This article provides a detailed discussion on the principal classes and curatives of epoxy resins used in the coatings industry. The principal classes are bisphenol A epoxy, bisphenol F epoxy, epoxy phenol novolac, cycloaliphatic epoxies, epoxy acrylate, brominated bisphenol-A-based epoxy, phosphorus-containing epoxy, fluorinated epoxies, epoxy esters, epoxy phosphate esters, and waterborne epoxy. The principal curatives are amines, amine adducts, cyanoethylated amines, ketimines, polyoxyalkylene amines, cycloaliphatic amines, aromatic amines, polyamides, amido amines, and dicyandiamides. Other curatives include polyester co-polymers, phenolic co-polymers, melamine and urea formaldehyde co-polymer resins, phosphate flame retardants, ultraviolet and electron beam curing of epoxy resins, Mannich bases, Mannich-based adducts, and anhydrides. The article concludes by discussing the concerns regarding the use of epoxy coatings.

This article discusses the three basic elements of an epoxy resin formulation that must be understood when selecting a thermoset system. These include base resins, epoxy resin curatives, and modifiers. The article provides examples of epoxy resin formulations that illustrate how raw materials are combined to tailor a formulation to a specific application. It concludes with a discussion on general guidelines for the safe handling of epoxy resins and their associated products.

This article discusses the major methods of elemental analysis, namely, the combustion method for carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen; the Kjeldahl method for nitrogen; and the Schoniger flask method for other common elements. It also discusses the methods of functional group analysis for acids, alcohols, aldehydes and ketones, amines, esters, aromatic hydrocarbons, peroxides, phenols, water (Karl Fischer method), and alkenes.

Two-component polyurea elastomeric coating/lining systems are the newest technology in the protective coating/lining industry and a wide variety of applications have been developed. These include coating/lining applications over concrete, geotextile membranes, various metals for corrosion and decorative areas, and some plastics. This article discusses the formulation basics of polyurea technology and compares the technology to that of polyurethane and polyurethane/polyurea systems. It addresses performance issues and describes application processing considerations and safety practices of polyurea coating/lining systems.

This article discusses the coating systems categorized by the generic type of binder or resin and grouped according to the curing or hardening mechanism inherent within that generic type. It focuses on the properties, advantages, and limitations of various autooxidative cross-linked resins, thermoplastic resins, and cross-linked thermosetting resins. The autooxidative cross-linked resins include alkyd resins and epoxy esters. The article examines the two types of coatings based on thermoplastic resins: those deposited by evaporation of a solvent, commonly called lacquers, and those deposited by evaporation of water, a class of coatings called water-borne coatings. The coatings that chemically cross link by copolymerization, including epoxies, unsaturated polyesters, urethanes, high-temperature curing silicones, and phenolic linings, are also described.

Polyurethane is any polymer consisting of a chain of repeating organic units joined by urethane linkages. Polyurethane polymers are formed through step-growth polymerization by making a monomer containing at least two isocyanate functional groups to react with another monomer containing at least two hydroxyl (alcohol) groups. This article provides a detailed account of the protective coatings used in the building, infrastructure, and architectural markets. It focuses on the various types of polyurethane coatings used in these applications: moisture-cure and two-pack aromatic coatings as primers and topcoats, moisture-cure aromatic elastomeric high-build coatings, moisture-cure aliphatic topcoats, two-pack aliphatic polyurethane coatings as topcoats, and one- and two-pack polyurethane dispersion coatings as sealers and topcoats. It also includes a section on the health effects of isocyanates.

This article discusses the definitions, classifications, structural features, vapor pressure values, corrosion inhibition mechanisms, and methods of evaluation of vapor-phase-corrosion inhibitors or volatile corrosion inhibitors (VCIs). Practical methods of using VCIs for corrosion protection of aluminum, ferrous, and nonferrous alloys are discussed with specific examples. The article contains tables that summarize the applications of different VCIs used for protecting ferrous metals, copper and its alloys, and silver.

Bitumen for coating usage can best be categorized as two fundamental but very different types: asphalts and coal tars. This article provides a detailed discussion on asphalt and coal tar hot-melt applications; asphalt and coal tar emulsions; asphalt and coal tar cutbacks; and coal tar epoxies. It reviews the similarities between asphaltic and coal tar coatings and discusses the health and environmental concerns of these materials.

Additives for plastics and elastomers are used to increase the ease of processing and to improve the properties of the final product. Additives improve processing characteristics by increasing lubricity and by stabilizing the polymer. Additives that improve properties include those that decrease static charge development and microbial activity and those that improve flame retardation characteristics, color, light stability, impact resistance, density and mechanical properties. This article focuses on the additives for polymers and elastomers that are used for improving processing--blowing agents, mold-release agents, lubricants, plasticizers, and heat stabilizers--and for improving properties antimicrobials, antioxidants, antistatic agents, colorants, fillers and fiber reinforcements, flame retardants, impact modifiers, light stabilizers, plasticizers, and heat stabilizers. Furthermore, it discusses the method for addition of these additives and the problems faced during compounding.

A coating can be defined as a substance spread over a surface to provide protection or to serve decorative purposes. This article discusses two industrial coating components, namely, nonvolatile components such as the resin or binder, pigments, and any additives that may be incorporated into the formulation; and volatile components such as solvents, or water in emulsions and their composition. It provides general information on volatile organic compounds. The article describes the film-forming mechanisms of various coating types, namely, lacquers, chemically converting coatings, latex coatings, alkyds and other resins, which cure by oxidation, moisture-curing polyurethanes and inorganic zinc primers, and powder coatings. The article concludes with a discussion on the functions of the primer, intermediate coat, and topcoat in coating systems.

The function of lubricants is to control friction and wear in a lubricating system containing machine elements such as gears and bearings. This article discusses the basic properties of lubricants to help scientists and engineers understand the principles behind lubricant selection. It reviews the functions of additives, such as friction modifiers, antiwear additives, viscosity modifiers, corrosion inhibitors, oxidation inhibitors, dispersants, and detergents. The article discusses the physical properties of liquid lubricants and the performance characteristics of lubricants. It describes the most common lubricant categories and provides information on the health and safety aspects of using liquid lubricants. The article concludes with a discussion on the lubricant-application method that plays a vital role in how the lubricant functions.

A thermosetting resin, or thermoset, is a synthetic organic polymer that cures to a solid, infusible mass by forming a three-dimensional network of covalent chemical bonds. Significant applications include construction and thermoset engineering plastics. This article discusses the general and family characteristics of thermosetting resin families, including allyls, aminos (urea formaldehyde and melamine formaldehyde), cyanates, epoxies, polybenzimidazoles, unsaturated polyesters, thermoset polyimides, phenolics, and vinyl esters. It also explains processing methods, including curing and curing agents. The article provides descriptions of commercial product forms and the wide array of applications of thermosetting resins. It also tabulates the performance properties (mechanical, thermal, electrical and chemical resistance) of some families of unfilled or unreinforced thermosetting resins and reinforced or filled grades.

This article describes the types of fabrics and preforms used in the manufacture of advanced composites and related selection, design, manufacturing, and performance considerations. The types of fabrics and preforms include unidirectional and two-directional fabrics; multidirectionally reinforced fabrics; hybrid fabrics; woven fabric prepregs; unidirectional and multidirectional tape prepregs; and the prepreg tow. The article discusses three major categories of tape manufacturing processes, namely, the hand lay-up, machine-cut patterns that are laid up by hand, and the automatic machine lay-up. It provides a description of the two classes of prepregs. These include those that are suitable for high-performance applications and suitable for lower-performance molding compounds.

This article provides an overview of the interfacial interactions with a lubricant film between a die and a metal, lubricant mechanisms, chemistry, qualification testing, application methods, and property test methods. It focuses on sheet metal-forming operations, although the discussions are relevant to metal-forming operations in general. The article also deals with lubricant selection as influenced by the metal to be formed and particular sheet-metal forming operations. The article also discusses some aspects of microbiology and toxicity in lubricants.

This article provides information on the municipal wastewater system components such as piping, pump stations, headworks, clarifiers, aeration structures, digesters, biosolids dewatering equipment, and sludge stabilization. It explains the major corrosion damage mechanisms to which those component parts of the system are exposed. It presents useful guidelines for selecting and using protective coatings in municipal sewerage collection systems and water reclamation facilities in wastewater treatment plants. The article includes annotated flow diagrams of a wastewater collection system, wastewater treatment plants, and spreadsheets listing the most widely used generic coating systems by structure and substrate material. It concludes with a section on quality watchouts when selecting or using protective coatings in municipal wastewater systems.

This article discusses bismaleimide (BMI) chemistry and the use of BMI in composites. An analysis of the applications illustrates how the advantages of BMIs have been exploited and perhaps suggests how these advantages might be extended to other applications. The article describes the mechanical properties of BMI composites. BMIs suitable for resin transfer molding processing are provided. The article concludes with information on the elevated-temperature applications of 5250-4 BMI system.

An alkyd is an ester-based polymer derived from the polycondensation reaction of polyhydric alcohol and polybasic acid. This article provides useful information on the chemistry, production, coating formulations, modification, commercial products, and application methods of alkyd resins. It also provides a section on drying oil, which is used in the manufacture of resins. The article describes the three categories of metals that have been used in drier compounds: primary driers (active or oxidation driers), secondary driers (through-driers), and auxiliary driers. It also provides information on the oil length of an alkyd resin and on solvents, which play a critical role in the formulation and use of the coating. The article concludes with a description of the concerns that a user, specifier, or applicator should be aware of when using alkyd coatings.

This article describes high-performance liquid chromatography and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography that are used to separate and quantify the chemical components in any sample that can be dissolved in a liquid. This includes pharmaceutical drugs, medicinal plant extracts, food constituents, flavors, fragrances, industrial chemicals, pesticides, and pollutants. Readers are introduced to the most commonly employed mode, reverse-phase chromatography, with examples and an exclusive focus on commercially available instruments and consumables. The discussion covers the various processes involved in liquid chromatography, including assessing a separation of sample components, adjusting the mobile phase, choosing the stationary phase, optimizing a separation, preparing real samples, and analyzing complex samples.