Coatings World - August 2008

Fresh Paint

Vega field will be tied-back to the Gjoa production platform by a single carbon steel flowline entailing coating of 27 km 14” ID pipe and 24 km 12” ID pipe.

EPA PUBLISHES REACTIVITY
RULE FOR AEROSOL COATINGS

The EPA’s new final rule for National Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Emission Standards for Aerosol Coatings pares down the Table of Reactivity Factors from over 800 compounds to approximately 40 compounds. It defines product categories and the Table of Standards in a manner that mirrors the current California reactivity regulation. The EPA rule differs from California in that the agency has chosen not to specifically exempt products that could be confused as aerosol coatings. Belt dressing, cleaner, dye, electrical coating, ink, layout fluid, leather preser-vative/cleaner, lubricant, maskant, mold release and rust converters are not defined.

The EPA rule does not ban ingredients that are hazardous air pollutants (HAPS), such as methylene chloride or ozone-depleting substances. The labeling requirements are similar to the California requirements, with the excep-

tion of the EPA proposed requirement for the name and contact address of the regulated entity. EPA’s proposal requires specific recordkeeping for the manufacture of each product category and each batch of each product category.

The effective date of this rule is Jan. 1, 2009, with an extension to Jan. 1, 2011 for those who have never manufactured, distributed, or imported aerosol coatings in the state of California. Companies subject to this rule must provide information about the amounts of each VOC in their products every three years, beginning with data for calendar year 2010.

NEW HP PROCESS

FROM SHERWIN-WILLIAMS A new HP Process with Air-Bake technology from Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes is a patent-pending automotive paint process designed to remove the need for baking to achieve a fast cure time. HP Process uses its proprietary Air-Bake technology to cure at ambient (70-75°F) room temperatures, allowing for same-day repairs. HP Process, which has received numerous certifications from OEM manufacturers, uses high-quali-

ty primers, basecoats and urethane clearcoats that produce a finish that’s workable to sand and polish in 40 minutes or less. The HPC15 Clearcoat only needs ambient temperature to achieve a 15-minute workable cure, eliminating the downtime associated with temperature ramp up or cool down.

NERITES TECHNOLOGY WINS SCIENTIFIC ACCOLADES Anti-fouling medical device coatings developed by Nerites Corporation, Madison, WI, have received several recent awards recognizing innovation in medical technology. Collaborators at the University of Western Ontario and the Lawson Health Research Institute tested urinary stents coated with Nerites’ polymers, and demonstrated a significant reduction in animal infection levels. Unlike active antibiotic-releasing coatings, which cannot protect against resistant bacterial strains, the Nerites technology passively prevents bacteria from attaching to the medical device and forming an infectious biofilm. In this way, the passive coating may have both greater efficacy and fewer side effects than active coatings. Re-

THE LAMBORGHINI REVENTON
IS PROTECTED BY DIAMOND BLACK

UK-based automotive coating specialist Zircotec has been selected by Automobili Lamborghini to supply a new thermal barrier for its €1 million Reventón car. Zircotec’s plas-ma-sprayed Diamond Black coating is applied to the exhaust and inhibits heat transfer from the tailpipe protecting heat sensitive components from damage.

“Lamborghini needed a durable solution that protected the composite bodywork and components at the rear of the car,” said Zircotec’s sales manager Peter Whyman. “Paint finishes were unable to meet the stringent quality and durability requirements set by Lamborghini. Our coating is plas-ma-sprayed, in effect welding it to the base material, making it more resilient during heat cycling, life testing and abrasion tests.”