Sustainable Curing: exploring alternative technologies for painted steel products

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Background:Tata Steel UK is one of the largest producers of pre-painted steel in Europe and produces top range products which are specified throughout Europe, primarily for use in the construction industry. To maintain this position, the organisation is constantly trying to improve the current product range, either through the development of best-in-class coatings for the construction industry, improved offerings in service or through added functionality. Tata's premium coated products can offer maintenance free warranties of up to 40 years and this technology is based on decades of experience formulating paints sourced from fossil fuels as their feedstock. With ever increasing focus on sustainability credentials and the circular economy, Tata Steel UK have a clear carbon reduction strategy. Part of this strategy requires alternative curing technologies from the current gas fired ovens which will reduce the overall embodied carbon of the pre-finished steel products. It is envisaged as part of this research, suitable pilot line capability will be developed to prove the chosen curing technology before scaling up to full manufacturing capability. Such alternative curing technologies could include, but are not limited to, Ultra Violet (UV), Electron Beam (EB), Induction curing, Infra Red (IR).This research project will help shape the sustainability future of the UK business by fundamentally changing the method of manufacturing.Project aims:- Work in conjunction with our key paint supplier to fully understand the current paint formulation and how the paint formulation will need to be adapted depending on the curing method- Assess the impact of the different curing process technologies on the various different polymers- Analyse materials via external and accelerated testing. - Use analytical techniques such as UV, ATR FTIR and Raman spectroscopy to determine the mechanism and rates of organic coating degradation and erosion. - Look to enhance the pilot line to evaluate the preferred curing process technologies and provide recommendations to the business as to the suitability of the various options.