In line with the rapid developments in Digital Technologies during the 21st century, the following innovations have started to appear in the Paint and Coating Inspection devices.
Interchangeable Measuring Probes
Some of the specialized companies operating in this field -especially in Europe and the US- come up with the different devices, gages and probes that offers measurement of different types of paints and coatings (i.e. soft and hard paints / coatings, anodized coatings) and for different substrates (i.e. aluminum, stainless, galvanized or carbon steel)
Figure 1: Paint film thickness gauge and interchangeable probes for different situations
Another striking development is the launch of a measuring gage with one advanced body capable of carrying multiple inspection tests buy just changing various probes.
For example, paints&coatings film thicknesses, metal surface roughness, temperature/humidity/dew point/wind speed, soluble salts on the surfaces, concrete moisture and material hardness and material wall thickness, can be measured with only one device with interchangeable probes.
Figure 2: Various inspection tests with a single body and multiple interchangeable probes
Wireless Data Transfer: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Cloud Computing
In line with wireless communication technologies such as Wi-Fi, W-Max, Bluetooth, and Cloud Computing, paint / coating inspection instrument manufacturers started to integrate these technologies into their devices.
Non-contact Paint/Coating Film Thickness Measurement
In recent years, one of the most practical technological developments in measuring devices in the paint / coating industry is the devices and equipment that can measure the NON- CONTACT measurement of paint / coating film thickness on the material remotely at a certain distance without touching the painted / coated surface.
The operating principle of these devices may be different from each other, but they are generally grouped around 3 main technologies:
1. Laser Optic Technology,
2. Thermal Optic Technology,
3. Ultrasonic Sound Technology.
Figure 3: Non-contact paint/coating thickness measurement gauges and measurement principles
Digital Paperless Reporting: Digitizing Reports
One of the most important technological developments that can increase the efficiency of the inspection processes is the technology of transferring to digital media with digital instrumentation / measurement devices instead of reporting with traditional pen and paper. In short, we can say call this as digitalization.
Resim 4: Electronic devices and Cloud Computing make paper-free (paperless) reporting possible for inspections
In this technology, a central computer program communicates digitally with instruments/gauges that measure the values of adhesion, temperature, humidity, surface roughness, hardness, brightness, color, etc., working in principle similar to the devices specified in the non-contact coating / coating film thickness measurement
paragraph, to digital storage centers (cloud computing).In this way, the inspection data will be collected more quickly in less time, and if necessary, the relevant people can quickly search the data and the necessary information can be found. Moreover, if a barcode scanner is integrated into this system, information such as the trade
name, the production year, the lot number of the surface preparation, paint and coating materials used can be quickly collected during the application and added to the reports in order to be reviewed later.
Laboratory Test Equipments – New Technologies
The most important improvement in this area is – instead of Traditional ASTM B117 Salt spray Corrosion Tests – more reliable Cyclical or Cyclic corrosion / weathering laboratory test equipment and related new test methods that reflect real life better under dynamic conditions, give better correlation values.
You can find more information in the bibliography section at the end of this article.1
Figure 5: Accelerated Tests, especially Cyclic Laboratory Test devices, are more reliable and close to real life results.
Along with these tests above, the following test equipments that help us understand the nature of the chemical we deal, high-tech devices such as Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FITR) and related test methods continue to be developed.
Occupational Health, Safety and Environment
The Paint and Coating Industry shifts from solvent-based technologies to solvent-free or water-based paints and coatings. Here, we will be talking about the paint / coating technologies that have unexpected properties in our lives or soon to be introduced:
Solvent-free Low VOC Paints/Coatings
Due to “Solvent Emissions Directive (SED)” or “California Air Resources Board (CARB)” published in the US and EU countries but worldwide recognized VOC regulations (Volatile Solvent Compound), the paints / coatings to be produced / used are started to be required to have a much lower solvent content (lower than 100 g /
L). This VOC reduction action can be achieved by using new technology raw materials in old type paint / coating materials such as Epoxy, Polyurethane, as well as by the new type of hybrid / hybrid or bio-functional paint / coating materials mentioned above.
Odor-removing Paints / Coatings
Thanks to the paint technology with Odor-removal technology, odors of organic origin can be suppressed in the following way: When odor molecules in the air come into contact with the painted surface, the odor-fighting compound in the paint is exposed and the odor is neutralized by the drying paint.
The odor-removing effect herein is naturally dependent on the amount of the compound, the severity of the exposure and the area size of the surface to be painted.
Micro-biocidal Paints & Coatings
It is a new paint / coating technology that can be used to kill certain germs and bacteria.
This can be done by the chemicals in the general group of “Quaternary Ammonium Compounds”, as these chemicals are used as disinfectants in the health sector. The areas of use of such paints can be places that require hygiene, such as hospitals, nursing homes.
Vocational / Professional Training New Technologies
We can classify the developments in this field as new technologies of vocational qualifications and certification, distant electronic education technology and innovative vocational training devices.
Vocational / Professional Qualifications and Certifications
In parallel with the increasing notion of standardization in the USA, Europe and Japan in recent years and the importance of professional qualifications and certification concepts in each business line, the Vocational Qualifications Authority in Turkey, namely MYK, has been established in our country and the qualifications and related certification for each professional certification process. Further information can be found in the reference section at the end of this article.
2
Accordingly, the certification studies in the Paint & Coatings Industry in Turkey continues in parallel with the European Union’s EFQ (European Framework for Qualifications), the new professional standards and documents are published. These documents can be found in the reference section of this article.
3,4
Distance Learning Technology
Other professional learning methods in industry; learning through mobile electronic devices such as computers and tablets, mobile phones, i.e. Online Education technology.
This type of non-formal vocational / professional training is being carried out by many professional organizations in Europe and the USA. ICORR, NACE, SSPC and PRA are professional organizations.
ICORR: Institute of Corrosion
NACE: National Association of Corrosion Engineers
SSPC: Society for Protective Coatings
PRA: Paint Research Association
Alternatively, it is called webinar, a combination of Web and Seminar words, which are related to only one subject and relatively shorter in the form of online, on-the-job (online) presentations. NACE and SSPC associations have also been published and published several webinars for paint and coating industry.
Virtual Reality Professional Training Equipments
Perhaps the most groundbreaking and useful invention in this area is the use of Simulation and Virtual Reality technologies in the professional training of Painting occupation.
In this regard, certain companies in the United States develop simulation programs for educational purposes and publicize them for general use by making agreements with professional associations and firms.
Thus, in a clean and safe environment away from the dangerous conditions in the field conditions, paintings and sandblasting applications can be performed virtually without using any material (such as abrasive, paint).
Electronic Applications for Mobile Communication Devices
Especially in the last 10-15 years, there has been tremendous developments in mobile communication devices such as mobile phones and tablets, and the operating systems of these devices, which most of in the Painting and Coating field are using on a Daily basis.
For example, almost all chemical raw materials and end-product manufacturers with equipment & device manufacturers in this sector, provide mobile apps to simplify their processes and to publicize their products and Technologies by the use of Internet.
In addition, most of the technical societies and organization in Painting, Coating and Corrosion field do provide mobile apps in order to inform its members about their organizational developments and to share professional technical information.
In Conclusion
In these series of articles, the major trends and new technologies in the Painting and Coating industry have been discussed herein. These trends and new technologies are eventually leading to new changes and -most of the time- improvements that makes the companies more profitable and us more efficient and more successful.
Of course, the technologies mentioned here may not cover all the developments all over the world. However, we tried to examine the technologies that are prominent in the Paint and Coating sector and which bring great benefits.
Further information can be accessed from the sources and the links in the reference section below. Wishing you good days and all the best with your business. Goodbye…
PCS. Tolga Dıraz
Chemical Engineer
Protective Coating Specialist
TUCSA TK-4 Surface Protection Committee Chair
References
1. http://www.korozyondoktoru.org/hizlandirilmis-korozyon-ve-yaslandirma-testleri-boyalar-ve-kaplamlar-icin/
2. https://www.dunya.com/gundem/mesleki-egitim-ve-sertifikasyonun-global-endustrideki-yeri-ve-turkiye- haberi-303244)
3. http://portal.myk.gov.tr/index.php?option=com_meslek_std_taslak&view=taslak_listesi_yeni&msd=2
4. https://portal.myk.gov.tr/index.php?option=com_belgelendirme&view=belgelendirme_islemleri&layout=aday_bilgi_sorgu
5. The March of Technology: A Review of Recent Articles on Coatings and Related Materials - D+D In Depth October 2016 - Harold Hower, Founder & Contributing Editor
6. Regulations in Coatings Work: Key Developments Over 30 Years - JPCL Three Decades of Change in the Coatings Industry 2013 Special Issue - Alison B. Kaelin, CQA, ABKaelin, LLC
