Injection molders are turning to a variety of coatings to protect their investment and reduce maintenance and running costs. These coatings, applied to mold cavities as well as moving, sliding components within the mold, come in a variety of styles from carbonbased coatings, PVD and PACVD deposition to nitriding techniques that share one overriding goal: hardening the surface of the steel to protect it against all manner of abuse.
In this article special emphasis is given to PVD technology and its application for polymeric materials in the automotive and home appliance industries, highlighting cost reduction and improved quality around surface modification of parts.
Pearlescent pigments are a versatile group of effect pigments that are widely used in many coatings applications. Their color is a result of light interference based on their physical structure and composition.
BASF's Coatings division was awarded the Red Dot in the Materials and Surfaces category for its functional coating technology for passive temperature management.
A wrap up of the 43rd Annual Future of Coatings Under Study (FOCUS) Conference in Troy, MI, with a Keynote Address by Jill Seebergh, Senior Technical Fellow at The Boeing Company, who discussed technologies and challenges for exterior painting of commercial airplanes.
In this two-part series, we explore how this carefully crafted design of experiments (DOE) isolated and contrasted the impact and interaction of three key process variables: film build; atomization, and coating viscosity (as determined by temperature).
Developments in the area of information and communication technology are creating considerable potential and acting as a catalyst for innovations in automation, machinery and application systems.
