PRA News of the Month

Welcome to PRA News of the Month, an overview of what is happening in the world of surface coatings. To receive News of the Month, or notification each time it is published, please subscribe to the mailing list.

PRA Activities/News

PRA announces professional accreditation for training courses at Surfex

PRA (Paint Research Association) is pleased to announce that PRA Training can now be used as part of the formal application process for internationally recognised professional qualifications in surface coatings technology. OCCA (Oil and Colour Chemists' Association) has accredited PRA Training courses, which are designed to support individual learning at both Foundation and Professional levels.

For many years PRA has run training courses at its facilities in South West London, as well as tailored in-company programmes, which are widely respected throughout the World. Content covered at Foundation level will now be recognised by OCCA for Licentiate (LTSC) professional grade applications and Professional level courses will assist applicants for Associate (ATSC) grade. All PRA courses will be accepted as evidence of Continued Professional Development (CPD) by OCCA.

Read the press release.

PRA announces partnership with Safinah in Marine & Protective coatings consultancy

Marine and Protective coatings consultancy

PRA is pleased to announce the formation of a new partnership with Safinah Ltd to provide an expanded global consultancy for the Marine & Protective coatings industry. With a strong track record in Marine consultancy, Safinah complements PRA's emphasis on Protective coatings and independent laboratory investigations and together the two teams will be able to quickly identify the best consultant to respond to client's issues.

Read the press release.

New PRA Members

PRA is pleased to announce the recent addition of three new Members:

Fast&Fluid
Flügger
Hydra Polymers Ltd

Fast&Fluid - The tinting company – a world leader in metering and mixing equipment – has led the way in tinting colours for over 20 years. Fast&Fluid offers decorative paint, car refinish and personal care solutions. The Flügger Group is one of the leading manufacturers, distributors and dealers in Scandinavia of decorative paint, wood stain, wall covering, paint tools, cleaning articles, cleaning products and abrasive materials. Hydra Polymers Ltd is a developing biotechnology business located at the Merseybio incubator state-of-the-art facility in Liverpool in the, UK.

Additives for Coatings Conference, Frankfurt, 20–21 May 2008

The Additives for Coatings conference, held at the Holiday Inn Conference Centre, Frankfurt, on 20–21 May, 2008, was set off to a good start by a paper from Jon Graystone, PRA, on 'Progress in the Development and Evaluation of Coating Additives'. He set a framework into which a number of the conference papers were placed and included in his paper 54 references for further investigation where required.

A theme emerging from the conference was the complexity of the process for evaluating additives, caused by the multiple potential interactions between the different ingredients in a paint formulation. 'Trial and Error' is an inefficient way of handling the problem: a possible solution is using combinatorial testing methodology, possibly in a collaborative project at an independent research location, such as the PRA. A paper from Rohm and Haas neatly illustrated the phenomenon, with surfactants and associative thickeners competing for sites for absorption on the surface of polymer particles. An understanding of the mechanism has led to a new rheology modifier for aqueous paints being developed, which reduces the typical loss of viscosity on tinting.

The development of solvent-free decorative paints has increased the need for wetting additives, as the solvent previously contributed to wetting and adhesion, as well as to flow and levelling. Solutions to this problem were proposed by:

Troy Chemie's new anionic wetting agent
Momentive Performance Materials new siloxane-based superspreader
BYK-Chemie's range of silicone surfactants

Restrictions arising from the REACH regulations have also been a stimulus for research into replacement materials. Two examples were provided by Lubrizol, who have developed a new polymeric dispersant technology for universal colorants to replace alkyl phenol ethoxylates: and Rockwood Pigments, who have made a breakthrough in identifying acceptable oxime-free anti-skinning agents.

Nanotechnology and sol-gel chemistry is a continuing theme, being the subject of a number of papers, from Nanoresins and Dow, as well as academic papers from the Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry in the Czech Republic and the Iran Polymer and Petrochemical Institute.

A complete set of the 19 papers presented at the conference, in CD-ROM or book format is available from the PRA (price £180, or £130 for PRA member companies). For further information on how to obtain copies of Proceedings from recent PRA Conferences, please contact Janet Saraty, Tel: +44 (0)20 8487 0811, Fax: +44 (0)20 8487 0801.

European Coatings Congress 2009 – Nürnberg, Germany, 30 March–1 April 2009

PRA will again be partnering Vincentz Network in producing the coatings part of the programme for this important industry event, which runs in parallel to the European Coatings Show (31 March-2 April 2009). The Call for Papers has been issued and may be accessed via www.european-coatings-show.com/callforpapers. The deadline for submission of paper 'title and abstract' is 1 September 2008. For the first time, guidelines for speakers are available on the website, providing advice on the content of the material for submission, both for industry and academic contributors. The objective of the guidelines is to ensure that the content of the papers meets the expectations of the audience. New in 2009 — the comprehensive congress programme of oral presentations is to be extended by the addition of dedicated and highly interactive poster sessions.

European Coatings Award

The most outstanding congress presentation will be honoured with the prestigious European Coatings Award, selected and sponsored by the European Coatings Journal. The prize is endowed with 2000 euros and a representative sculpture. For further information about the European Coatings Show and Congress 2009, visit the European Coatings Show website.

SURFEX 2008 – Harrogate International Centre, Harrogate, UK, 3–4 June 2008

SURFEX 2008, the largest and most comprehensive UK exhibition for surface coatings, printing inks, adhesives, corrosion and construction chemicals industries, is shaping up to be the 2008 event for UK Surface Coatings Community. SURFEX 2008 is open from 9.00 am until 6.00 pm on Tuesday 3 June and from 9.30 am until 4.30 pm on Wednesday 4 June. There is no charge for Admission and 192 companies have already confirmed that they will be represented at the exhibition. You can meet the PRA at stand C63.

Irfab's Global Industrial Coatings Markets 2006-2020 Study is now available

Keep up to date with some of the latest developments in the Coatings Industry with Latest News. Recent headlines include:

DSM Powder Coating Resins opens R&D facility in China
Rohm and Haas to build plant in Vietnam
Kemira and Rockwood to form leading TiO2 joint venture
PPG to build company's first coatings plant in Russia
Heidelberg acquires high-performance coating manufacturer
BASF Coatings starts operations at production site for paints in Russia
PPG celebrates 125 years of growth, leadership and innovation
Hempel A/S to stop paint production in Denmark in two years
Asian Paints consolidated net profit increases by 41.9% in Q4-FY08
Kemira: Tikkurila to establish a trading company in Romania jointly with Slovenian-based JUB
PPG sees conversion to waterborne gaining momentum across California, Canada
Rhodia launches production of eco-friendly solvent
Elementis – Acquisition of Deuchem Co., Ltd.
Industri Kapital to sell CPS Color

Information Services

Click on the links below to see highlights from the latest issues of PRA publications. For information about any of our technical publications please contact Richard Kennedy. For information about publications relating to market information (COMET and EPRN) please contact Glenda Thisdell. For information about our publication relating to regulatory information (SHE Alert) please contact Tina Walton.

MARKET INFORMATION

Russia's paint industry shows strong growth

The Russian paint industry continues to exhibit strong growth rates of about 10% per annum, writes Josef Jilek. Comet

Painting an airline? Make it faster, lighter and glossier

Painting civil aircraft is a complex, technical and legalistic exercise. Advances in paint science have to pass not only lab and field tests but gain absolute confidence of aircraft manufacturers, as Martin Gurdon finds out. Comet

Coatings COMET - COmpanies, Markets and Economic Trends

COMET is the perfect market intelligence companion for busy coatings executives in such areas as: Marketing, Export Department, Business Planning, Product Development, Corporate Affairs and New Business Opportunities.

European Paint & Resin News (EPRN)

European Paint & Resin News contains the essential news of the global coatings industry, providing information in a clear and simple format.

REGULATORY INFORMATION

EU consultation on continued use of creosote in biocidal products

The EU Commission is inviting comments on the possible consequences of the inclusion or non-inclusion of creosote in Annex I to the Biocidal Products Directive (98/8/EC). SHE Alert

Canada: proposed VOC regulations

The Canadian Department of the Environment has published proposed regulations for VOC content limits for architectural coatings, automotive refinishing products and certain products (the latter include three product types: personal care; maintenance; and adhesives, adhesive removers, sealants and caulks). SHE Alert

SHE Alert - (Safety, Health and Environment Alert)

A monthly bulletin on global regulatory safety, health and environmental matters relevant to the coatings industry, also available online as a searchable database. See SHE Alert highlights for May 2008.

LIBRARY AND DATABASE SERVICES

Paint Titles

Stay informed of all new scientific and technical knowledge with Paint Titles, PRA’s weekly alerting service covering paints, coatings, adhesives and inks. PRA Members can browse Paint Titles online or download the PDF version free of charge. For a fee, non-members can also subscribe to Paint Titles by contacting Dr Norman Morgan.

For details of our document delivery service, please contact the PRA library.

World Surface Coatings Abstracts (WSCA)

WSCA is the industry’s premier search tool for coatings related technical information. Produced monthly in print and as a CD-ROM, the electronic version of WSCA contains more than 300 000 coatings-related abstracts collated over the last 30 years. See recent WSCA highlights. WSCA also offers ‘personalised alerts’ and ‘one-off searches’. For further information contact Dr Norman Morgan.

SPECIALIST TECHNICAL NEWS

Patents

Sound damping coatings

A composition for an effective sound damping coating is claimed that comprises a polymer dispersion in combination with at least two different plasticisers and selected fillers. Dispersion Polymers, May

Food and beverage containers and methods of coating

This patent describes a substantially bisphenol A-free coating composition suitable for metal food or beverage containers. Waterborne and High Solids Coatings, May

Curable white inkjet ink

A radiation-curable white inkjet ink is described, which has a conductivity of less than 0.075 µS and is suitable for a variety of substrates such as plywood. RADNews, Spring 2008

Technology

Novel vegetable oil-derived macromonomer (VOMM) for emulsion polymerisation

The preparation and application of a novel VOMM with improved properties is described. Dispersion Polymers, May

Solvent-free waterborne polyurethane coatings for wood floors

Three different approaches as alternatives to the use of N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) in the synthesis of polyurethane dispersions by the prepolymer mixing process are investigated. Waterborne and High Solids Coatings, May

How do protic materials affect cationic curing?

In Experts Corner, Stephen Davidson looks at the mechanistic aspects of cationic curing and how protic materials may affect cationic curing. RADNews, Spring 2008

Waterborne and High Solids Coatings

A monthly bulletin covering all aspects of waterborne and high solids technology from the properties of raw materials to the application and performance of the final coatings. See highlights from Waterborne and High Solids Coatings.

Dispersion Polymers: Technology & Applications

Dispersion Polymers: Technology & Applications provides critical reviews of developments in dispersion polymer technology, covering new latex compositions, polymer processes, physical properties and applications of dispersion polymers in paints, adhesives, membranes, non-woven fabrics, textiles and paper.

Polymer Curing Technologies

Polymer Curing Technologies offers a critical overview of journal and patent literature from the following topics: curing types, radiation cure, physical properties and test methods.

RADnews

PRA’s quarterly newsletter for the radiation curing industry, RADnews, provides extensive information on patents relevant to radiation curing, articles appearing in the technical press — from academic research to commercial developments — and new developments in products and equipment. See highlights from the Spring 2008 issue (64) of RADnews.

Technical Services

Testing Paints for Anti-Corrosive Properties

With the announcement of the new partnership between Safinah Ltd and PRA to provide an expanded global consultancy for the Marine & Protective coatings industry, here is a reminder of some of the tests that can be conducted at PRA's Technical Laboratory, which are designed to measure the way that surface coatings protect substrates from corrosion. If you are more concerned with the effect of sunlight, moisture and temperature on the actual surface coating, please refer to PRA's Durability tests.

The PRA Technical team can carry out the following tests:-

Test	Standard
Cyclic Prohesion	BS 3900-F19, ISO 11997-2
Cyclic Salt Spray	BS EN 60068-2-52, IEC 68-2-52
Humidity	BS 3900-F2, BS EN ISO 6270, BS 3900-F9 , ASTM D2247
Prohesion	ASTM G 85, ASTM D 5894
Salt Spray	BS 3900-F4, BS3900-F12, ISO 7253, ASTM B 117
Sulphur Dioxide	BS 3900-F8, BS EN ISO 3231, DIN 50018

For further information contact PRA Technical Services

Networking and Learning

Training Courses - Autumn/Winter 2008

The PRA Training Calendar takes a break over the summer months but starts again in September with a two-day course on Colour Measurement & Colour Control and runs through until December with Paint Technology, an intensive four day course that seeks to provide a firm foundation in the technology of organic surface coatings.

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

To enrol on a course now, simply complete an online registration form. Don't forget, PRA Members are eligible for a discount on all PRA Training Courses.

Training courses are held at the PRA Coatings Technology Centre in Hampton, near London's Heathrow Airport. Customised courses can often be organised to suit your individual needs based on one of the courses in the training programme or on other topics. These customised courses may be held at your own site or at PRA. This can be an effective way of training a workforce. To find out more contact our Training Manager Elisabeth Brown by email or phone +44 20 8487 0815 (Fax: +44 20 8487 0805).

PRA events

The 6th Woodcoatings Congress, Amsterdam, 14–15 October 2008

The programme will be published shortly for the sixth PRA Woodcoatings Congress, which this year is being held at the Mercure Hotel Amsterdam Aan de Amstel on 14–15 October. The programme of 35 papers is split into six sessions, spread over the two-day period, giving delegates a wide choice of presentations to attend. The parallel sessions are split between Interior and Exterior applications, to minimise the risk of similar papers overlapping. Arrangements are being made for the congress dinner to be held on board a canal boat, which will pick up delegates near the hotel on the Amstel river, prior to an evening cruise around the canals in the centre of the city.

For information on PRA Conferences or to obtain copies of Proceedings from recent PRA Conferences, please contact Janet Saraty, Tel: +44 (0)20 8487 0811, Fax: +44 (0)20 8487 0801.

REACH for Finishing – Finished by REACH?

The Institute of Metal Finishing is holding a half-day workshop on 'REACH for Finishing – Finished by REACH?' on Friday 4 July 2008 at the Birmingham Medical Institute, Harborne Road, Edgbaston. Speakers include Dr Julian I Delic of the UK Reach Competent Authority (the Health and Safety Executive); Cathy Phillips, HSE Materials Manager, Corporate HSE, Rolls-Royce plc; Richard Hawkins, Policy Advisor (EU Chemicals), Chemical Restrictions Compliance Team, Waste and Industry Regulatory Service, Environment Agency; John Oliver, Technical Director, Anochrome Group; and Richard Banks, Project Chemist & Reach Co-ordinator, Indestructible Paint Ltd. If you are interested in this event email: exeterhouse@instituteofmetalfinishing.org or telephone 0121 622 7387.

More information about these events and the IMF can be found on the IMF website.

Other Conferences/Exhibitions

A list of other conferences, exhibitions and events is also available in our Coatings Events Diary.

European Conferences / Exhibitions

Surfex 2008
3–4 June 2008, Harrogate International Centre, UK. SURFEX 2008 - Evolving Together - The UK Exhibition for the Surface Coatings, Printing Inks, Adhesives, Corrosion and Construction Communities. SURFEX is the ideal exhibition for any company involved in the coatings industry. Contact: Yvonne Waterman; Tel: +44 (0)20 8908 1086; Fax: +44 (0)20 8908 1219; e-mail: surfex@occa.org.uk

FATIPEC 2008
9–11 June 2008, Ghent, Belgium. Fatipec 2008 Congress is hosted by ATIPIC, the Belgian Association of Technicians in the Paint and Associated Industries. Contact: Fatipec Congress Secretariat; Tel: +32 2 512 4442; Fax: +32 2 512 4443; e-mail: info@destree.be

Food Contact Coatings
12–13 June 2008, Berlin, Germany. Contact: Vincentz Network, Ellen Wengerek; Tel: 49 511 9910-278; Fax: 49 511 9910-279; e-mail: ellen.wengerek@coatings.de

COSI 2008
23–27 June 2008, Noordwijk, The Netherlands. The Coatings Science International Conference strives to become the leading European Conference on the Science and Technology of Coatings. Contact: Congress Office, Eindhoven University of Technology; Tel: 31 40 247 4000; e-mail: congressoffice@tue.nl

6th International Strategy Conference on Car Body Painting
26–27 June 2008, Berlin, Germany. Contact: Vincentz Network, Friederike Plasswich, Tel: 49 511 9910-274; Fax: 49 511 9910-279; e-mail: friederike.plasswich@coatings.de

NanoMaterials08
7–9 July 2008, Newcastle, UK. NanoMaterials08 will focus on the commercialisation of nanomaterials, rather than technology and theoretical benefits. Contact: Sponsorship & Exhibition Manager, Caroline Potapa, Tel: 44 (0)1372 802101; Fax: 44 (0)1372 802243; e-mail: caroline.potapa@pira-international.com; Conference Manager, Ben Eatwell, Tel: 44 (0)1372 802057; Fax: 44 (0)1372 802243; e-mail: ben.eatwell@nanocentral.eu.

2008 Prague Meeting on Macromolecules – New
20–24 July 2008, Prague, Czech Republic. The Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry and IUPAC have organised a symposium entitled 'Polymer Colloids: From design to Biomedical and Industrial Application'. Contact: PMM Secretariat, Tel: 420-296 809 332; Fax: 420-296 809 410; e-mail: sympo@imc.cas.cz

Advances in Emulsion Polymerization and Latex Technology
4–8 August 2008, Davos, Switzerland. This course provides an in-depth study of the synthesis, characterization, and properties of high polymer latexes. Contact: Dr. F. Joseph Schork, Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, Tel: 404 894 3274; Fax: 815 301 9729; e-mail: DavosCourse@gmail.com or fjschork@umd.edu

EuroCorr 2008
7–11 September 2008, Edinburgh, Scotland. The theme of EUROCORR 2008 is collaboration and synthesis of effort across disciplines. Contact: Congress Office, DECHEMA, Andrea Köhl; Tel: 49 (0)69 7564-235; Fax: 49 (0)69 7564-441; e-mail: koehl@dechema.de

NanoEurope 2008 – New
16–17 September 2008, St.Gallen, Switzerland. This international congress will present successful commercial nanotechnology applications and introduce new scientific knowledge that can be commercialised. Contact: NanoEurope, Tel: +41 (0)71 242 0444; Fax: +41 (0)71 242 0232; e-mail: info@nanoeurope.com

CEPE Annual Conference & General Assembly 2008
24–26 September 2008, Berlin, Germany. Contact: Vincentz Network, Sandra Werner, Tel: 49 511 9910-271; Fax: 49 511 9910-279; e-mail: sandra.werner@coatings.de

Green Solvents - Progress in Science and Application
28 September–1 October 2008, Lake Constance, Friedrichshafen, Germany. The biannual conference series 'Green Solvents' has been established as an important international forum for the discussion of modern approaches to sustainable solution phase processes. Contact: DECHEMA, Barbara Feisst, Tel: 49 69 7564-333; Fax: 49 69 7564-441; e-mail: feisst@dechema.de

Eurocoat2008
30 September–2 October 2008, Lyon, France. EUROCOAT is a trade event that encompasses both an Exhibition and a Technical and scientific conference dedicated to the paint, varnish, printing ink, glue and adhesive industry. Contact: Marie-Odile Barkallah, Conference organisation, Tel: 33 (0)1 4263-4591; e-mail: aftpva-mob@wanadii.fr

American / Canadian Conferences / Exhibitions

American Coatings Conference
2–3 June 2008, Charlotte, NC, USA. Sponsored by the National Paint and Coatings Association (NPCA) and Vincentz Network, the American Coatings Conference will take the industry to 'The Next Level'. Contact: Vincentz Network, Friederike Plasswich, Tel: 49 511 9910-274; Fax: 49 511 9910-279; e-mail: friederike.plasswich@coatings.de

Advances in Emulsion Polymerization and Latex Technology
2–6 June 2008, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA. Advances in Emulsion Polymerization and Latex Technology is a course offered by the Emulsion Polymers Institute (EPI) at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania USA. Contact: Dr. Eric Daniels, Emulsion Polymers Institute, Tel: 610 758 3602; Fax: 610 758 5880; e-mail: eric.daniels@lehigh.edu

International Marine & Offshore Coatings Conference
16–18 June 2008, Virginia Beach, VA, USA. This convention provides an open forum for attendees to share their impressions and concerns about significant industry issues. Contact: NPCA, Dorothy Brawner, Tel: 202 462 6272; e-mail: dbrawner@paint.org

SUR/FIN 2008
16–18 June 2008, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. This major international conference and trade show provides the best venue in which to explore the newest technology and practical applications for surface finishing. Contact: Cheryl Clark, Tel: 1 202 580; 6292; e-mail: cclark@nasf.org

The XVth International Congress on Rheology – New
3–8 August 2008, Monterey, California, USA. The Congress will include opening and closing plenary lectures, fourteen keynote lectures (including the Bingham lecture) by eminent rheologists, contributed oral presentations organized into sixteen mini-symposia, and a poster session. Two short courses will be offered on the weekend before the Congress, 2-3 August 2008. Contact: Congress Administrator, Paula Bailey

Labelexpo Americas 2008 – New
9–11 September 2008, Chicago, Illinois, USA. Labelexpo Americas is the largest event for the label, product decoration, web printing and converting industry in the Americas and will take place 9-11 September at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. Contact, e-mail: sales@labelexpo.com

Powder Coating Forum
10–11 September 2008, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Powder Coating Forum, formerly PC 101, is a 2-day educational seminar that will provide you with the basics of powder coating formulation and, for the first time this year, there will be a symposium with additional topics & real case studies, complete with a Powder Coatings Plant Tour! Contact: Toll Free: 1 888 530 6714

FutureCoat! 2008 – New
15–16 October 2008, Chicago, Illinois, USA. FutureCoat! is the industry's state-of-the-art technical conference. This key educational event explores the most innovative methodologies and applications shaping the coatings industry. Presentations by leading industry experts bridge the gap between the latest research and development and the actual implementation that will direct the future of the industry. Contact: Federation of Societies for Coatings, Tel: 610 940 0777; Fax: 610 940 0292; e-mail: fsct@coatingstech.org

Asian Conferences / Exhibitions

Asia Pacific Coatings Show 2008
24–26 June 2008, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Contact: Danielle Wolstencroft, Marketing and Conference Executive: Tel: +44 (0)1737 855360; e-mail: daniellewolstencroft@dmgworldmedia.com

Indocoating and Corrosion Summit 2008 – New
12–14 August 2008, Jakarta, Indonesia. The Indocoating and Corrosion Summit 2008, being held at the Jakarta Convention Center, will not only focus on protective coatings but it will also emphasise different aspects of corrosion. Contact: Conference Secretariat, Tel: +62 21 837 95203/83757; Fax: +62 21 837 95302/863 1746; e-mail: indocoating.committee@ieec.com

Other Conferences / Exhibitions

22nd National Symposium of OCCA South African Division – New
19–21 August 2008, Champagne Sports Resort, Central Drakensberg, South Africa. This symposium is open to anyone in the coatings industry who is interested. The main focus of this event will be technical papers including an industry expo, networking, entertainment and socialising. The management of both OCCA and SAPMA would especially like to see learners of the SAPMA Paint Technology Course being sponsored by their employers and that SAPMA members extend this notice to their respective branches in Africa. Contact: Roaslie Howard/ Garrick Dunstan, E-mail: rosalie@coa.co.za/ garrick@coa.co.za

8th International Paint, Resin and Coatings Fair – New
18–21 December 2008, Tehran permanent fair ground, Iran. Banian Omid Co. in association with Iran International Exhibition Company is organising the 8th International Paint, Resin and Coatings Fair. Significant growth of the paint & resin industry in Iran has resulted in a demand for new relevant knowledge and technology. Contact: Ms Tehrani, Tel: +9821 88720005-7; Fax: +9821 88710252; e-mail: info@ipcc.ir

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Contacts

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News of the Month – May 2008

What’s New