Axalta Scientist Presents Collaborative Research with Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry on New Testing Methodology for Analyzing Automotive Coatings

Dr. Mei Wen, Research Associate at Axalta Coating Systems (NYSE: AXTA), a leading global manufacturer of liquid and powder coatings, presented her research at the 2015 CoatingsTech Conference, organized by the American Coatings Association (ACA) in Louisville, Kentucky on March 10th. This biennial conference features presentations from prominent industrial coatings experts. Dr. Wen’s presentation showcased a micro-hardness testing methodology developed by Axalta in collaboration with the Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (IMC Prague).

Dr. Mei Wen, Axalta Research Associate (Photo: Business Wire)

Fast-drying coatings are desired for increasing productivity in both automotive manufacturing and aftermarket repairs. It’s often a challenge to understand changes in coatings properties during the drying and curing processes, but this understanding is critical for developing fast-drying coatings. Axalta and the IMC team developed the new micro-hardness testing methodology, based on instrumented indentation testing.

“With the micro-hardness testing methods, we can determine the hardness of a coating system at different stages of the drying and curing processes, and learn about its gradient as a function of depth into a coating layer,” explained Dr. Wen. “The hardness obtained is directly related to the coating system, particularly the curing, drying, network development, and glass transition temperature increase of clearcoats. This testing methodology was developed to allow us to quickly and easily evaluate productivity of various clearcoats on different basecoats, such as waterborne and solvent borne basecoats,” Dr. Wen added.

“Enhancing the productivity of our coating systems is a key technology focus for Axalta,” said Dr. Barry Snyder, Axalta Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. “Increased productivity is an important goal for our customers. Providing faster-curing coatings that can increase throughput at the assembly or repair facility, and that can result in more rapid vehicle delivery, is one way Axalta can help achieve that objective,” Dr. Snyder added.

To learn more about the CoatingsTech Conference visit: http://www.paint.org/education/coatingstech-conference.html

About IMC Prague

The Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry is one of the over forty different research institutes of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. With its approximately 130 PhD employees and about 100 technicians and support staff, it aims at fundamental research in macromolecular science area but recently its involvement in the application-driven research gains an increasing importance and its cooperation with polymer and related industries becomes vital. Its research covers the synthesis of polymers, polymer physics, macromolecular physical chemistry, design of new polymeric materials, and polymers for application in medicine and pharmacology. The institute provides training ground to local as well as to international PhDs and is involved in organizing prestigious international conferences in its field. More information can be found at www.imc.cas.cz.

About Axalta Coating Systems

Axalta is a leading global company focused solely on coatings and providing customers with innovative, colorful, beautiful and sustainable solutions. From light OEM vehicles, commercial vehicles and refinish applications to electric motors, buildings and pipelines, our coatings are designed to prevent corrosion, increase productivity and enable the materials we coat to last longer. With more than 145 years of experience in the coatings industry, the 12,000 people of Axalta continue to find ways to serve our more than 120,000 customers in 130 countries better every day with the finest coatings, application systems and technology. For more information visit axaltacoatingsystems.com and follow us @axalta on Twitter.

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