typical of canning and liquid-contact environments
- Processability compatible with standard lab-scale coating and characterization techniques
- Cost-effective formulation based on commercially available polysiloxane precursors
The team has a substantial body of published and unpublished experimental results on related polysiloxane systems, providing a strong foundation for systematic property tuning. Experimental design, procedures, and analyses would be conducted collaboratively with industry scientists and engineers to ensure that property targets align with real-world application requirements.
Technology readiness level
The technology is at an early-to-mid stage of applied development. The underlying polysiloxane chemistry is well established through the team's prior research, and proof-of-concept experiments are designed to systematically vary viscosity, hydrophobicity, processability, durability, and adhesion while measuring performance. Validation would be performed using equipment available in the team's laboratories, with experimental protocols refined in collaboration with industry partners. Further development, including scale-up, regulatory assessment, and long-term performance testing, would follow as partnership scope expands.
About Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private research university in Washington, D.C., anchored by an academic medical center and recognized for its policy-aware, globally engaged character. Industry collaborates through co-located core laboratories, clinical research units, and integration with an affiliated hospital system that supports clinical trials and translational studies. Its location in the nation’s capital offers direct access to federal agencies and the Capital Region innovation ecosystem, streamlining partnerships that connect science, policy, and commercialization. Research is supported by competitive federal funding, including awards from NIH and NSF. A dedicated technology transfer office advances IP protection, licensing, startup formation, and industry-sponsored research agreements.
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