Keywords
Citation
(2000), "BMS and PC heads EC research programme", Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Vol. 47 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/acmm.2000.12847aab.007
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2000, MCB UP Limited
BMS and PC heads EC research programme
Keywords Bristol Metal Spraying & Protective Coatings, Coatings, Testing, Corrosion prevention, Marine corrosion
Industrial coatings specialists Bristol Metal Spraying & Protective Coatings Ltd, Est. 1935, has been chosen to manage a Craft Project (Co-operative Research Award initiative) sponsored by the European Commission. This two-year project, headed by Mr Paul Kirby of DERA, an agency of the MOD at Farnborough, is aimed at developing more accurate accelerated corrosion tests for marine protective coatings. The development of new corrosion tests would lead to significant improvements in testing efficiency, coatings selection and quality control, and lead to more rapid introduction of environmentally acceptable coatings. Marine based industries are extensive and in the European Union alone they are responsible for employing 2.5 million people and represent a market worth over 300 billion ECU.
BMS&PC is working closely with five European companies, C&W Specialist Equipment Ltd - Shropshire, NV Lippens (BE) - Belgium, Sycopel Scientific Ltd - Tyne & Wear, VTA(DE) - Germany, Aero Coating GmbH - Germany, TNO Institute - The Netherlands, and Marintek - Norway.
Project partner C&W are currently developing a cabinet that can simulate most climatic conditions. The results from tests will be compared with samples tested in the field at sites in the LJK, Norway and The Netherlands.
The results of these tests will be assessed by DERA, Marintek and TNO, three of Europe's largest testing institutes. It is hoped that a new and reliable method of cabinet testing will be instrumental in the production of "greener" coatings for introduction into the marketplace quicker and at far less cost. This will ultimately lead to a reduction in the emissions of solvents that are responsible for damaging the ozone layer.
It is hoped that this project will provide the EU with a lead in this vital area of research, an area that up to now has been traditionally dominated by the USA.