New millennium coatings research

Citation

Bean, J. (2000), "New millennium coatings research", Pigment & Resin Technology, Vol. 29 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/prt.2000.12929aaa.001

New millennium coatings research

Keywords Coatings, United Kingdom, Measurement

The UK's National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is the main centre for a new materials measurement programme supported by the Department of Trade and Industry. Characterisation and performance of materials (CPM) invites collaboration with industry in order to gain a better understanding of how increased knowledge of the behaviour of materials will allow UK companies to achieve a competitive advantage. Scheduled for completion in 2002, research encompasses five project areas:

1. 1.

   coatings;

2. 2.

   polymeric materials;

3. 3.

   biomaterials;

4. 4.

   ceramics and hard materials; and

5. 5.

   functional materials.

A number of research projects are planned for the coatings part of the programme. These include tests that will be conducted on the adhesion of coatings to evaluate existing methods of measurement. The projects will also investigate improving and developing new kinds of measurement techniques for use in the coatings application industry.

The other main areas that will be covered include the investigation of the mechanical properties of coatings, residual stress, and abrasion, wear and erosion to improve the performance of various coatings in current use. The properties of surface layers and multi-layered coatings will also be examined to increase the performance of coatings.

In the project area dealing with polymeric materials, computer-based design packages are being increasingly used for predicting the performance of manufactured components, yet these packages tend to be based on models generally not applicable to plastics. There is a need for increased research in order to provide more information and improve data, thereby enhancing performance accuracy.

Details: Centre for Measurement and Technology, National Physical Laboratory, Queen's Road, Teddington, Middlesex TW11 0LW, UK. Tel: +44 (0) 120 8943 6701. Fax: +44 (0) 120 8943 7160.