In environments where every extra weight is worth considering, water isn't abundant, bacteria are still bacteria and radiation levels are high, an area like the WC, be it at an interplanetary habitat, space ship or other area of its need out in space, is a pathogen-susceptible area, requiring repetitive cleaning, often with harsh chemicals. This scenario creates a series of problems wherein:

a) bacteria develop resistance to detergents and

b) water likely in shortage becomes compromised with chemical residue.

c) chemical aerosols floating in low gravity environments become hazardous, in a closed system that can't be readily ventilated like on earth

With few to no accessible waterways (e.g. rivers, streams, etc) in exploration endeavours, it is essential to protect whatever fresh water is available, by developing alternate antipathogenic strategies within WC systems in space shuttles and interplanetary habitats, by using Quantum materials that can deliver protection, without photo-activation in sanitary systems and render ceramic systems more robust. 

THE ROOT OF STRUCTURAL FAILURE IN CERAMICS

Two factors challenge the integrity of a ceramic or porcelain tile, eventually determining its ability to resist cracks, stain and agents of degradation - pores and porosity. Porosity, basically refers to the ratio of voids to solids in a tile. These contribute to sites of mechanical weakness within a ceramic material. Porosity is measured by the amount of water a tile can hold, expressed as a percentage of it’s own weight. Pores on the other hand, are holes or openings on the outer surface of the material. 

CONSEQUENCES OF PORES & POROSITY IN CERAMICS

Porosity causes ceramics and porcelain to stain during the grouting process, especially when the grouts have a high content of coloured oxides. Pores increase the surface coefficient of friction and enhance the probability of collecting and accommodating dirt and bacteria in subsurface reservoirs. Surface pores are not measured in a quantifiable manner and hence aren’t used as part of the ceramic or porcelain standard. However, the consequence of the above factors make pores create exactly the same problems as porosity.

Basically, the entrance of agents of degradation through pores and cracks lead to structural failure. Our Quant-Ceramic nanoadditives have at least one particle dimension 100,000 times smaller than a strand of human hair. This means the nanomaterials are small enough to fill sub-micron surface crevices and pores while simultaneously, reducing the porosity of the entire ceramic composite. The reduced porosity lowers water permeability, minimising cracking caused by frost in lunar and Marsian environments.

To understand how to resolve this issue, it is important to consider the source: Porosity causes ceramics and porcelain to stain during the grouting process, especially when the grouts have high contents of coloured oxides and volatile hydrocarbons. When the ceramic or porcelain has large surface pores, the pores do two things:

A) They increase the surface coefficient of friction and enhance the probability of collecting dirt and bacteria accumulation sites.

B) They provide subsurface reservoirs to accommodate dirt and bacteria.

OUR SOLUTION

Quant-Ceramic nanoadditives serve in the following manner in ceramic bathroom and hospital tiles, bakelite & glass blends:

1. Reduce pore density, lower weight, while offering additional aspects such as corrosion-resistance, low thermal expansivity and increased mechanical strength, to consequentially facilitating polishing and vitrification

2. Reduced porosity enables increased resistance to penetration of agents of degradation (frost, bacterial, mold, corrosion)

3. By virtue of quantum effects, the nanoadditive is capable of offering sterilization/antimicrobial and anti-fungal activity even in the dark. This hence reduces bacteria survival and their ability to build resistance, minimizes disease transmittance and negates the need of harsh cleaning chemical agents - a crucial environmental aspect to prevent further pollution of water with chemical residue.

4. The overall reduction of porosity in the structure, will make it challenging for bacteria and other materials to penetrate and stain the material. Hence, aesthetic preservation, is offered, by preventing unsightliness, discolouration, retaining antifouling of the system and whitening properties (where necessary).

IMPLEMENTATION OF QUANT-CERAMIC NANOADDITIVES

Starting at doses as low as 0.001 wt %, our nanoadditives can be used as integral parts of the ceramic tile composite to enhance their strength, making them substantially robust enough to enable the manufacture of thinner tiles. 

By making thinner tiles, slabs and related ceramic features, a manufacturer can just about double their product output with the same amount of raw material they usually have in their inventory. 

Our Quant-Ceramic products can also be used as coating nanoadditives, to confer further benefits they are designed to offer porcelain and ceramics such as: 

• enhanced mechanical reinforcement

•  stain-resistance

•  antimicrobial and anti-fungal protection 

• durability as well as aesthetic preservation

• radiation shielding

CERAM  QUANTCEM

NANOARCHITECTURE : < 25 nm Spherical hollow nanoparticles

SURFACE AREA (BET) : 38800 m²/kg

pH RANGE :  6.5 - 10

COLOUR : White Nanopowder

HEAT RESISTANCE : Up to 1339 °C (2442 °F)

DOSE IN COATINGS* : 0.01 - 0.05 wt % (0.1 - 0.5g per litre) 

DOSE IN CERAMIC BLEND* : 0.005 - 0.007 wt % of ceramic powder blend

*The fracture resistance increases with dose augmentation

APPLICATIONS : High temperature flux material in glazes and reduces ceramic shrinkage from firing, nano-cementituous filler, porosity minimization, increase flexural (~ 60 %) and fracture strength (~ 50 %) to prevent cracks or crazing, increase hardness as well as durability and in large quantities, it produces a matt effect.

CERAM QUANT-MG

COLOUR : White Nanopowder

SURFACE AREA (BET) : 35930 m²/kg

HEAT RESISTANCE : Up to 2852 °C (5166 °F)

DOSE IN COATINGS* : 0.01 - 0.05 wt % (0.1 - 0.5g per litre) 

DOSE IN CERAMIC BLEND* : 0.002 - 0.005 wt % of ceramic powder blend

AVERAGE DOSE IN CEMENTITIOUS MATERIAL: 0.002 wt %  for 12 - 18 % strength gain

APPLICATIONS : This nanoadditive is a specialty nanoceramic with outstanding high-temperature performance, which makes it very useful in thermal engineering, heating elements, crucibles, and refractory systems. It offers good corrosion resistance, high thermal conductivity, low electrical conductivity and it transparent to Infrared radiation.

It readily forms eutectics with other oxides to produce melts at surprisingly low temperatures and lowers glaze thermal expansion. It is a very effective matting agent and its (fatty) mattes are very resistant to crazing. 

It is an effective anti-pathogen against gram positive and gram negative bacteria, yeast and biofilm.

CERAM  QUANTFILLER

NANOARCHITECTURE : 5nm (0.005 μm) Spherical Nanoparticles

SURFACE AREA (BET) : 41530 m²/kg

pH RANGE : 8 - 11

COLOUR : White Nanopowder

HEAT RESISTANCE : Up to 1975 °C (3587°F)

DOSE IN COATINGS* :  500 – 1500 μg/ml ( 0,5 - 1.5g per litre) 

DOSE IN CERAMIC BLEND* : 0.003 - 0.005 wt % of ceramic powder blend

*The fracture resistance increases with dose augmentation

APPLICATIONS : UV filtering, Antibacterial even in the dark , Antifouling, Anticorrosion, porosity minimization, low thermal expansivity & enhanced mechanical (compressive) strength management, nano-pore filler. 

Improves the elasticity of glazes by reducing the change in viscosity as a function of temperature and helps prevent crazing and shivering. In small amounts, it improves the development of glossy and brilliant surfaces and in moderate to high amounts, it produces matte and crystalline surfaces.

CERAM  QUANTFLEX 

NANOARCHITECTURE : Atomically Thin Sheets/Flakes ( < 1 nm Thickness)

SURFACE AREA (BET) : 63520 m²/kg

pH RANGE : 8 - 11

COLOUR : White Nanopowder

HEAT RESISTANCE : Up to 1975 °C (3587°F)

DOSE IN COATINGS* : 250 – 1000 μg/ml  ( 0.25 - 1 g per litre)

DOSE IN CERAMIC BLEND* : 0.001 - 0.003 wt % of ceramic powder blend

*The fracture resistance increases with dose augmentation

APPLICATIONS : UV filtering, Antibacterial even in the dark , Antifouling, Anticorrosion, porosity minimization, low thermal expansivity & enhanced mechanical (compressive & flexural) strength management, nano-crevice filler.

Improves the elasticity of glazes by reducing the change in viscosity as a function of temperature and helps prevent crazing and shivering. In small amounts, it improves the development of glossy and brilliant surfaces and in moderate to high amounts, it produces matte and crystalline surfaces.

CERAM QUANT-THERM

NANOARCHITECTURE : Atomically Thin Sheets/Flakes ( < 1 nm Thickness)

SURFACE AREA (BET) : 49550 m²/kg

COLOUR : Black/Blackish-Brown Nanopowder

HEAT RESISTANCE : Up to 1597 °C (2907 °F)

DOSE IN COATINGS* : 0.004 - 0.01 wt % (0.04 - 0.1g per litre) 

DOSE IN CERAMIC BLEND* : 0.001 - 0.005 wt % of ceramic powder blend

*The fracture resistance increases with dose augmentation

APPLICATIONS : For effective heat transport, X-ray radiation shielding, the absorption of Arsernic, heavy metals and antibiotic residue in water.

CERAM  Q-SABI

NANOARCHITECTURE : Atomically Thin Sheets/Flakes ( < 1 nm Thickness)

SURFACE AREA (BET) :  495500 cm²/g

pH RANGE : 6 - 7

COLOUR : Earthy Yellow/Orange/blackish-Brown Nanopowder

HEAT RESISTANCE : Up to 1377 °C ( 2511 °F)

DOSE IN COATINGS* : 150 – 1000 μg/ml  ( 0.15 - 1 g per litre or depending on the desired colour tone)

DOSE IN CERAMIC BLEND* : 0.001 - 0.1 wt % of ceramic powder blend

AVERAGE DOSE IN CEMENTITIOUS MATERIAL: 0.0012 wt % 

*Flexural strength and hydration resistance increase with dose augmentation

APPLICATIONS : Helps in densification, increases hydration resistance and augments cold-crush strength, enhances flexural strength, Improves split tensile strength, Nano-Pigment for coloured cement tile.

CERAM QUANT-NEUTRON 

NANOARCHITECTURE : < 20 nm (0.02 um) nanoparticles

COLOUR : White Nanopowder

DOSAGE :  0.001 % or as needed for the nature of radiation exposure

HEAT RESISTANCE : Up to 2973 °C (5383 °F)

APPLICATIONS : Enhanced neutron attenuation, heat shielding material.

CERAM  Q-KIN

NANOARCHITECTURE : < 10 nm (0.01 μm) Spherical Nanoparticles

COLOUR : Purple-White/Violet Nanopowder

HEAT RESISTANCE : Up to 1064 °C (1947.2°F)

DOSE IN COATINGS/GLAZE SUSPENSION :  0.01 - 0.1 wt % ( 0.1 - 1g per litre) 

DOSE IN CERAMIC BLEND : As desired

APPLICATIONS : Ultrafine gold nanopowder applicable to gold joinery (kintsugi) and or lacquer decoration (maki-e) techniques, Antibacterial , Anti-fungal, Pigment.