Room A Seminars

UV radiation damages polymeric coating systems and substrates. UV Absorber additives are often included in coating formulations for protection. Traditional organic UV absorbers are consumed by exposure to solar radiation, limiting the lifetime of the coating. In contrast, inorganic UV absorbers are not consumed in situ, so extending the coating lifetime. Some inorganic UV absorbers are photoactive, generating radicals which degrade the coating.
Advanced inorganic UV absorbers based on cerium oxide nanoparticles are not photoactive and will not degrade the coating. Water and solvent based dispersions, both with uniform small particle size, allow transparency in coating films.

Most of us can agree that installing solar panels and generating renewable energy can be beneficial, not just for the environment, but the bank balance and company image too. Producing your own electricity and becoming less reliant on purchasing energy can also protect companies from external factors that heavily influence the cost of electricity, and increase competitiveness, ultimately due to lower energy costs. When it comes to choosing the correct system, there are numerous options, both in terms of hardware and how to finance the project, and we also must not forget ongoing maintenance.

This presentation will briefly explain the concept of solar energy and expand on the three main systems that are available, but it will also the two main ways to pay for a solar installation, as no one system or finance option will fit every situation. The presentation will draw upon practical experience of managing an installation from conception to realisation and detail some of the issues encountered and solutions provided to deliver a solar installation.

Roughness and chemistry dictate whether a surface behaves in an adhesive or an abhesive manner. This is critical if the objective is to generate an adhesive bond or a coating to adhere to a part or whether the aim is to have a surface to which contamination does not adhere. The interdependence of roughness and chemistry on these behaviours is subtle and whilst broad guidelines may well be sufficient in many cases, a deeper understanding can reveal the potential for limitations and opportunities to improve reproducibility and functional behaviour. The presentation will provide background to the assessment of roughness and wetting behaviour and how these behaviours influence each other, I will also discusses the need for integrated, multiscale characterisation and design strategies combining chemistry, topography, and mechanics to achieve predictable interfacial performance.

Weathering & light exposure are significant causes of damage to coatings, plastics, adhesives, sealants, and other organic materials. This damage includes gloss loss, fading, yellowing, cracking, peeling, embrittlement, loss of tensile strength, and delamination. For many manufacturers, it is crucial to formulate products that can withstand outdoor service environments. Accelerated weathering and light stability testers are widely used to provide information on material durability for research and development, quality control and material certification. Outdoor testing in benchmark locations such as Florida and Arizona is an important addition to accelerated testing as it provides realistic results by exposing test specimens to natural conditions. Testing outdoors provides comprehensive, accurate results by reproducing complex weathering patterns not easily duplicated in an accelerated laboratory environment.

A discussion on how companies in the solvents sector are trying to navigate an increasingly challenging environment, with over-capacity, increasing regulation and energy costs in Europe. It remains vital to operate safely and sustainably, to mitigate those risks and pressures, working with regulators to ensure safety but avoiding unnecessary regulatory burdens.

Companies must stay ahead of evolving and diverging regulations governing storage, transport, exposure limits, and environmental protection. This session will examine practical strategies for meeting safety challenges, implementing compliant handling and containment practices, and adopting innovative technologies that reduce operational risk. Through real-world case studies and expert perspectives, the panel will highlight how industry leaders are aiming to meet their challenges.

What attendees can expect from the session:

• An overview of the solvents sector and how this has evolved
• Emerging issues affecting the viability of the sector
• Signposting of resources such as the recently released safety film(s) and good practice guidance documents
• The importance of providing safety guidance across the sector
• Dealing with supply chain and security risks
• Divergence of regulation – how this is affecting the sector
• Following case studies examples
• Opportunities to ask questions

Chair: Bill Atkinson