Exploring Corrosion Performance in Rad-Cure Coating Systems

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The project will be undertaken in collaboration with Beckers, a true pioneer in providing unique, high quality solutions that answer coating needs across many sectors.Research Focus:Currently, the majority of Coil Coatings are applied to continuous wide metal strip and then thermally treated so as to induce gelation or crosslinking. Currently this heating is carried out using gas powered ovens which yield a high carbon footprint to the finished article. As part of Beckers ongoing commitment to increasing the sustainability of Coil Coatings, new methods of crosslinking that have significantly lower carbon footprints are being explored. One such method is to use UV or Electron Beam radiation (radcure) to initiate free radical polymerisation. As these new technologies are being introduced into the Coil Coating market, there is a requirement to make sure that the performance of the new systems is at the same level as current systems.Project Aims:The specific focus of the doctorate will be to take a polyester melamine based, thermally cured standard system, and urethane acrylate based, radcure system; these systems will be applied to galvanised steel and the corrosion protection of the two systems will be evaluated. As part of the evaluation, accelerated testing will be compared to real world exposure data.Desired outcomes:Using a variety of analytical techniques including (but not limited to) SVET, SKP, EIS, Raman or IR spectroscopy, the aim will be to fully characterise the corrosion products of radcure systems and identify the mechanisms by which they are produced. This information can then be used to ensure that coating formulations used will support optimum corrosion protection.