This course on surfactants initially reviews the various types and chemical structures of commercially available surfactants. An understanding of the role of chemical bonding as it relates to surface tension is explored. The course progresses to a better understanding of various surface activities including surface area, surface tension, surface pressure, wetting, surface transport, and micelle formation. Then, we explore the world of foam with respect to how surface-active agents stabilize and de-stabilize bubbles at the surface or as entrained air. Finally, a review of surfactants as an aid to the dispersion process and the measurements of surface tension in both static and dynamic conditions. While targeted to formulating chemists, this course is also well suited for marketing, sales, production, and customer service personnel. Managers and supervisors would also benefit by having a better understanding, and appreciation, of the important role surfactants play to the production and application of quality paints and coatings.

This course on rheology reviews the basic principles of rheology including its definition and its influencers - chemical structure, morphology, and environmental conditions. The impact by various deformation forces including compression, tension, torque, and, particularly, shear will be reviewed to demonstrate the resulting flow profiles of viscosity as a function of shear and time. The chemistry and ancestry of current rheological agents will help clarify the appropriate selection of products for various formulation types including waterborne, solventborne, aliphatic, aromatic, and polar systems. While targeted to formulating chemists, this course is also well suited for marketing, sales, production and customer service personnel. Managers and supervisors would also benefit by having a better understanding, and appreciation, of the important role rheology plays to the production, storage, transport, and application of quality paints and coatings.

There’s a tremendous amount of technology that goes into a “Can of Paint” – more so than most other chemical industry end-use products. This course will give an overview of the paint and coatings industry including core fundamentals with respect to performance and key raw materials including chemistry, mechanism, and application. This course is designed for research and development as well as business area personnel engaged in all aspects of paints and coatings including architectural paints, industrial coatings, and special purpose/maintenance finishes. While targeted for formulating chemists, it is also well suited for marketing, sales, production, and customer service personnel and, particularly, to newcomers to the industry. Managers and supervisors would also benefit from this course by having a better understanding and appreciation, of the paint and coatings industry.

One of the most challenging objectives to paint and coating formulators is to ensure a compatible and stable dispersion of pigments, fillers, and matting agents. In time, particles can re-agglomerate, due to intermolecular attractive forces, and even hard settle because of specific weight. An understanding of the pigment dispersion process along with the wide array of wetting and dispersing agents available is helpful to achieve optimum color development and stability. Topics covered will include chemistry, theory, mechanism, and concepts including the electric double layer, DLVO theory, depletion flocculation, dispersant types, and optimum dispersant concentration, as well as “grinding” equipment. While targeted to formulating chemists, this course is also well suited for marketing, sales, production, and customer service personnel. Managers and supervisors would also benefit by having a better understanding, and appreciation, of the important role wetting and dispersing agent play to the production of quality paints and coatings.