Industry guide / Industrial materials
Coatings and Surface Treatment
Trace a coating defect to the binder, pigment dispersion, application or substrate. Use comparable panels to separate material changes from film thickness and process effects.
Process guide
Film formation, opacity and surface finish
Explore 5 processes and 33 distinct materials. Choose a process to compare candidates, operating conditions and trial methods.
How should the binder and curing system be matched?
Establish the conditions
Select the binder and curing system for the substrate, film formation, adhesion and chemical resistance required.
Materials and their roles
Trial and comparison. Check equivalent weights, solids and cure conditions first. Make paired panels on the intended substrate and compare adhesion and resistance after equal conditioning.
Which materials should be compared to improve hiding power?
Establish the conditions
Match the binder, pigment volume concentration and dry film thickness before comparing hiding power.
Materials and their roles
Trial and comparison. Use one substrate colour, resin and film thickness. Compare contrast ratio, colour difference and grind fineness. Assess extenders within a complete coating formulation.
The coating sags or the finish needs lower gloss
Establish the conditions
Distinguish dispersion, storage settling, application sag and gloss. Specify the gloss measurement angle.
Materials and their roles
Trial and comparison. Control shear history before measuring viscosity. For matting, record gloss angle and dry film thickness as well as surface appearance.
The film shows craters, bubbles or slow drying
Establish the conditions
Check the binder, substrate, coating method and drying conditions. Distinguish wetting defects from trapped air.
Materials and their roles
Trial and comparison. Prepare comparable panels at the same thickness. Change the solvent blend, wetting aid or defoamer separately, recording flash-off, levelling, foam and final appearance.
The coating adheres poorly to metal
Establish the conditions
Identify the substrate alloy, surface contamination, pretreatment and subsequent coating system.
Materials and their roles
Trial and comparison. Use specimens from the same substrate lot. Compare the cleaned surface, conversion layer and coated panel, recording bath condition, rinsing, adhesion and the intended corrosion test.
Documentation and purchasing
Prepare for a technical discussion
Share your current material or specification, process conditions, trial acceptance criteria, estimated quantity and destination. For regulated uses, identify the finished product and intended market.