Coating coalescence

P. H. Fitzgerald, N. O. Wolf, C. R. Clark, and D. P. Cords. Emulsion breaking using alkylphenol-polyethylene oxide-acrylate polymer coated coalescer material. Patent US 5156767, 1992. 

Many epoxy dispersions are compatible with most types of latex emulsions including acrylic, urethane, styrene butadiene, vinyl chloride, and polyvinyl acetate. The epoxy dispersion can be used as a modifier for these emulsions to alter handling and application characteristics such as emulsion rheology, foaming tendencies, pH sensitivity, wetting properties, and coating coalescence. They can also be reacted into the latex resin either by reacting the epoxy with a functionalized latex or by use of an epoxy with a coreactant. In this way adhesive systems can be formulated that are cured at room or elevated temperatures. 

Figure 12. Coated urea granule show- Figure 13. Exterior surface of a coating coalescence of sulfur droplets on ing with intergranular pores and poor the exterior surface mosaic texture...

Clear coatings coalesced with diethylene glycol monobutyl ether demonstrate improved flow and wetting characteristics, especially on plastics. Hte use of coalescents such as butyl diglycol acetate should be avoided, as they are susceptible to alkaline hydrolysis. 

Emulsion polymerization also has the advantages of good heat transfer and low viscosity, which follow from the presence of the aqueous phase. The resulting aqueous dispersion of polymer is called a latex. The polymer can be subsequently separated from the aqueous portion of the latex or the latter can be used directly in eventual appUcations. For example, in coatings applications-such as paints, paper coatings, floor pohshes-soft polymer particles coalesce into a continuous film with the evaporation of water after the latex has been applied to the substrate. 

Flame spray metallising is widely used for the protection of metal against corrosion, especially for in situ protection of stmctural members. The principal metal used for spraying of plastics is sine. Aluminum and copper are also used. If the distance from the part is too great, the zinc solidifies before it touches the part and adhesion is extremely poor. If the molten zinc oxidizes, conductivity and adhesion are poor. If the distance is too short, the zinc is too hot and the plastic warps or degrades. These coatings are not as dense as electrically deposited coatings because of numerous pores, oxide inclusions, and discontinuities where particles have incompletely coalesced. 

Suspension Polymerization. Suspension polymerization is carried out in small droplets of monomer suspended in water. The monomer is first finely dispersed in water by vigorous agitation. Suspension stabiUzers act to minimize coalescence of droplets by forming a coating at the monomer—water interface. The hydrophobic—hydrophilic properties of the suspension stabiLizers ate key to resin properties and grain agglomeration (89). 

The use of nylon-11 for powder coatings or dry coatings (qv) has been developed in response to a growing concern for the environment (44) (see Coating PROCESSES, powder technology). Electrostatic deposition allows thin films to be appHed to metal substrates. Once the powder is appHed, it must be melted and coalesced into a continuous plastic film. Eorced draft or irradiant ovens are used for fusion, and because no polymerization or cross-linkage are required for curing, coated objects can be processed quickly and air-cooled (45). 

Scotts technology (17) uses fluid-bed (Wurster column) technology to apply polymeric coatings to a number of fertilizer substrates including urea, potassium nitrate, potassium sulfate, and monoammonium phosphate (MAP). The coating material is appHed as a water-borne latex onto the fluidized substrate. As the substrate is fluidized with warm air (40—50°C), water is driven off and the latex coalesces into a continuous film around the fertilizer particle. The particular latex compositions used have selected glass-transition and blocking temperatures, which enable quick removal of the water before the soluble fertilizer core dissolves. This obviates the need to use precoats prior to the latex appHcation. 

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