Sustainable Curing: exploring alternative technologies for painted steel products

背景：塔塔钢铁英国公司是欧洲最大的预涂钢生产商之一，生产的顶级产品在整个欧洲都有规定，主要用于建筑行业。为了保持这一地位，该组织不断努力改进现有的产品范围，通过为建筑行业开发一流的涂料，改进服务或增加功能。塔塔的优质涂层产品可以提供长达40年的免维护保修期，这项技术是基于数十年的经验，以化石燃料为原料配制涂料。随着对可持续性认证和循环经济的日益关注，塔塔钢铁英国公司制定了明确的碳减排战略。这一战略的一部分需要替代当前燃气炉的固化技术，这将减少预制钢产品的整体隐含碳。作为这项研究的一部分，在扩大到全面生产能力之前，将开发合适的中试生产线能力来证明所选择的固化技术。这种替代固化技术可以包括，但不限于，紫外线（UV），电子束（EB），感应固化，红外线（IR）。该研究项目将从根本上改变制造方法，帮助塑造英国企业的可持续发展未来。项目目标：-与我们的主要涂料供应商合作，充分了解当前的涂料配方以及涂料配方如何根据固化方法进行调整-评估不同固化工艺技术对各种不同聚合物的影响-通过外部和加速测试分析材料。-使用分析技术，如UV， ATR， FTIR和拉曼光谱来确定有机涂层降解和侵蚀的机理和速率。-加强试验生产线，以评估优选的固化工艺技术，并就各种方案的适用性向业务提供建议。

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.