Polyurethane high performance coatings

Citation

Bean, J. (1999), "Polyurethane high performance coatings", Pigment & Resin Technology, Vol. 28 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/prt.1999.12928baa.004

Polyurethane high performance coatings

Polyurethane high performance coatings

Keyword Polyurethanes

A successful European Coatings Conference on "Polyurethanes for high performance coatings" was held in Berlin 18-19 January 1999. It was organised by Vincentz Verlag of Hannover, Germany.

The last few years have seen major developments in the technology of polyurethane coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomers (CASE). In automotive OEM and refinish coatings, wood finishes, industrial coatings, flooring and corrosion protection systems, polyurethane technology is already well established, if not yet dominating. There are also many new fields where tailor-made PU systems can be used advantageously. This is reflected by an increase of PU production output and production capacities as well as by a continuously high number of patents for polyurethane developments worldwide.

Most of the above application areas were covered at the conference.

Typical of the papers was that given by Tijs Nabuurs of Zeneca Resins of Waalwijk, The Netherlands.

It stated that a very important drawback of isocyanate curing waterborne binders is the formation of carbon dioxide blisters in films due to reaction of isocyanate with water. This phenomenum is observed especially in thicker films. A significant breakthrough in polymer design now makes it possible to apply a defect-free film with very high film thickness. Binders were thus developed that give defect-free films with a dry film thickness of 250µm and with very high chemical resistance. The influence of design parameters on carbon dioxide formation was discussed and examples shown for metal general and industrial wood applications.