An investigation was performed to determine the cause of coating failures on several large hinged steel boxes. These boxes were constructed of sheet steel and were allegedly coated with corrosion-resistant coatings. However, after exposure outdoors, much of the paint delaminated and severe corrosion occurred. 22 January 2010
During the 20th century cheap and abundant energy made corrosion a manageable problem. This era is coming to an end. Soon, industry will find there is less funding available for corrosion prevention after adjusting for rising energy costs. At this time, management will be forced to decide whether to continue with traditional corrosion control practices or change to something new with a greater potential for energy savings. For many, this will be an extremely difficult decision to make. 13 October 2009
Powder coatings need to be stored under controlled environmental conditions to avoid deterioration or “thermal aging.” In particular, temperatures exceeding typical manufacturer-recommended storage conditions of 25°C (77°F) must be avoided, as significantly exceeding these temperatures for just a few days can lead to permanent damage of the product. 09 October 2009
The use of fluorescent materials to provide a non-destructive method for on-line inspection has been an area of increased importance to the coatings industry. Significant improvements in productivity have been realized by employing ultraviolet, UV, light curing to produce conformal coatings for computer boards. 31 August 2009
This article focuses on the use of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, FTIR, which can serve as an important “first-line” analysis tool for the identification of coating types and drying mechanisms via monitoring of the functional groups on the chemical compounds inherent in the formulation. 31 October 2008
Much has been written about coating thickness measurement methods and gauges. The probe, however, is the most important component of the coating thickness gauge. Proper selection of the coating thickness measurement probe will determine the accuracy and reliability of the measurement results. This article discusses the factors that should be considered when selecting a probe and its common applications. In addition, new technology and probes for non-standard applications will be addressed. 31 October 2008
The beta backscatter method of measuring plating and coating thickness was originally introduced nearly 40 years ago. Nearly everyone who has been associated with electronics or metal finishing for any length of time is most likely familiar with this technology, as the use of beta backscatter systems has been extensive within these industries. 30 October 2008
There are many reasons why coatings fail. Generally speaking, the problem often lies at the interface. Often, failure can be related to an extended aging process, such as thermal, photolytic, or hydrolytic degradation. These types of failures are due to the service environment and the ability of the coating or adhesive, for that matter, to resist it. 15 February 2007
Deformulation, or reverse engineering as it is sometimes called, refers to the breaking down of a formulation into its basic components. The idea is to be able to take the formulation generated by the deformulation work and reconstruct the original formulation to be able to achieve all the physical properties associated with the original formulation. 06 September 2006
Email Address
Password
Forgotten login?