NDSU researchers were awarded the first place Roon Foundation Award at the 2016 American Coatings Association’s American Coatings Conference. Teluka P. Galhenage, doctoral candidate and graduate research assistant in the Department of Coatings and Polymeric Materials, and co-authors were honored for their paper on poly(ethylene) glycol-modified amphiphilic siloxane polyurethane coatings.
Galhenage was recognized April 11 at the plenary session of the conference in Indianapolis.
“It is a huge honor in the coatings world. Winning this award brings national recognition to NDSU and highlights NDSU's research excellence,” Galenage said. “The paper focused on the development of non-toxic marine coatings for ship hulls. The study showed that NDSU-developed coatings exceed the performance of commercial benchmarks and are also very tough and durable. Our novel approach in preparing marine coatings shows promise as a commercial product. This work in being funded by the Office of Naval Research.”
The paper’s co-authors include Dean Webster, NDSU professor and chair of coatings and polymeric materials; Augusto Moreira, NDSU mechanical engineering student; Ryan Burgett, NDSU chemistry student; Shane Stafslien, NDSU senior research specialists; Lyndsi Vanderwal; NDSU research specialist; and John A. Finlay, Sofia C. Franco and Anthony S. Clare of Newcastle University School of Marine Science and Technology in the United Kingdom.
Galhenage said the group has submitted a provisional patent application regarding the research.
The Roon Foundation Awards were established and sponsored in 1957 by Leo Roon, founder of Roxalin Flexible Finishes and Nuodex Corp. The Roon Foundation Award is designed to recognize technical papers representing original scientific and innovative research directly related to the protective coatings industry. Criteria include originality, scientific importance, practical value and quality of composition.
Through NDSU’s relationship with the Office of Naval Research, a well-organized infrastructure has been established to develop and evaluate marine coatings.
