We have invented novel non-isocyanate polyurethanes for monolithic floorings, foams, adhesives and industrial paint compositions. The two-component binders have unique properties that combine the best mechanical properties of polyurethane and chemical resistance of epoxy binders. Our polyurethanes do not present health hazards since they do not consist of isocyanate components at any stage of preparation. An independent laboratory test on them has confirmed no sensitizing effect. Toxicity of nonisocyanate polyurethanes is 70-125 time less than analogous by structure conventional isocyanate based polyurethanes.
The environmentally friendly nonisocyanate polyuretanes are insensitive to the moisture in the air or the coated surface and provide for making monolithic nonporous materials with decreased permeability. The increased hydrolytic stability is due to the formation of the network nonisocyanate polyurethane (NIPU) as a result of the reaction between cyclocarbonate oligomers and primary amine oligomers. This reaction forms an intra-molecular hydrogen bond through the hydroxyl group at the β-carbon atom of the polyurethane chain. Now 5 types of NIPU are produced by EFM, GmbH, Berlin, Germany and hybrid NPIU coatings and floorings are producing Denber Israeli Paint, Ltd., Israel.
We have patented and developed cellulose-based rapid biodegradable hydrophobic material (RBHM). RBHM is a new, hydrophobic, strong, cheap recyclable, repulpable and completely biodegradable composite material of newly type that is environmentally friendly. RBHM has shown great promise in improving the properties of both paper and plastics packaging aterials. Due to its recycle and biodegradable nature, Rapid Biodegradable Hydrophobic Material is ideal to be applied for the disposable grocery bags and packages. The material can be used as a commodity in trade, industry and agriculture for a wide range of applications. Today, most attempts to produce biodegradable products for consumers focused on developing plastics that could biodegrade. RBHM approaches biodegradable products from the other direction: making cellulose-based material with the same physical properties as plastic, except the material is recyclable and completely biodegradable in the same time as regular paper bags. RBHM consists of cellulose (paper) and biodegradable organic additives. Biodegradation of RBHM occurs in wet soil under normal enzymatic action of various microorganisms: fungi and bacteria, as follows:
The number of potential applications for RBHM is immense. Because RBHM can be applied on sheets, films and fibers, it is suitable for a range of single-use products, including, grocery and waste bags, the top and back sheets of disposable diapers, packs and disposable eating utensils. It can be used to create agricultural films and bags that cover ripening fruit. RBHM products such as disposable plates and cups, films for food packaging, miscellaneous everyday items and sanitary products are but a few of the possible applications. Box and bag consumers are generally commercial and industrial users requiring a particular packaging container for a specific product.
SILAGUARD is a patented combined organo-mineral material for fire-protecting coatings of wood and other materials.
SILAGUARD has superior properties in comparison to fire-resistant coatings based on special epoxy resins or traditional silicates, which includes:
SILAGUARD is applied to the treated surface by ordinary techniques: brush, sprayer, roller, etc.
CSPE-based coatings today are prepared from aromatic solutions using xylene, toluene, etc, that prevents them from being used in buildings due to toxicity and danger of fire and explosion. The toxic vulcanizing agents used today (mainly lead oxide, primary aliphatic and aromatic amines, epoxy resins, polyisocyanates and others) have numerous drawbacks. Moreover the concentration of CSPE in these solutions is not more than 20%. He has invented and developed ecologically safe compounds based on CSPE hardened by aqueous solutions of Mannich alkalies. Mannich alkalis are non-toxic, not volatile and are characterized by excellent solubility in aqueous and organic solvents. The investigations have led to preparation of materials having the desired properties as well as a 50% concentration of the polymer. The products are non-toxic, have a wide range of applications, require fewer layers of coatings and will be much lower in cost than competitive materials.
These inventions are oriented to prepare nanocomposites based on interpenetrated polymer network, such as polyurethanes, epoxies and acrylate by way of creating nanoparticles of SiO2, TiO2 and other metal oxides during a technological stage from a liquid phase. Using as interpenetrating polymer networks principle in production of composite materials provides a unique possibility to regulate their both micro-and nano-structured properties Formulation of a new class of nanocomposite materials is characterized by the absence of contaminants for a network polymers technology. As a main component of such technology we are using branched (dendro)-aminosilanes that at the first stage are curing agents for many oligomers. Additional hydrolysis of aminosilane oligomers creates the secondary nano-structured network polymer that improves service properties of the compound.
By using a principle of forming nanostructure by creating nanoparticles during a technological process from a liquid phase, Polymate has elaborated a few of composites based on different kinds of soluble silicates. Significant increasing of silicate matrix strength and toughness was reached by incorporation of special liquid additives, such as TFS, which effect as a microcrystallizing nucleator on the technological stage and later they colmatage the pores of silicate matrix. Our last elaborations are mainly applying a novel type of soluble silicate contained organic cations, for example, the DABCO-based organic alkali soluble silicate.
Novel chemically resistant polymer materials were elaborated with adding nano-size inorganic active fillers that react with aggressive medium into which they are introduced, forming a new phase of high-strength hydrate complexes. This enhanced bonding occurs upon the penetration of aggressive media into active nano-fillers containing polymer material. The chemical resistant properties of the forming polymer materials are activated by harsh environmental conditions where polymer systems without additives remain defenseless to chemical corrosion. Based of these inventions we have developed an extensive product range of such active nano-fillers for upgrading the most common polymers against a wide variety of aggressive media including acids, sea water, fluorine, alkalis and more.
We have elaborated advanced bioactive coating with using silver nanoparticles. As found in numerous studies during the last two decades, particles with dimensions in nanometer scale possess peculiar properties, different from those of atoms and ions on the one hand and of bulk substance on the other. These silver nanoparticles was received by the novel BAR-synthesis. The biological activity of varnish-paint materials modified by silver nanoparticles was estimated on the following microorganisms:
The data of the testing confirms the significant advantages of elaborated water-born acrylic bioactive coatings.
Nanocomposite technologies allow increasing the durability of composite polymeric materials by applying the "wave" conception. The durability, including corrosion durability, of polymeric materials is considered mainly from the aspects of the kinetic theory of strength. We have proposed different approach for increasing the long-term strength of polymeric anticorrosive materials; it is been shown in our inventions that on the breaking of bonds of chemical and physical nature as the result of fluctuations both individual bonds and individual structural formations, defects, and phase separation boundaries oscillate. Each such oscillator is characterized by a set of frequencies of absorption and emission which depends on the number of degrees of freedom and other characteristics of the individual kinetics units. Breakdown takes place with the highest probability at the moment and at the point where the phase vibration of elementary formation and of groups of bonds coincide and the frequencies are modulated. Consequently, breakdown takes place jump-wise, and fissures grow at the boundaries of separation of individual structural formation. At the mouth of a main fissure the cleavage of a stressed chemical bond leads to a breakdown in a local region and to the additional loading of neighboring regions, these being two oppositely directed processes - towards the generation of an acoustic wave in the polymeric materials and the breakdown of the elementary structural formation, and towards the generation of an electromagnetic wave. The acoustic vibrations and electromagnetic radiation increase the probability of the breakdown of neighboring macromolecules and structural associates, and the waves undergo scattering and absorption at phase separation, boundaries and defects. It follows from such "wave" concept of durability that breakdown takes place with the greatest probability on the creation of acoustic and electromagnetic vibrations in the primary act of breakdown with intrinsic vibration of the chemical bonds of individual structural formation and defects. Consequently, the addition to a composite material of substances capable of absorbing without reflection vibrations over the whole range of vibrations, since one type of unsuppressed vibrations regenerates all the others. What is effective is just the combined addition of converters of mechanical vibrations and converters of electromagnetic waves, which ensures an increase in durability by 1-1.5 orders of magnitude.
Figovsky Oleg was born in Moscow in 1940. Before he graduated the institute, he has made his first invention in Materials Engineering. At the age of 20, Figovsky became a scientific leader of a research project. Later on, the basic research of this project was being transferred into a technology to build a novel coating of the airodrome for the first USSR space shuttle "Buran".
The main area of scientific interests of Figovsky Oleg is development of composite, including nanocomposite materials based on polymer, silicate and other matrixes, their advanced technology and increasing their service properties under extreme conditions (such as radiation and strong aggressive media). In this area he has carried out his Ph.D. degree (Moscow, 1971) and D.Sc. degree (Moscow, 1990) in Materials Engineering. He was also elected to the position of scientific professor (Moscow, 1980) in Civil Engineering. In this area prof. Figovsky has created up today 500 inventions. You can see a few of last inventions of prof. Figovsky at www.1000inventions.com
The examples of his inventions are:
His biography was included in the following books: "Who's who in the World" (2002-2006), "Who's who in Science and Technology" (2002-2006) and "Russian Academy of Architecture & Building Sciences: Matters & People; volume 1, 1992-2002", YPPC, Moscow, 2002, page 652. Prof. Figovsky was awarded to be one of the "One Thousand Great Scientists" (Cambridge, 2002). Prof. Figovsky was elected as a vice-president of Israeli association of scientist-newcomers (1995) and as a foreign member of Russian Academy of A&B Sciences (1995) and of Russian Engineering Academy (2001); he is also the editor-in-chief of the journal "Scientific Israel - Technological Advantages" and the President of Israel Inventors' Association (1999). He is also a member of NACE-international (1992) and International Committee for Intellectual Collaboration (2003). Prof. Figovsky was also elected to European Academy of Sciences (2004).
Professor Figovsky has lived in Haifa, Israel from 1991 and continues his scientific activity independently. He has established a few start-up research companies and is an owner and director R&D of the Israeli Research Center "Polymate". He has elaborated on a few patented advanced composite materials and, on the base of such elaboration, a few of new plants are establishing t in Europe and USA . In the last 5 years he has published 55 scientific articles in leading journals (in English), including 3 articles in the Encyclopedia of Surface and Colloid Chemistry (USA) and 19 patents in the USA, Europe, Japan, Canada, Australia and Israel. Professor Figovsky combines his scientific activity at the IRC "Polymate" with marketing and management activity as a chief scientific adviser of the American investment and technology transfer company "Global Matrech, Ltd" and Canadian company "Roxoline, Inc. Prof. Figovsky is also the director R&D of German company "Environment Friendly Materials, GmbH". He is the editor-in-chief of the journal "Scientific Israel - Technological Advantages" (1999) and a member of the journal "Alternative Energy and Ecology" (2005).
Copyright (c) 2002-2007 Prof. Oleg L. Figovsky; All Rights Reserved.