New product concept
Seeking High Temperature Resistant Protective Technology
ClosedInquiries no longer accepted
Type of Solution sought
- A Material
- A Technology
- A Partner
Description of Desired Solution
A SpecialChem Client is seeking a protective technology to facilitate cleaning of burned greases and organic residues from gas hobs (also known as stove tops or cook tops).
This protective technology will be applied on the hob surface itself, and should sustain temperature of gas flame (300°C).
This protective technology will be applied on the hob surface itself, and should sustain temperature of gas flame (300°C).
Figure: Schematic view of a gas hob. The surface to be treated appears in plain black
Background
Hygiene in kitchen is becoming more and more important and there is a need to improve the efficiency in cleaning every surface. One can see that easy-to-clean ovens, non-stick pans and utensils are popular with consumers, and a last frontier in ease of kitchen maintenance is the hob surface. Due to the nature of hobs functions, under extreme temperature requirements, the challenge is to have a reliable material that can last for a long time. Advances in surface treatments suggest such a product is within reach.
SpecialChem Client manufactures several thousand pieces a year and wants to implement this solution as a standard in their product portfolio.
SpecialChem Client manufactures several thousand pieces a year and wants to implement this solution as a standard in their product portfolio.
Detailed Solution Description
The successful technology should:
- Be compatible with conventional burner layout and design for gas hobs
- Minimum dimensions are 400 mm x 520 mm
- Maximum dimensions are 920 mm x 550 mm
- Be applicable to stainless steel
- Grade AISI 430, brush SB, th. 0.7mm
- Grade AISI 430, brush #4, MET172, th. 0.9mm
- Grade AISI 304, brush #4, MET122, th. 0.9mm
- Grade AISI 201, brush #4, th. 0.9mm
- Be highly temperature resistant:
- Withstand 300°C temperatures
- Withstand mechanical stresses caused by up to 200°C temperature differential between two points on the hob surface
- Be robust
- Resist impact: as measured by a hammer test (for example IEC 60060-2-75)
- Scratch resistant: as shown by a pencil test hardness of 9H
- Ideally anti-fingerprint.
- Be reliable
- Should sustain yellowing for 500h at 300ºC
- Should uniformly cover the entire hob surface
- Allow full removal of heated, burned, or carbonized grease or organic spills by simply wiping with mild detergents
- No stain should be left after cleaning.
- No stain should be left when cleaning food burned on for 30 minutes at 300°C.
- Durability
- Maintain full easy clean performance for at least 10 years in normal use
- Food contact compliance
- The material has to be inert or fulfill the Standards for Materials in Contact with Food. The reference Standard is the American FDA (Food and drugs administration).
- Have a cost appropriate to the commercial environment
- Target coating should cost less than €15/unit
Possible Routes To Investigate
Possible approaches might include, but are not limited to:
Referrals to technologies that may be applicable to easy-clean gas hobs should provide any supporting data demonstrating the potential of the proposed solution, but should not name the technology nor describe it in detail.
Meritorious referrals will have the opportunity to further discuss their direction under a NDA at the appropriate time.
- Coatings
- By Chemical Vapor Deposition
- Nanocoating technology
- Electroplated technology
- Surface treatment
- Lotus-leaf nano patterning
Referrals to technologies that may be applicable to easy-clean gas hobs should provide any supporting data demonstrating the potential of the proposed solution, but should not name the technology nor describe it in detail.
Meritorious referrals will have the opportunity to further discuss their direction under a NDA at the appropriate time.
Solution that are not of interest
The SpecialChem Client is not interested in:
- Any surface treatment that creates an unaesthetic appearance
- Materials that create fumes on initial heating
- Post processing thermal treatment is conceivable
- Approaches that cannot demonstrate freedom to operate
- Materials unsafe for contact with food
Anticipated Next Steps with Respondents
SpecialChem Client is looking for a solution to be quickly implemented in their manufacturing process:
Phase 1 – Proof of concept of samples within 2 months Phase 2 – Final product tests within following 2 months Phase 3 – Pilot of final process with supply of limited number of product samples (3 months) Phase 4 – Commercial agreement to be discussed ad-hoc
Phase 1 – Proof of concept of samples within 2 months Phase 2 – Final product tests within following 2 months Phase 3 – Pilot of final process with supply of limited number of product samples (3 months) Phase 4 – Commercial agreement to be discussed ad-hoc
Other Comments / Important Considerations
In addition to essential proposal content described above, some items that will make the proposal more compelling are:
The main focus of the solution should be on the hob surface itself but the SpecialChem Client is also interested in the ability to improve ease of cleaning for pan supports and burners too.
- Photographs or video showing how easy a surface is to clean are highly desired
- Photographic evidence of the ability to cover large surfaces in a uniform manner
The main focus of the solution should be on the hob surface itself but the SpecialChem Client is also interested in the ability to improve ease of cleaning for pan supports and burners too.
Type of Outcome expected
- Proven concepts
- Ready to use solutions
- Partners
Company Demographics
- Industry: White Goods
- Annual Revenue: >10 billion €
- Years in Business: >90 years
- Headquarters Area: EUROPE
Business considered
- License
- Contractual partnership (R&D, marketing…)
- Buying