SMART PAINT

• US 20140184249A1
• Filed: 12/28/2012
• Published: 07/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: University of Strathclyde
• Original Assignee: University of Strathclyde
• Inventors: Saafi, Mohamed, McGahon, David
• Application Number:
  US13/729,449
• Publication Number:
  US 20140184249A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/693
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 14/024 Graphite
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 14/026 of particular shape, e.g. nanotubes
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 14/386 Carbon carbon nanotubes C04B14/026
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 20/006 Microfibres; Nanofibres
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2111/00508 Cement paints
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2111/94 Electrically conducting materials
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 28/006 containing mineral polymers, e.g. geopolymers of the Davidovits type
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 3/04 Carbon
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 1/02 alkali metal silicates
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 5/24 Electrically-conducting paints conductive materials H01B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 17/04 Corrosion probes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/026 Dielectric impedance spectroscopy electrochemical impedance spectroscopy for measuring corrosion G01N17/02
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/20 Investigating the presence of flaws
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 40/10 Production of cement, e.g. improving or optimising the production methods; Cement grinding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/734 Fullerenes, i.e. graphene-based structures, such as nanohorns, nanococoons, nanoscrolls or fullerene-like structures, e.g. WS2 or MoS2 chalcogenide nanotubes, planar C3N4, etc.

Abstract

A condition monitoring paint is formed of a base material, and conductive components for forming a conductive network. The conductive components may include nano-particles or nano-structures. The paint in used in a condition monitoring system for monitoring the integrity or condition of structures, such as bridges.

Claims

1. A condition monitoring paint comprising a base material, and conductive components for forming a conductive network.

2. The patent as claimed in claim 1 wherein the conductive components comprise nano-particles or nano-structures.

3. The patent as claimed in claim 1 wherein the conductive components comprise carbon particles.

4. The patent as claimed in claim 1 wherein the conductive components comprise one or more of graphene, graphene oxide, carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, textile fibers coated with carbon nanotubes, textile fibers coated with graphene and textile fibers coated with graphene oxide.

5. The patent as claimed in claim 1 comprising a binding agent for binding the base material and the conductive components together.

6. The patent as claimed in claim 1 wherein the base material comprises an aluminosilicate.

7. The patent as claimed in claim 6 further comprising an alkaline binding agent to form a geopolymer with the aluminosilicate.

8. The patent as claimed in claim 7 wherein the alkaline binding agent comprises at least one of sodium silicate, sodium hydroxide, potassium silicate and potassium hydroxide.

9. The patent as claimed in claim 7 comprising from 65% to 80% by weight of aluminosilicate and from 20% to 35% by weight of aqueous alkaline binding agent.

10. A condition monitoring system for monitoring the condition of a structure, the condition monitoring system comprising condition monitoring paint and at least two electrodes for measuring an electrical property of the paint;

wherein said condition monitoring paint comprises a base material, and conductive components for forming a conductive network.

11. The system as claimed in claim 10 arranged to measure an electrical property of the paint as a function of time.

12. The system as claimed in claim 11 configured to monitor changes in the measured electrical property and use this as an indication of changes in the structure to which the paint is applied.

13. The system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the electrical property of the paint is measured using an electronic data acquisition system.

14. The system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the electrical property is selected from:

resistance and/or impedance and/or conductivity.

15. The system as claimed in claim 10 configured to perform electrical-impedance tomography or electrical-resistance tomography.