A multidisciplinary and circular approach towards the development of innovative, SAFE-by-design, (bio)degRadable multifunctional COATings

Despite the relevance of polymers (e.g., coatings) in modern societies, the limited or absent (bio)degradability and recyclability associated with this class of materials pose serious environmental and health concerns.

Addressing this challenge is thus a key priority being fully aligned with the EU Green Deal and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

To bridge this gap, a multidisciplinary team with researchers from seven countries, including one associate partner, has converged to achieve pioneer breakthroughs under the SAFERCOAT project.In this sense, SAFERCOAT aims to promote staff mobility and knowledge-sharing to develop eco-friendly polymeric coating formulations with enhanced biodegradability for aeronautical, maritime, and cultural applications.

SAFERCOAT will focus on the (i) synthesis and modification of thermoplastic and thermosetting polymers to accelerate their degradation rate at the end-of-life; (ii) optimization, testing, and validation of coating formulations for targeted applications; (iii) assessment of the environmental and health impacts; and (iv) upcycling of end-of-life materials to produce add-value products.

This scientific endeavor will rely on the synergy of specialized training and cross-sector and interdisciplinary mobility among the 6 universities and 4 industrial partners to promote knowledge growth, transfer, dissemination, and exploitation.The novelty of SAFERCOAT lies in incorporating high bio-sourced content and cutting-edge technologies to develop coatings with outstanding performance throughout the service life and high (bio)degradation after use, which will contribute to (i) decrease the coatings industry’s environmental footprint, (ii) revolutionalize the coatings end-of-life by transforming what is currently treated as a disposable waste into valuable products, contributing for a zero pollution environment, and (iii) settle an international R&D network to ensure permanent progress on biodegradable and sustainable coatings.