Exploring Corrosion Performance in Rad-Cure Coating Systems

该项目将与贝克尔合作进行，贝克尔是提供独特，高质量解决方案的真正先驱，可满足许多行业的涂料需求。研究重点：目前，大多数卷材涂料应用于连续宽金属带，然后进行热处理，以诱导凝胶或交联。目前，这种加热是使用燃气烤箱进行的，对成品产生高碳足迹。作为贝克斯持续致力于提高卷材涂料可持续性的一部分，我们正在探索具有显著降低碳足迹的交联新方法。其中一种方法是使用紫外线或电子束辐射（放射）来引发自由基聚合。随着这些新技术被引入线圈涂料市场，需要确保新系统的性能与现有系统处于同一水平。项目目标：博士学位的具体重点将采取以聚三聚氰胺为基础的热固化标准体系，以及以丙烯酸氨基甲酸酯为基础的热固化体系；这些系统将应用于镀锌钢，并将评估两种系统的防腐性能。作为评估的一部分，加速测试将与真实世界的暴露数据进行比较。期望结果：使用各种分析技术，包括（但不限于）SVET， SKP， EIS，拉曼或红外光谱，目的是充分表征腐蚀系统的腐蚀产物，并确定它们产生的机制。这些信息可以用来确保所使用的涂层配方将支持最佳的防腐。

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.