Presenters Name: Dr Fiona Mary Antony
Employment Title: LAB Manager APAC
Company: KRÜSS GmbH
Biography: Dr Fiona Mary Antony is currently working as Lab Manager for the APAC region at KRUSS GmbH, a global leader in surface and interfacial chemistry instrumentation. With a doctorate in chemical engineering from VNIT Nagpur, her research centred around reactive separation techniques. She has published over 20 peer reviewed articles in renowned journals, contributing significant advancements in separation processes. She was also a visiting researcher at the Slovak University of Technology where she explored nanomaterials in ionic liquids. Her achievements include Best young researchers award at BioSD and a fellowship from the Slovak Republic, highlighting her expertise and dedication to the field. With a strong background in both academic research and industry, she now focuses on laboratory management and scientific applications in surface sciences.
Presentation Title: Optimizing Coating Process: Enhancing Adhesion and Performance Across Industries
Presentation Abstract: Effective coating of substrates is critical for protecting materials in diverse environments, yet adhesion failures remain a persistent challenge, often stemming from inadequate surface preparation and interfacial incompatibilities. This study focuses on optimizing surface-coating interactions to enhance adhesion and performance in multi-layer systems, particularly in industries such as automotive, aerospace, and consumer electronics, where reliability and durability are paramount. Key parameters, including the surface properties of substrates and the interfacial behaviour of coating liquids, are systematically examined. Methods such as contact angle measurements are employed to determine surface-free energy and to analyse critical adhesion parameters like Work of Adhesion, Interfacial Energy, and Spreading Coefficient.
The practical significance of these concepts is demonstrated through an automotive industry case study. Coatings exposed to demanding conditions are evaluated using a novel, production-compatible technique involving ultrafast, needleless drop deposition. This method enables real-time, precise contact angle measurements on moving substrates, offering a substantial advancement over traditional needle-based methods in terms of efficiency and accuracy. By providing a comprehensive understanding of surface-coating interactions, this study offers actionable insights to improve coating processes, reduce costs, and minimize material waste. These findings contribute to the advancement of next-generation coatings with superior adhesion, durability, and performance, tailored to meet the rigorous demands of modern industrial applications.
