Editorial

Citation

(2003), "Editorial", Pigment & Resin Technology, Vol. 32 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/prt.2003.12932eaa.001

Editorial

Past issues in the current volume have included papers on the synthesis of colorants (dyes and pigments) and resins for use in a variety of coloration applications. It thus appears useful to dedicate this issue to papers that deal with the applications of the colorant/resin assemblies, i.e. surface coatings. Logically speaking, the word “surface” in the term “surface coatings” is redundant as coatings could only be applied to surfaces. In other words, it is unnecessary to define coatings as being coatings for surfaces, i.e. surface coatings. As such, it is logical to adopt the use of the words – coating or coatings in the place of surface coating or surface coatings.

Whilst acknowledging the industrial convention of associating surface coatings only with paints, most scientists also regard printing inks as examples of surface coatings. In its broadest scientific sense, a coating is a film, large or small, continuous or discrete, resulting from the deposition of fluid materials on the intended surface.

Three of the papers included in this issue deal with coatings in various forms namely, organic, protective coatings, inkjet printing inks and inorganic coatings for dental implants.

The concept of self-stratification of polymer assemblies has been employed in the formulation of coating compositions based on incompatible polymer blends for a considerable number of years. In his paper entitled “Self-stratifying coatings for industrial applications”, Professor Vladimir Verhkolantsev gave a comprehensive review of the fundamental principles involved in the mechanism of self-stratification. Such principles formed the bases for the formulation of self-stratifying coating assemblies. Professor Verhkolantsev, a well-published expert in polymer blends and polymer composites, is currently a freelance consultant keen to help with relevant queries.

A more “high-tech” form of coating technology is the inkjet printing, which has gained much research and development attention since its commercialisation in 1984, albeit over a century after Lord Rayleigh conceived and patented the concept of the jetting of inks.

Daplyn et al. had given a brief but critical review on the recent progress of inkjet printing technology, in their paper entitled “Preparation and characterisation of pigmented ink formulations for jet printing onto textile fabrics”. As implied by the title, Daplyn and his colleagues dealt with two significant issues in inkjet printing namely, the use of pigments in the inkjet ink formulations and the inkjet printing of textile fabrics. Indeed, the paper detailed issues relevant to the formulation, the preparation and the characterisation of pigmented inks for jet printing on textile fabrics, to the analysis of the image quality of the prints on textile fabrics and to the evaluation of the wash-fastness and the rub-fastness of prints on textile fabrics. It is the editor's view that inkjet printing on textile has a significant potential in the near future.

Inorganic coatings have not received their fair share in the world of coatings science and technology. Conventionally, inorganic coatings have been dealt with from the point of view of materials science and technology. As such, Hanna and Hamid's paper on “Electrodeposition of biomedical hydroxyapatite coatings on titanium alloy substrates” came as a breath of fresh air into this journal. It is always exciting to read about the application of the concept of coating to a field other than paints and printing inks.

Although not generally regarded as coatings, cosmetic products such as sunscreen lotions need to possess basic coating properties, such as adequate rheological properties, film-forming properties and adhesion properties. An essential ingredient in such products is the UV absorber. In his paper included in this issue, Asiri reported the synthesis and characterisation of new coumarin derivatives as ultraviolet absorbers. The coumarin derivatives prepared had good absorbency for radiation in the range of 250-410 nm, making such coumarin derivatives suitable UV absorbers.

Through the papers included in this issue, readers may gain a greater appreciation of the diversity of coating products in our daily life. The editor hopes that readers would also find papers included in this issue broaden their view of the application of coatings science and technology and stimulate their imagination for new coatings research and development areas.