8 NEWS www.finishingmagazine.co.ukThe Importance of Choosing an ‘Architectural’Powder CoaterRange is developingAs announced at the European Coatings Show (ECS) this year,SONGWON is further developing and expanding its range ofbisphenol (BP) monomers and dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) phenolresins. High-purity BP-Z crystalline bisphenol and tetramethyl(modified) bisphenol (TMBP) are now being produced on an industrialscale, while the dicyclopentadiene epoxy resin modifier range ERM-6100, introduced at the ECS, is already well established in the marketand being used, for example, in specialty resins in Asia.“Resin manufacturers can benefit still more from the highperformance, cost efficiency and competitive prices of our functionalmonomers since we are now producing them in bulk,” said HeinrichSchulte, leader of the market center functional monomers.Functional monomers are specialty molecules that can provide astandard polymer with additional, enhanced performance effectsand/or significantly increase processing performance. “Our productsimprove temperature resistance, electrical insulation properties, andresistance to water and moisture, for example,” explained Schulte.The bisphenol monomer BP-Z improves the mechanical propertiesand heat resistance of specialty polycarbonate and polyester resins.Composed mainly of epoxy, phenolic and novolac resins, it is suitablefor high-frequency, copper-clad laminates and electronic packagingand currently being assessed in 5G-compatible packaging resins inAsia.TMBP, which has been developed to ensure the highest purity andexcellent color, can be used for both epoxy and phenolic resins and isnoted for increasing their glass transition temperature. SONGWON isworking with customers to define new color and purity standards thatwill allow them to expand applications, for example in the innovativeelectronic sector.ERM-6100 DCPD phenol has now qualified as a hardener forspecialty resins such as benzoxazine, which is increasingly findingapplications in high-performance electronic packaging.Price increase arrivesBeckers Group says it will increaseprices for its main coil andindustrial coatings product groupsby up to 8% globally. Increases willbe implemented in the first quarterof 2020.Beckers Group’s CEO, BorisGorella has cited the need tocounteract the effects of inflation asthe key reason for the priceincrease. “In the past year, theBeckers Group has adapted itsprocesses and introduced aperformance improvementprogram to increase efficiency andcounteract the effects of anextended period of inflationaffecting various costs centres andour raw materials,” said Gorella.“We will, however need toimplement this price increase toensure we can continue to deliverthe same levels of innovation,technical and logistical services ourcustomers expect from the BeckersGroup.”First of all it is important to say that ‘architectural powder coating’ onaluminium is different to ‘general powder coating’ and powdercoating on steel substrates. Powder coating products that areprimarily used indoors require a basic pretreatment to seal and offera key for the final finish. Powder coating used outdoors and inparticular used in construction need a completely different and morerobust pretreatment system.Powder coating, whilst a substantial and stable finish, is porous andallows both water and air to reach the pretreatment system used.Aluminium is a metal which naturally oxidises and forms a protectivefinish when subject to air and moisture. So whilst a powder coatfinish may offer good initial adhesion, with an incorrect pretreatment,which does not passivate the surface of the aluminium, reacts withthis permeated water to form salts that break the powder surfacebond which allows the coating to simply flake off.Both QUALICOAT and BS EN 12206:2004 offers a detailed,descriptive methodology of pretreating aluminium prior to powdercoating and offers a range of tests to be conducted duringproduction to ensure that the pretreatment is robust for an outdoorapplication whilst offering a complete air and water seal to thealuminium surface.Even for the smallest of projects coated for external use, chooseyour powder coater carefully. If they promote themselves as fullycompliant with BS EN 12206:2004 or carry a QUALICOAT licence,which is easily checked on the QUALICOAT UK & Ireland website,then this should be sufficient. If you can visit the powder coater youwill see a great deal of emphasis placed on a multistagepretreatment process dedicated to pretreating very long lengths ofaluminium profile, 6m or more. In fact the emphasis on the powdercoating production would primarily be aluminium profile forwindows, doors and curtain walls.Undertaking work for any client or contractor will requirearchitectural aluminium to be either coated to QUALICOAT orBritish Standard, ignoring this compliance could cost many moretimes the coatings costs in the future - is the gamble worth it?Copies of the new sixteenth edition of the QUALICOAT Standard,is available through the UK Association website,www.qualicoatuki.org together with an up-to-date list of approvedPowder Suppliers, approved Pretreatment Suppliers and licensedApplicators. Printed literature and telephone support is availablefrom QUALICOAT UK & Ireland Head Office in Birmingham on0330 236 2800.Reducing environmental impactBy 2025 the specialty chemicals group ALTANA says it will reduce itsCO2 impact from production and energy procurement worldwide tozero. Already in 2020, the company’s entire power supply will beconverted to renewable energies. ALTANA will compensate for theunavoidable use of natural gas until 2025 by financing equivalentclimate protection projects in the regions where CO2 emissions aregenerated. The same applies to offsetting CO2 emissions arising fromnecessary business trips, company cars, and the transport of goods.The specialty chemicals group will thus achieve climate neutrality in itsdirect sphere of influence by 2025.Finishing – January/February 2020
Visit us on stand C15Dam good river managementBeavers’ dams naturally cleanse rivers by reducing acidic water and agricultural run off.But it’s all our responsibility to make sure the highest standards possible are met.Beavers are doing their bit, are you doing yours?®Neutralac SLS45 is the solution:• High strength 45% concentration liquid lime• Developed especially for the treatment of wastewater• Outstanding heavy metals removal efficiencies• Exceptional phosphate precipitation properties• Reduces costs through lower reagent consumptionTest the water with a no risk FREE trial.www.neutralac.co.ukTENNANTSSimon KellyProduct ManagerT: 0161 205 4454M: 07970 134 455simon.kelly@tennantsdistribution.com
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