08.20.15
Dr. Stacey Korf, a Research Associate at Axalta Coating Systems presented a new method for determining the presence of non-crosslinked components in cured coatings. Dr. Korf presented her findings at the 250th American Chemical Society National Meeting & Exposition in Boston, Massachusetts on August 16, 2015. The meeting and exposition typically attracts more than ten thousand attendees, including industrial and academic experts from around the world.
A cured coating is typically comprised of components that crosslink to form a polymer network. This network can help provide desired coating properties like coating strength, durability, appearance, and corrosion protection. In addition, there are also non-crosslinked components that are not chemically attached to the network. These non-crosslinked components can have an impact on the overall film performance and appearance, and may lead to coating defects, reduced chip resistance and reduced color stability. Information pertaining to the identity of these non-crosslinked components is difficult to obtain.
“Currently, there is no suitable method available to meet our needs. To understand their identities and possible contributions to coating properties, we developed a solvent-based method to extract non-crosslinked components from cured coating films,” said Dr. Korf. “We then analyzed the extracts using gas chromatograph equipped special detection technologies. Mass selective and thermal conductivity detectors, pyrolysis detectors, and gel permeation chromatography were used to identify and quantify the non-crosslinked components extracted from the coating films.”
Using this method, Dr. Korf and her team identified and measured a number of non-crosslinked components, such as solvents trapped in cured coating films, un-reacted crosslinkers, un-reacted resin components, and other components that are not part of the crosslinked coating film network. This level of insight and detailed understanding are critical to designing and formulating coating systems with optimal performance characteristics.
A cured coating is typically comprised of components that crosslink to form a polymer network. This network can help provide desired coating properties like coating strength, durability, appearance, and corrosion protection. In addition, there are also non-crosslinked components that are not chemically attached to the network. These non-crosslinked components can have an impact on the overall film performance and appearance, and may lead to coating defects, reduced chip resistance and reduced color stability. Information pertaining to the identity of these non-crosslinked components is difficult to obtain.
“Currently, there is no suitable method available to meet our needs. To understand their identities and possible contributions to coating properties, we developed a solvent-based method to extract non-crosslinked components from cured coating films,” said Dr. Korf. “We then analyzed the extracts using gas chromatograph equipped special detection technologies. Mass selective and thermal conductivity detectors, pyrolysis detectors, and gel permeation chromatography were used to identify and quantify the non-crosslinked components extracted from the coating films.”
Using this method, Dr. Korf and her team identified and measured a number of non-crosslinked components, such as solvents trapped in cured coating films, un-reacted crosslinkers, un-reacted resin components, and other components that are not part of the crosslinked coating film network. This level of insight and detailed understanding are critical to designing and formulating coating systems with optimal performance characteristics.
