On Monday, May 26th, the US celebrates a national holiday, Memorial Day, which comes as a reminder of the dedication and sacrifice of our armed forces. As Memorial Day approaches, we pause to reflect on the extraordinary sacrifices made by the men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. This is a time to honor their memory, acknowledge their courage, and express our gratitude.
At SilcoTek, we’re reminded that service takes many forms. While our work doesn't stand beside theirs in significance, we take pride in supporting technologies and industries that strive to protect lives, advance knowledge, and make the world a safer place. Our coatings play a small but vital role in applications that demand reliability, precision, and durability - often in environments where failure is not an option.
This week, we’re spotlighting how our CVD coatings are used in high-impact settings where performance can truly make a difference.
In the medical world, accuracy can be the difference between early detection and a missed diagnosis. Our inert coatings, like SilcoNert® 2000 and Dursan®, are trusted in analytical, medical, and diagnostic devices to ensure that sample integrity is preserved during analysis.
From trace gas analysis in breath diagnostics to blood and biological sample collection systems, our coatings prevent surface adsorption and contamination. That means more accurate results, faster diagnoses, and ultimately - better outcomes for patients.
For example, one of SilcoTek's long-time partners, Markes International, markets thermal desorption tubes, which are used in breath analysis equipment. In an article from 2023, they discovered that their SilcoNert-coated thermal desorption tubes are part of ground-breaking research aimed at early detection of esophageal cancer. Read the full article here.
Our coatings are used in some of the most demanding environments imaginable - those faced by defense and aerospace personnel. In these sectors, performance isn’t just about precision - it’s about safety, reliability, and mission success.
From chemical detection systems to aircraft components, SilcoTek coatings offer corrosion resistance, thermal stability, and chemical inertness that stand up to extreme conditions. Whether protecting sensitive instruments in extraterrestrial environments or enabling reliable performance in high-altitude flight, our coatings help safeguard the technology that supports our nation’s defense infrastructure.
It's a privilege to know our materials contribute, however indirectly, to the missions that protect lives and preserve national security.
Here is the most recent blog about NASA's work with SilcoTek aboard the Curiosity rover. This mission was aimed at exploring the Gale Crater where molecules that were detected may indicate that there is (or was) life on Mars!
Many of our partners are on the front lines of environmental protection - measuring air and water quality, detecting pollutants, and conducting research that informs policy and protects public health.
SilcoNert is widely used in gas sampling and environmental monitoring systems because of its ability to prevent adsorption of reactive or "sticky" compounds like sulfur, ammonia, mercury, and VOCs. These applications often occur in remote or rugged environments, where equipment must be both portable and precise. Reliable coatings mean better data - and better decisions when it comes to environmental safety, public health warnings, and emergency response. It’s another way science and technology quietly serve the greater good.
In addition to environmental evaluation, SilcoTek's Dursan coating has proven to be an exceptional adversary to PFAS materials. Also known as "forever chemicals," PFAS have been linked to many health and environmental issues. The EPA has issued a limit on PFAS-containing manufacturing processes. PFAS can be found in many common places in our lives from drinking water, food, packaging, personal care products, cleaning products, manufacturing facilities, and many more. SilcoTek's coatings replace and can help to analyze forever chemicals. Check out our PFAS replacement webpage.
In refineries, chemical plants, and laboratories, safety and performance are non-negotiable. Equipment failure due to corrosion or fouling can have serious consequences - from unplanned downtime to dangerous leaks or contamination events.
SilcoTek coatings are trusted by engineers to enhance surface performance in aggressive chemical environments, high-temperature operations, and critical flow paths. By increasing surface inertness and resistance to corrosion or fouling, our coatings extend component life and reduce the risk of failure - helping operators meet safety and sustainability goals.
This kind of behind-the-scenes reliability supports the professionals working to keep systems running safely and cleanly every day. There are too many examples of applications where corrosion resistance is paramount, so please check out our corrosion resistance webpage to see examples of where our coatings can help!
This Memorial Day, we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice. We honor their bravery, their service, and their legacy.
At SilcoTek, we’re humbled to support professionals across medicine, defense, environmental science, and industry—people who dedicate their work to the well-being and safety of others. It’s our mission to help them do that work more effectively and reliably.
Thank you to all who serve, and to those we remember. From all of us at SilcoTek - we honor you.