Coatings conference planned.

Vincentz Network will hold its 2004 European Coatings Conference March 18-19 at the Holiday Inn in Berlin, Germany.

Polyurethanes for High Performance Coatings III will focus on the most recent important developments in polyurethane chemistry and polyurethane formulations for coatings applications.

During the two-day conference, 16 invited international experts from leading companies and research institutes will give technical presentations featuring their innovative coatings research, grouped into technical sessions on waterborne systems, UV curing systems, PU specialties, polyisocyanates and polyols, and fluorine in polyurethane coatings, according to organizers.

In addition, interactive group discussions will take place between speakers and conference participants.

Polyurethanes for High Performance Coatings III will provide an international forum for manufacturers and end users of polyurethane coatings, as well as their raw material suppliers, to meet and discuss new developments and learn about the innovative solutions which polyurethane systems are providing to the challenges coatings are facing today.

Session 1 on waterborne systems will examine how, especially in Europe, waterborne coating systems are regarded as the major answer to the challenge of VOC reduction demands. They have replaced solventborne systems in a number of applications, and are quickly penetrating new market segments.

In this context, much effort is said to be spent on the improvement of waterborne polyurethane dispersions, concerning fundamental aspects of the dispersion process, novel raw materials and specific aspects of waterborne PU coating formulations.

Three papers will be presented during this session, highlighting very recent research results in these fields. The papers and authors will include: "Science and technology of polyurethane dispersions--process and applications," Deb Bhattacharjee, Dow Chemical; "Aqueous polyurethane dispersions based on renewable resources for high performance wood coatings," Ingrid Heuben, Alberdingk Boley GmbH, Germany; and "Defoaming of PU coatings--effect and structure of polymers," Ralf Schnelle, Degussa AG, Germany.

Session II on UV curing systems will discuss how radiation curing formulations are still among the fastest growing segments in the coatings industry, with polyurethane systems being no exception. One challenge is said to lie in the coating of 3D objects, which possess shadow regions that are not easily accessible to the UV light. Novel dual-cure systems, which marry UV and thermal curing mechanisms in one system, are said to provide a solution.

Pigmented coatings, especially difficult colors like yellow or white, are said to have long since been another challenge for UV curing PU formulations, but novel combinations and types of raw materials show a considerable progress here.

Papers during this session will include: "Dual-cured polyurethane-polyacrylate coatings," Katia Studer, Ecole Nationale Superieure de Chimie de Mulhouse, France; and "Waterborne, UV curing polyurethane dispersions for clear and pigmented coatings," Christoph Irle, Bayer AG, Germany.

Session III on PU specialties will look at how innovative polymerization techniques, as well as truly novel materials, are currently finding their way into marketable coatings products, and also in polyurethane systems. Thus, hyperbranched polymers, combining high molecular weight with low viscosity, are said to allow formulation of high solid coatings with previously unattainable properties.

Polyurea coatings, closely related to conventional polyurethane coatings, are said to feature exceptionally high performance properties and find an increasing number of applications.

Nanomaterials like fullerenes are said to have become the biggest buzz word in materials science today, promising to provide coating systems with functional properties, which may open up completely new markets for organic coatings.

Three papers will be presented during this session, including: "Hyperbranched polyurethanes for high performance coatings," Harold Schafer, BASF AG, Germany; "Polyurea in its fourth generation," Kai Klockemann, Nitroil Europe GmbH, Germany; and "[60]fullerene derivatives as an optical additive in polyurethane films," Zhi Yuan Wang, Carleton University, Ontario, Canada.

Session IV on polyisocyanates and polyols will illustrate how isocyanate and polyol chemistry remain the fundamental of any PU coating system. Far from being settled, the components for PU coating formulations are continuously being improved, making use of novel monomer systems, innovative polymerization techniques and new functionalities.

Five presentations in this session will bring participants up-to-date with the current developments in this field. The presentations will include: "New emulsifiable MDI variants for sealers and coatings on dry and humid concrete," Marc Broekaert, Huntsman Polyurethanes, Belgium; "New fast drying polyisocyanate for two component polyurethane coatings," Uwe Wustmann, Rhodia Syntech GmbH, Germany; "New hydrophilic polyisocyanates for waterborne 2K-PU coatings," Markus Mechtel, Bayer AG, Germany; "Novel isocyanate-free blocked isocyanates provided with functional groups," Ton Loontjens, DSM Coating Resins b.v., The Netherlands; and "New acrylic polyols for high performance polyurethane systems," Christophe Salus, Lyondell France.

Session V on fluorine in PU coatings will examine how with novel functionalities in PU coating systems, controlled hydrophobicity invariably is among the first topics mentioned. Recent research has put forward the incorporation of fluorinated polymers in polyurethane coatings, combining the flexibility of the PU systems with the chemically induced hydrophobicity of perfluorinated polymers.

The three presentations of this session will highlight the developments of waterbased and UV curing fluorinated coatings, as well as fluorinated polyurethane powder coatings. The presentations will include: "Novel water-based fluorinated polyurethane coatings with excellent anti-graffiti properties," Jurgen Scheerder, Neo-Resins b.v., The Netherlands; "Basic research for the development of (very) hydrophobic powder coating surfaces," Dietmar Appelhans, Institute of Polymer Research Dresden, Germany; and "Flexible UV-curable fluoropolymer PU coatings for industrial applications," Peter M. Siemens, Whitford GmbH, Germany.

Information on registration for the European Coatings Conference is available from Amanda Beyer, tel.: [phone]; fax: [phone].