Comparing Industrial Coating Cure Methods

Share on:

Published On: 08.07.2024

Curing methods and rates can have a big impact on coating selection and formulation. “Curing,” as it relates to industrial coatings, is the chemical process of a coating bonding to a substrate and becoming fully hardened for use. Factors like application method, environment/climate, cost, substrate, desired finish, throughput, and end-use of the product all come into play when determining the desired curing method. Different industrial coatings perform better or worse depending on the desired (or required) curing method, so it’s important to consider curing method in the coating selection process.

Following is a comparison of common industrial coating curing methods.

HEAT CURING
Oven Baking: Coated objects are placed in ovens where heat is applied at a controlled temperature for a specific duration. This method is effective for solvent-based coatings, water-based coatings, and powder coatings. Chemistries of baked coatings include alkyds, acrylics, and polyesters that are blended with melamine. They can also be phenolics and epoxies that are cured with high temperatures.

Infrared Curing: Infrared radiation is used to heat the painted surface directly, accelerating curing. It’s faster than oven baking and often used for heat-sensitive substrates.

Heat Lamps: Heat lamps emit focused heat onto the painted surface, speeding up curing. This method is commonly used for localized curing or touch-ups.

AIR DRYING
Natural Air Drying: Painted objects are left to dry in ambient air, allowing solvents and water to evaporate and the paint film to cure. This method is slower but suitable for many coatings and conditions. Chemistries of coatings suitable for air drying can vary from solvent-based and water-based alkyds, acrylics, hydrocarbons, lacquers, and epoxy esters.

Forced Air Drying: Fans or blowers are used to accelerate air circulation around painted objects, expediting solvent and water evaporation. In some cases, customers use low-temperature heat when circulating the air to further speed up the cure. This method is more efficient than natural air drying.

CHEMICAL CURING
Catalyzed Curing: Some paints contain chemical catalysts or hardeners that initiate curing when different products are mixed during or prior to the coating application process. This method provides rapid curing and excellent coating durability for both primer and topcoat finishes. Typical chemistries of catalyzed coatings are epoxies and urethanes.

UV Curing: Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is used to initiate photochemical reactions in certain coatings, leading to immediate curing. UV curing is precise and energy-efficient but requires UV-curable chemistries and proper coating application.

ELECTRON BEAM (EB) CURING
Electron beams are used to initiate polymerization reactions in certain coatings, resulting in rapid curing. EB curing offers high-speed curing without heat and is suitable for heat-sensitive substrates.

MOISTURE CURING
Moisture-curable coatings use atmospheric moisture to initiate curing reactions. They are often used for outdoor applications or in humid environments where moisture is readily available.

DUAL-CARE SYSTEMS
Combining methods: Some advanced systems combine two or more curing methods to leverage their advantages. For example, combining UV curing with heat or moisture curing can enhance curing speed and performance.

FINDING THE BEST COATING
Each industrial coating curing method has its advantages and limitations, and the selection of which method to use depends on specific OEM requirements, goals, and application constraints. The technicians and scientists at Sheboygan Paint Company are experienced in working with customers to formulate an industrial coating that fits their precise requirements for curing and other coating characteristics. Contact us at 800.773.7801 to discuss how we can meet your industrial coating needs.

News & Press

HAVE SOMETHING ON YOUR MIND?

Get in touch

Date Posted: 10/24/2022 Job Title: Associate Chemist Location: Sheboygan, WI Reports To: R&D Group Leader Job Category/Department: R&D Travel Required: < 10% Position Type: Salary Job Purpose: We are looking for a dedicated, analytically minded and detail-oriented Associate Chemist to conduct performance testing on paint, evaluate raw material offset opportunities, and prepare samples to support quality activities. Will conduct research and explore how products, processes, and equipment may be improved, and should be dedicated to improving processes and products while furthering scientific knowledge to drive profitable requirements. Must have some knowledge of paint testing and an awareness for testing methodologies and equipment. The Associate Chemist will work closely with team members on paint formulation and testing, as well as analytical and continuous improvement projects on a day-to-day basis. Must have enthusiasm for the task in hand and a willingness to work under pressure to meet deadlines and drive quality metrics, while working in a safe and responsible manner, always. They will wear and use correct personal protective equipment where and when laid down by the company and will follow company health and safety and environmental procedures and reporting guidelines. The job holder will also be required to train on any computer software as designated by the company. Primary Duties and Deliverables, with guidance from R&D Leadership:

Formulation and Testing
- Execute benchmarking studies of products. Interprets and clearly communicate results
- Conduct investigations of product complaints.
- Perform testing from standard procedures.
- Prepare test formulations, conducting tests and advising and coordinating test procedures.

Communication
- Record and organize projects in an electronic format

Safety and Maintenance
- Clean, maintain, and store testing tools and equipment
- Evaluate testing protocols and suggest improvements
- Clean and maintain laboratory instruments and equipment, making sure that all the technology is working correctly, if it isn’t, troubleshoot the issue or problem. Conduct quality control tests to ensure no compounds or equipment are contaminated
- Follow all company and governmental safety procedures
- Additional Responsibilities, as requested
  - Interact cross-functionally with other departments and sites to support or modify existing products to drive efficiency, profitability and quality, including, but not limited to:
    - Work in the laboratory and assist in the direction of the activities of one or more technicians.
    - Consult with R&D, Operations Personnel, and Technical Support Service on the analysis, interpretation of defects and optimization of tests and processes
    - Assist to solve manufacturing/scale-up issues to support quality operations.
    - Assist in evaluating and ensuring laboratory safety procedures and standards compliance

Core Competencies:

Active Listening: Listening accurately and confirming the concern or goal state is essential to solving the correct problem:
- Ask questions to confirm you understood the concern, goal state, current state, and timeline and align on a plan
- Demonstrate active listening, by recording accurate situation appraisal notes, with clearly annotated follow up plans.

Good communication: Communicating with others effectively, and in a timely manner is crucial. Ability to communicate respectfully and concisely via diverse modes:
- Verbally in person and virtually
- Written by note taking, email, report and specification writing, teams instant messaging, and PowerPoint
- technically through spreadsheets, and other analytical tools

Collaboration and Continuous Learning: Collaboration is key in a quality facing role. Inspire confidence and trust by being dependable and honest, having high standards for quality and punctuality of work. Have and intrinsic and enthusiastic drive to support team goals, with a positive attitude and passion for innovation, continuous learning and application of new skills and concepts. Be open to learning new chemistries, analysis techniques and softwares, and project management disciplines

Critical thinking and problem-solving: Identifying problems, root causes, and possible solutions is a focus of this role. Before choosing a solution, objectively evaluate each option and present the most effective solution for review. Logical approach to judgement and decision making based on original thinking, direct experience, and high quality, independently verifiable evidence.

Time management: This team has many different accountabilities. There are many different types of projects, many deadlines, so being able to manage and record time well to punctually meet those deadlines and summarize time by project is a key skill.

Analytical: This team is highly data driven. At times we will work with very compact data sets and use math to extrapolate new, larger solutions, quickly. At other times, we will use analytics to look through large datasets and interpolate opportunities, thus, having an flexible and analytical mind is essential to our success.

Organizational skills: This role is very process and results oriented. We are also called to answer complex problems quickly. Keeping track of input and output data and documenting all processes and observations and being able to retrieve this work swiftly calls for strong organizational skills.

Perseverance and Endurance: Finding a new solution, optimizing a process, or aligning a group of people to a common solution, can take a lot of effort, time, repeated experimentation, and determination. All of these are key skills for a Chemist to possess.

Scientific and numerical skills: A Chemist must be good at mathematics, and order of operations, to correctly apply formulas in experiments and document them correctly.

Required Qualifications:

Active Listening: Listening accurately and confirming the concern or goal state is essential to solving the correct problem:
- Ask questions to confirm you understood the concern, goal state, current state, and timeline and align on a plan
- Demonstrate active listening, by recording accurate situation appraisal notes, with clearly annotated follow up plans.
Good communication: Communicating with others effectively, and in a timely manner is crucial. Ability to communicate respectfully and concisely via diverse modes:
- Verbally in person and virtually
- Written by note taking, email, report and specification writing, teams instant messaging, and PowerPoint
- technically through spreadsheets, and other analytical tools
Collaboration and Continuous Learning: Collaboration is key in a quality facing role. Inspire confidence and trust by being dependable and honest, having high standards for quality and punctuality of work. Have and intrinsic and enthusiastic drive to support team goals, with a positive attitude and passion for innovation, continuous learning and application of new skills and concepts. Be open to learning new chemistries, analysis techniques and softwares, and project management disciplines.
Critical thinking and problem-solving: Identifying problems, root causes, and possible solutions is a focus of this role. Before choosing a solution, objectively evaluate each option and present the most effective solution for review. Logical approach to judgement and decision making based on original thinking, direct experience, and high quality, independently verifiable evidence.
Time management: This team has many different accountabilities. There are many different types of projects, many deadlines, so being able to manage and record time well to punctually meet those deadlines and summarize time by project is a key skill.
Analytical: This team is highly data driven. At times we will work with very compact data sets and use math to extrapolate new, larger solutions, quickly. At other times, we will use analytics to look through large datasets and interpolate opportunities, thus, having an flexible and analytical mind is essential to our success.
Organizational skills: This role is very process and results oriented. We are also called to answer complex problems quickly. Keeping track of input and output data and documenting all processes and observations and being able to retrieve this work swiftly calls for strong organizational skills.
Perseverance and Endurance: Finding a new solution, optimizing a process, or aligning a group of people to a common solution, can take a lot of effort, time, repeated experimentation, and determination. All of these are key skills for a Chemist to possess.
Scientific and numerical skills: A Chemist must be good at mathematics, and order of operations, to correctly apply formulas in experiments and document them correctly

Preferred Qualifications (considers the following attributes and skills to be highly desirable)

B.S. Degree in physical science (chemistry, chemical engineering, coatings or closely related field) and 2 years formulating experience in industry.
Knowledge paint formulation, application, catalysis, cure, and general property testing is required
Preference towards collaborating on group projects rather than individual projects, strongly preferred

Comparing Industrial Coating Cure Methods

Recent Updates

Sheboygan Paint Company Appoints Human Resources Director

Comparing Industrial Coating Cure Methods

Sheboygan Paint Company Acquires Bradley Coatings Group

Sheboygan Paint Company Named to “Top 25” by PCI Magazine

Liquid Coating Basics

Sheboygan Paint Company Announces New Chairman of the Board

Sheboygan Paint Company Names New Director of Sales & Marketing

Sheboygan Paint Company Adds New Technical Service Representative

Get in touch

ATTRIBUTES

Coating Systems

WATER-BASED SYSTEMS

SOLVENT-BASED SYSTEMS