This paper presents the latest state-of-the-art instrumentation methods available for characterizing the mechanical properties of polymeric coating materials.
The mechanical properties of polymeric coatings are often overlooked because researchers are not aware of how modern instrumentation can aid them in understanding how a particular product may survive in service conditions. In many applications the two main considerations are aesthetics and durability, both of which can be directly related to the mechanical properties of the base material. For example, the durability of a paint will depend on its hardness, elastic modulus, scratch resistance, abrasion resistance and on how well it adheres to its substrate. The aesthetic quality of the paint surface will depend on its ability to resist surface scratches and deformations, which will diffract light and cause it to lose its glossy appearance. This paper presents the instrumentation methods required to measure accurate mechanical properties of soft polymeric coating materials that are commonly used in coatings.