Brushstrokes - October 2011 - Surface Coatings Association of New ...

This edition was intended to have Titanium
dioxide as its theme but as usual following
the conference, there is some spill over in this
issue and for the next. In this edition we have the full
transcript of Adam Berry’s article kindly given to us by
Nuplex Industries Ltd. Adam has joined Rocket Lab
Ltd, a new Zealand based company that is developing
niche technologies in electronics and propulsion
system for rockets. Who would have believed that paint
technology could lead to Rocket Science? Of course
some would say that Rocket Science is no longer
Rocket Science! NASA are planning to hand launch
capability over to the private sector on the grounds
that rocket science has become common science. I
think there may be some pain ahead.
Speaking of rocket science, we see from Peter’s
painted memories, that early titanium dioxide started
life as a coprecipitated anatase and barium sulphate
and eventually to uncoated grades in the early 1940’s.
Uncoated titanium dioxide has highly catalytic
effect on any organic binding resins and must have
produced some fierce chalking. The advent of surface
treated grades greatly improved the performance as
we see today. Couple that with the improvements in
additives and titanium almost stirs straight into many
paint formulations without the need for prolonged
dispersion. When I started in the paint industry,
everything was done in a ball mill, even laboratory
samples. How many people even remember how to
formulate for a ball mill?
Throughout the time that I have been associated with
the paint industry, the titanium dioxide producers
have been threatening short supply and high prices as
the cost of production and the market price squeezed
profits, or so we were always lead to believe. We even
had some Japanese suppliers use the New Zealand
market to get established and then “turn off the tap”
so to speak. Titanium is probably better value in real
dollar terms than it has ever been and with a rebound
recession predicted, the paint industry will no doubt
feel the effects very early in the cycle, resulting in less
pressure on prices. Let’s hope our own paint industry
will be in position to take advantage of it.
Brushstrokes
Editorial
The committee is in the advanced stages of planning
for a seminar to be held in mid October, similar to the
very successful one held back in 2004. The theme
is basic paint technology, intended fort technicians,
people in sales that think they know it all but often
don’t, old hand like me that have forgotten it or have
holes in their knowledge they don’t even know about,
or anyone else that is interested to learn, or re learn,
some of the fundamentals again. With the changes
that have taken place in the last 10 years or so, there
is always something new to be learnt. Look out for the
notice later in the journal.
In that regard, the Coatings and Polymer Science
course is still available at the University of Auckland.
It is administered by Neil Edmonds and run at
Tamaki Campus in Glen Innes. The course has
been amalgamated into the polymers and plastics
program and run in conjunction between the School
of Chemical Sciences and Engineering and Materials
Science. More details next issue for those that would
like to take their knowledge to a higher level with a
recognised qualification.
CJB.
The theme of the next issue is
Roof Coatings.
Any technical, historical or market oriented
articles to do with the paint for roofs, painting
roofs or the substrates that roofs are made
from, will be gratefully accepted.
Please send any ideas, articles
or suggestions to the editor.
Email: cbolt@xtra.co.nz
Phone: 021 897 844.
or by mail to PO Box 1282, Pukekohe 2340
Advertising enquires: Marina on
021 781 968 or marina@apconz.co.nz
Visit the SCANZ website
www.scanz.org.nz
SURFACE COATINGS ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND 1