A Fundamental Approach to Durability Prediction

The industry has striven to predict coating performance by carrying out natural exposure, typically Florida or Arizona, or artificial weathering testing. However, it is generally accepted that both approaches are unreliable. The expected durability of coatings exposed in Europe is different to assess from the performance of coatings in the very different climate of Florida. Accelerated weathering often employs conditions not encountered in nature and consequently produces unrepresentative degradation processes.

This project has investigated the use of new very surface-sensitive analytical techniques, eg AFM & micro-ATR FT-IR spectroscopy on short-term weathered coatings for the prediction of long term weathering performance. A controlled temperature exposure rack was also developed.

Further Information

If you are interested in this, or any other project, please contact Richard Holman.