No doubt, formulating high perfoming VOC 2010 compliant paints and coatings has been a real challenge. When the first waterborne near-zero VOC coatings was presented this marked a real breakthrough in coatings technology. What will be the next?
In our editor's blog smart coatings are a frequently recurring topic. We have described exciting functional coatings, we have asked how "smart" these coatings really are, and we have been wondering how smart coatings can be defined after all. I guess it's best to say smart coatings are structured coatings which provide additional benefits by giving an appropriate response to outside conditions.
In order to obtain a high performing coating efficient and effective pigment dispersion is in gerneral indispensible. Long-term stabilisation of the dispersed pigments is a key-factor. However, the permament breaking down of agglomerates into, as far as possible, primary particles is cost- and time intensive. Now, a student developed in his diploma-thesis an aftertreatment for pigment surfaces making the conventional dispersion nearly dispensable.
With an impressive number of 140 participants, the Coatings Science International (CoSi) conference 2010 took place in Noordwijk last week. The beautiful Dutch North Sea resort was again the venue for this gathering of international coatings experts. 32 lectures were given on latest research findings in the field of coatings.
In the never-ending discussion on the sustainability of paints and coatings and on the different ways of measuring it, have you ever found yourself wondering, if environmental profiling of our products is necessary at all?
Automotive coating applications do not only include exterior but also interior coatings systems. In the interior soft-feel or soft-touch coatings are used offering many benefits including low gloss and low reflectiviry. They are very resistant to abrasion and scratching, and are available in a number of colors and effects. Automakers use them on consoles, steering wheels, arm rests and door trim among other components, providing aesthetic and haptic qualities. Chemical resistance againgst creams is always a challenge for these kinds of coatings.
From time to time I like reading science fiction books and so I do at the moment.The novel I read plays in the year 2025 and describes revolutionary technolgies, like an elevator to the moon - I can not imagine that this may become true one day. However, the author also writes about technologies which are known today, but are not established in the market yet. For example smart automotive coatings changing colour in response to an external magnetic field. Another smart technolgy for cars I like very much - especially now during summer time - are IR-reflecting pigments cooling the car as it was presented recently at the American Coatings Show.
It's amazing how much research has been done on functional coatings recently. In addition to intense and ongoing work regarding self-healing and self-cleaning solutions, numerous projects are touching fields as diverse as self-organising, anti-reflective or anti-icing coatings. This week two striking examples have raised my interest:
