Axalta and MIT Pioneer Technologies to Analyze Waterborne Paint Sprayability
GLEN MILLS, PA - Eric Houze, Research Fellow at Axalta Coating Systems, and Bavand Keshavarz, a Ph.D. candidate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), presented the results of a joint research program on new rheological measurement technologies that can be applied to sprayable paints. The two presentations were delivered on October 7 and 8, respectively, at the Society of Rheology’s 86th annual meeting in Philadelphia, which is attended by global rheology experts who study the deformation and flow of materials, including paints.
The Axalta and MIT team developed a new technology to analyze and quantify the behavior of complex fluids during spray applications. During the paint spray application process, droplet particle sizes and distributions can be determining factors for the quality and appearance of the final paint. The new technology is designed to help improve paint sprayability during the application process, which should result in an improvement in the surface quality and visual appeal.