4 challenges for powder coatings

China Coatings Network
:
powder coatings
more than 60 years of development in China, about 30 years of development history. Because powders
are
-friendly compared to solvent-based coatings, and because of their excellent performance, they have been widely favored since their inception. In China, 1990-2010 was a time of rapid development. However, in recent years, the development rate of powder coatings has slowed down significantly, even lower than the development rate of the entire coating. This paper does some analysis of the challenges faced by powder coatings such as environmental challenges, other coating challenges, technical challenges, and low-cost competition challenges.
with the progress of society, people cherish the earth environment on which human beings depend, and the restrictions on chemical substances that affect human health are becoming more and more strict. Countries and groups are constantly enacting new regulations and regulations to limit chemical substances that are harmful to human health. Below is a list of the regulations and restricted chemicals that we often encounter in the field of powder coatings.
RoHS Directive: Lead (Pb), Mercury (Hg), Cadmium (Cd), 6-price chromium (Cr6 plus), PBBs, PBDEs (PBDEs).
REACH regulations ("Registration, e
valuation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals, chemical registration, evaluation, licensing and restrictions") are EU regulations for the preventive management of all chemicals entering its market. EuroREACH Regulation 144 SVHC (high-interest substance Substances of Very High Co
ncern).
TGIC: "Some industries phase out backward production process equipment and product guidance catalog (2010 this)" which lists 64 points: isocyanate containing triglycerides (TGIC) powder coatings. Directory of Alternatives to Toxic and Harmful Ingredients (Products) Encouraged by the State (2012), article 77 of which refers to the replacement of TGIC with Primid (β-hydroxyamide).
problems after Primid's replacement: thick membrane pinhole problem, yellowing problem, boiling problem, etc.
: In recent years, the use of organo tin compounds has received great attention. Organic tin compounds used in consumer products have been shown to be harmful to human health, especially in children. Reported health hazards include potential harm to the liver and kidneys, potential damage to bio-chemical processes such as hema production mechanisms, and potential damage to the enzyme system. At present, the main raw material of powder coating polyester resin synthesis catalyst is basically organic tin catalyst, the most common organotin catalyst is butyl tin (DBT)
BPA: the English name bisphenol A, referred to as bisphenol propane (BPA). is a known endocrine interferon (environmental hormone).
plasticizers: Phthalates are used as plasticizers, of which phthalates (DOP) or (DEHP) are the most important varieties, animal experiments have found that phthalates can interfere with the endocrine system, with estrogen and anti-androgen effects
different regulations: different countries, different industries and different companies have related to non-permeable harmful substances. However, most refer to the RoHS Directive and REACH regulations. Examples: Children's Toy Standard, IKEA Standard, EU EN71-3, North American ASTM F963-03, China GB 6675-03. Table 1 is the limit of hazardous substances in Table
1 EN71-3 from EN71-3
Liquid coatings are a direct challenge for powder coatings, some with excellent performance and some with environmentally friendly coatings.
Fluorocarbon paint
: Although there is a large number of organic solvent release (generally 50% solid content), environmental pollution and adverse to workers' health, but at present in the Chinese market fluorocarbon paint price of 80 yuan / kg, merchants have declared compliance with METALCOAT 3.
UV paint
: Although UV paint can not be too thick at a time spray, especially some colors such as brown film thick when not easy to cure, but transparent paint has a large hardness, good wear resistance, good transparency, product scratch resistance, good friction resistance.
water-based coatings
: Although water-based coatings on the surface treatment of iron substrates is a difficult problem, spray processing time is much longer than powder coatings, in general, coating strength is not as good as powder coatings. But it is also an environmentally friendly coating, and the plumpness leveling is better than powder coatings
order nano-coatings: although still in its infancy, it has shown excellent performance in corrosion resistance, ultra-strong weather resistance and hydrophobic properties, and is water-based coatings.
inor
ceramic
: although to cure above 800 degrees C, but resistant to high temperature, high hardness.
addition to the challenges from liquid coatings, the main challenges come from technology:
leveling: the leveling of the coating film is an important feature of the decorative effect. Because the melt viscosity of powder coating in melt flow curing is much bigger than that of liquid coating, so far the level of powder coating is not up to the level of liquid coating, so in the automotive paint has not used powder coating
The other is that many thermal substrates such as MDF, plastics, etc. need to be cured at low temperatures. At present, the general curing condition is 10min@200 degrees C. The epoxy system can be 10min@130 at a temperature of 10 degrees Celsius. However, the weather resistance level coupled with the low-light effect is difficult to 10min@160 than 10 degrees Celsius curing.
Metallic effect of liquid metal paint: in liquid paint metal pigments can be added to 30%, and in powder coatings due to the difference between metal pigments and low powder charge, metal pigments such as aluminum powder added to more than 5% is difficult to spray.
it is not fully understood that There are more than 3000 Chinese powder coating manufacturers, mostly small workshop-style, very small operating costs, on the basis of formula costs plus 2000 yuan / ton can be. Raw material prices are low to earn more points, raw material prices are too high products and can not increase prices to stop do not do. In this way, large enterprises generally can not do.
price competition is already the product of market economy. But some of the price competition in China's powder coatings industry is vicious. Lower prices some fillers add more, resin with less, the use of various means to reduce costs. This affects the overall reputation of powder coatings.