“Gaps in our Knowledge”
IN TRENDS AND RESEARCH FOR PROTECTIVE COATINGS
¨ According to Dean Webster of North Dakota State University, more research is
needed to fully understand processes and properties of protective coatings on
the atomic scale. A strong driver for research and development are still environ-
mental issues.
Where do you think more research is
needed to improve the performance of
protective coatings?
Dean Webster: There are fundamental
gaps in our knowledge in areas such as
adhesion, polymer barrier properties,
and degradation processes on the atomic scale and the macro scale. In addition,
coating systems are enormously complicated systems with complex interactions
between the resins, solvents, pigments,
rheology modifiers, wetting agents, and
so on, in the formulation. Thorough understanding of all of these interactions
and their impacts on coating properties
could lead to better formulations and
coatings.
What will be the focus of research on
protective coatings in the near future?
Dean Webster: Environmental issues
will continue to drive much of coatings
research and development, with continued emphasis on lower-VOC coatings,
replacement of hazardous materials with
less hazardous materials, and (organic)
solventless technologies such as water-borne and radiation curable coatings. In
addition, interest in biobased coatings
and other coating ingredients (e.g., coalescents) is growing at a rapid pace.
Trends in protective coatings are mov-
ing toward a combination of active
functionalities. Where do you see
advantages and challenges?
Dean Webster: An advantage of this
approach is that you incorporate more
active functionalities into the basic
protective function of the coating. This
can include more specific performance
properties in a coating, making it attractive for a number of specialized applications. Challenges associated with
these approaches involve obtaining
reproducible materials in a variety of
application environments, and maintaining the functional properties over a
long period of time (years).
Dean C. Webster,
North Dakota
State University
Source: Fotolia, Wolfgang Staib
Protective Coatings I+II
SESSIONS 6+ 10 at the American Coatings CONFERENCE:
Tuesday, May 8, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Protective Coatings I
Chair: Jeff Lackey, Vogel Paint
Presentations by: Dow Coating Materials, Kanat Paint and Coatings,
Heubach, Evonik Degussa, Nusil Technology, Alberdingk Boley
Tuesday, May 9, 2:00 pm - 5: 30 pm
Protective Coatings II
Chair: Anthony Gichuhi, Halox
Presentations by: Lubrizol Corporation, Evonik Degussa, Wacker
Chemical Corporation, Sartomer, Dow Coating Materials, Byk USA
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