Review: European Coatings Handbook

European Coatings Handbook
By Dr. Thomas Brock, Dr. Michael Groteklaes and Dr. Peter Mischke, Edited by Dr. Ultrich Zorll
Translated by Heather Yesson and Eiger Translations Ltr.
Published by Vincentz Verlag, Hannover, Germany, 2000, 410 pp.

This is an interesting, broad-based book that contains a great deal of useful knowledge for those engaged in the coatings and ink business. The authors have done well in meeting their goal of providing students and trainees with basic information about the large number of topics that are involved in the coatings field. To do this in a few more than 400 pages is a Herculean task, but the authors met it by presenting the information in an understandable teaching mode, and by keeping each topic relatively short. They point the direction for further study by introducing the reader to about 250 topics related to the coatings and polymer industries in nine chapters or sections. The large number of topics points out the variety of technologies and how they are interwoven to make up the topic known as coating science. The book does contain adequate literature references after each chapter.

A reader or user of the handbook is lead from a short (1) introduction, including a historical perspective, through the (2) raw materials used for coatings, to various (3) coating systems, how they are formulated, and how they form films. Next is found the techniques used in the (4) manufacture of coatings, the (5) substrates and pretreatments for the substrates to which the coatings will be applied, and (6) how the coatings are applied and dried or cured on these substrates. This is followed with (7) the coating processes and (8) the test methods and measuring techniques used for liquid coatings as well as the final or solid paint and coating films. Last, but certainly not least, is the final chapter (9) that deals with environmental protection and safety in the workplace. The final two pages are a short Appendix that compares technical names with systematic names-something that teaches and points the way to further delving into the topic of nomenclature. For example, "linoleic acid" has the systematic name "octadeca-9,12-dienoic acid."

The Test Methods and Measuring Techniques chapter contains numerous references to standards of the Deutsches Institut F¿r Normung e.V. (DIN) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO). These will be useful for Europeans and for those using standards from other organizations such as ASTM International. Throughout the book are many simplified drawings that aid in understanding the various phenomena and techniques that are described. Most explanations in the book are brief and understandable; however, at times the authors found that more detailed explanations were appropriate, and they denoted these by showing them against a light gray background. The book will be found useful to neophytes and journeymen in the coatings industry as well as students, teachers, business people, and attorneys involved in coating and ink technology. c

Copies of the European Coatings Handbook are available from the Bookstore at www.coatings.de.