SILICON-BASED RESIN TECHNOLOGY FOR HIGH-TEMPERATURE POWDER COATINGS.docVIP

SILICON-BASED RESIN TECHNOLOGY FOR HIGH-TEMPERATURE POWDER COATINGS Early Silicon-Based Technologies Extreme Temperature Service Manufacturing and Cure Mechanism Maximizing Thermal Properties Trends The powder-coatings industry has grown in response to the need for environmentally compliant coating technologies (materials and processes), a trend driven primarily by OEMs. The resulting formulations have demonstrated improved performance and cost effectiveness over traditional solvent- and water-based systems. Many of the top powder-coating supplier strategies in North America have evolved around a major market focus, such as automotive or appliance. Other companies operate from a primary technology platform, usually either organics, such as epoxy and polyester resins, or synthetics, such as silicon-based technologies (SBTs). Powder coatings formulated with SBTs demonstrate the excellent thermal and ultraviolet (UV) resistance of these synthetic polymers, but organic resins generally have a cost advantage. This often leads to the use of organic/synthetic blends that are tailored for specific service conditions. Most applications requiring exposure to service temperatures of about 400 degrees F and above are good candidates for SBT resin formulations. Typical products include barbecue grills, wood stoves, fireplace inserts and reflective light fixtures. Even within specific market segments, there is variation among performance requirements and cost parameters. Among gas barbecue grills, for example, the range extends from a low-end product costing less than $150 to a top-of-the-line model with a price tag around $1,500. Each product/application along this spectrum has specific performance and economic considerations. Only applications requiring maximum heat resistance from a powder coating will use a formulation containing virtually 100% silicone resin as the binder. Because the service temperatures of many grill applications do not require the performance of