Finishing - November-December 2023

46 WORKSHOP
New collection
Each year, designers for BASF’s Coatings division create a new
collection of colours to inspire automotive designers around the globe.
This year, non-human intelligence was a strong driver for the creation
of the ON VOLUDE collection from Automotive Colour Trends by
BASF for 2023-2024.
When BASF’s designers looked at what their trend signals were
telling them, they realized it’s time for a colour update, as the classic
automobile colour wheel has had its day. Non-classic automotive hues
emerged, propelling colours through a series of shifts reflecting a
positive mood, with a focus on lighter shades and the exploration of
new, expressive colour spaces.
ON VOLUDE provides exciting colours that also adopt an increasing
focus on sustainability and functionality. As customers rely on the BASF
collection to design automotive colours for their future models, one will
see the new direction on the road or in the driveway in the next three
to five model years.
The palette for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) puts a
highlight on bright beige colours. Pastels also play an important role,
introducing interesting non-automotive colour positions into automotive
design.
As seen throughout the ON VOLUDE collection, colours in EMEA
explore features far beyond colour position. They add sustainable,
recycled raw materials, LiDAR and RADAR compatible concepts, and
haptic surfaces.
“Expressive colours reflect our will to communicate and speak up,”
said Mark Gutjahr, head of Automotive Colour Design for EMEA.
“When we bring non-automotive colours into the mix, we broaden that
conversation even further into new and exciting colour spaces.”
Expanded capabilities
Resicoat powder coatings from
AkzoNobel are helping
Termoresine to further expand its
capabilities beyond rail and into
the next generation of EV
supercars with sustainable
solutions for protecting the safety
and performance of batteries and
associated systems.
“In our industry, working with
medium and high voltage
applications of up to 25kW, every
componenthas to be carefully
designed and every part of the
product has to be coated. Even
the slightest pinhole can have
fatal consequences,” says CEO of
Termoresine, Nicola Ferrario.
Performance is one half of the
equation; the other is
sustainability. This challenge has
become more acute in recent
times, with the rising cost of
energy and uncertainty of supply.
Working with a Resicoatpowder
requires less energy in its
application.
Lucio Bianchi, chief technical
officer, says that the challenge is
in finding solutions that are more
sustainable, but that don’t
compromise on Thermal Class
performance: “The Resicoat
powder coatings we use
guarantee 30,000 hrs of safe
operation at a certain
temperature,” he explains. “But
obviously, the higher the
temperature requirement means
a higher temperature in
application which therefore
consumes more energy.”
Health concerns paramount
Rising concerns about the impact of PFAS on human health and the
environment have led to a growing demand for PTFE alternatives. As
part of this trend, Clariant has launched Ceridust 8170 M, a
PFAS/PTFE-free agent with texturing effects for Architectural Powder
Coatings.
For use on window frame and fence surfaces to furniture and bicycle
rims, the new additive delivers excellent performance in dark and light
colours with no extrudate swelling, and with the ability for gloss and
texturing levels to be adjusted.
Ceridust 8170 M complies with the European Union’s REACH
legislation. It can also help to lower energy consumption during the
extrusion process.
Regulations around the world are increasingly targeting PFAS-related
compounds. Currently under public consultation, the European Union
has developed legislation to further restrict or ban PFAS products from
as early as 2026. Japan’s environment agency has approved a ban on
the manufacture, import and use of 56 PFOA- related compounds
under the country’s Chemical Substance and Control Law while the
U.S. EPA wants to designate PFOAs and PFOS as “hazardous
substances” under the federal Superfund law.
Taking big strides
The new products, Valeric Acid
Pro 100 and 2-Ethylhexanoic
Acid Pro 100, represent the latest
stride in Perstorp's mission
towards becoming Finite Material
Neutral, heralding a significant
shift in the industry's
dependence on virgin fossil raw
materials while allowing
downstream industries to reduce
Scope 3 emissions.
When considering the
biogenic CO2 uptake absorbed
by the renewable raw materials
used, these products
demonstrate a negative carbon
footprint from the cradle to the
Perstorp gate. Developed based
on a traceable mass balance
concept, Valeric Acid Pro 100
and 2-EHA Pro 100 are designed
to minimize the carbon
footprint2 throughout the value
chain, supporting sustainable
sourcing of renewable and
recycled raw materials.
Finishing – November/December 2023