1. What is the innovation?
Inhibispheres® are tiny glass beads which contains chemicals protecting against corrosion and which are released in a controlled fashion. They enhance the corrosion protection of paints and coatings while using 30 times less chemicals than traditional “dumb” anti-corrosion pigments. In addition, they maintain the gloss of the coating, while providing corrosion protection which enables the replacement of the traditional two coat system (i.e. primer and top coat) by a single direct to metal glossy coating. This represents a significant time and cost saving for the end user.
The original encapsulation technology (i.e. entrapment of chemicals inside microscopic glass beads) was developed at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO). The Eureka moment happened when the inventor observed droplets of water forming on his shower curtain. He then realised that he could combine sol-gel technology (a way to chemically synthesise glass at room temperature) with an emulsion process (e.g soapy water) to make tiny glass beads of controllable size and release rate. This technology was then developed for both pharmaceutical and industrial applications.
A few years later, we were approached by Airbus, the aircraft manufacturer, to encapsulate chemicals that can protect against corrosion to replace toxic chromates used to protect aircraft against corrosion. Thus were borne the Inhibispheres®.
2. What benefits does the innovation bring?
The Inhibispheres® enhance the corrosion protection of paints and coatings while using 30 times less chemicals than traditional “dumb” anti-corrosion pigments. In addition, they maintain the gloss of the coating, while providing corrosion protection which enables the replacement of the traditional two coat system (i.e. primer and top coat) by a single direct to metal glossy coating. This represents a significant time and cost saving for the end user.
3. What commercial success and/or benefit to society has it achieved?
Inhibispheres® products are being sold in North America and Europe for the protection of both Steel and Aluminium alloys in a wide range of industries.
4. What lessons learnt can you share?
Advice to budding entrepreneurs:
- Cash is king, Focus is queen!
- Choose your business model wisely.
- Hire slowly, fire quickly.
- Work global.
- Timing is everything.
- If you are not getting what you want it is your problem.
- Make sure you are talking to the decision makers.
- Focus on the sale.
- It takes longer than what you think and it always cost more than what you think.
- Feel the fear, enjoy the ride and Never Give Up !!
5. How many new jobs has this innovation created?
12