Brookfield Introduces New Family
of RST Touch Screen Rheometers
Brookfield has added three new instruments to its touch screen family of
rheometers: the RST-CPS Cone Plate
Rheometer, the RST-CC Coaxial Cylinder
Rheometer and the RST-SST Soft Solids
Tester Rheometer.
The RST Rheometers are unique because they operate in both controlled
stress and controlled rate modes and can
perform all of the following tests: viscoelastic modulus, yield stress, viscosity
vs. shear rate profile, thixotropy calculation, creep behavior, recovery after flow,
and temperature sensitivity. Every RST
Rheometer offers the widest torque range
available to handle the broadest range
of sample materials (500 to 1 million
dyne•cm). They provide versatility with
the largest range of shear rates and DIN
spindle geometries. The sturdy design of
the RST is ideal for use in R&D, working
in the QC lab or on the production floor.
Cappelle Pigments
Launches Yellow Hybrid
Pigments
Cappelle Pigments NV has launched a
new range of products called Ecopac.
This product range consists of four new
hybrid yellow pigments to replace in an
economical way lead chromates. The four
products (Ecopac Yellow 9914C-9915C-
9916C & 9917C) range from medium
yellow to reddish yellow with a high
opacity and color saturation. They exhibit excellent weather fastness properties,
according to the company. The pigments
are developed to be used in solvent-based
industrial and powder coatings. They can
also be used in car repair paints.
Ross New Cylindrical
Ribbon Blenders
Ross introduced a new line of Model 42C
Cylindrical Ribbon Blenders designed to
mix dry powders, wet granulations and
paste-like materials with densities up to
100 lb/cu.ft. Available in many sizes from
1/2 to 1,000 cu.ft. working capacity,
Cylindrical Ribbon Blenders can be built
for atmospheric, full vacuum or inter-
nal pressure operation. A full range of
standard and heavy-duty models are of-
fered. Uniform mixing and heating in the
Cylindrical Ribbon Blender is accom-
plished by a variable speed double ribbon
agitator driven by a gearmotor. Precisely
pitched inner and outer ribbons produce
a well-balanced axial and radial flow pat-
tern within the batch. Tightly-controlled
clearances between the horizontal agita-
tor and the cylindrical vessel further en-
sure thorough blending and promote near
complete discharge. Stainless steel 316
is the standard material of construction
with options for stainless steel 304, car-
bon steel and other alloys. The pictured
blender features Hastelloy C-276 prod-
uct-wetted surfaces, flanged nozzles with
spray heads for liquid introduction, air
purge and sampling nipples, RTD ther-
moprobe and a 6” knife gate discharge
valve. This particular unit is rated for full
vacuum and 150 psi internal pressure at
365oF. The vessel and 50-psi baffled jack-
et are ASME Code stamped and National
Board registered. On the driven end, the
ribbon shaft is sealed by a liquid-lubri-
cated double mechanical seal. A barrier
system for the seal is provided, comprised
of a three-gallon tank with cooling coil,
liquid level indicator and pressure gauge.
Evonik Offers Scratch
Resistant Auto Clearcoats
Evonik Industries has developed an
industrial-scale method for producing
silanemodified binders for automotive
finishes. The advantage of these silane-
modified binders: silane groups increase
crosslinking density, making it possible to
create automotive finishes that are flexible
yet harder, leading to improved scratch
resistance. The basic concept behind the
new technology was already known:
modifying classic binders with silanes
noticeably improves the binder proper-
ties. This also applies to the polyurethane
binders typically used for automotive fin-
ishes. Up to now, however, production of
silane-modified polyurethane binders has
been so complex and expensive that these
products have only been made on a small
scale for applications such as high-perfor-
mance adhesives. For more general uses
and for large-scale applications such as
automotive finishes, however, there sim-
ply has not been enough available.
The breakthrough came when the spe-
cialty chemicals company developed its
own manufacturing process for the silyl
isocyanate IPMS, or (3-isocyanatopropyl)
trimethoxysilane. It is the critical building
block for producing silane-modified bind-
ers. Evonik has been producing IPMS in
a new facility in Marl (Germany) since
mid- 2013. Ulrich Küsthardt, head of
the Coatings and Additives business unit
at Evonik, said: “With the new facility,
Evonik creates its access to IPMS and to a
new group of customized, silane-modified
binders.” By using IPMS and selecting the
right additional raw materials, Evonik
can adapt coating binders to the needs
of its customers. In addition to improved
scratch resistance, the new systems are
just as resistant to chemicals and the el-
ements as traditional two-component
polyurethane coatings. Plus, silane-mod-
ified binders are completely compatible
with two-component polyurethane coat-
ings and significantly improve their prop-
erties. For car manufacturers, that means
being able to use their usual production
lines for applying coatings that contain
the innovative binder. Selected automak-
ers have already taken the first steps to-
ward approving clear finishes that have
been modified in this way.
Hans Görlitzer, who works in the
Coatings and Additives Business Unit at
Evonik as head of business development
in the Crosslinkers Business Line, believes the new technology has even more
potential: “We aim to open up access to
silane-modified binders for other applications too.” CW
