FSCT to offer a two-part virtual conference on Critical Pigment Volume Concentration.

Focusing on the topic of Critical Pigment Volume Concentration (CPVC) in Coatings, the FSCT has announced the latest offerings in its series of Virtual Learning Conferences. Prof. Gordon P. Bierwagen, Chair of the Department of Polymers & Coatings at North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, will present "CPVC in Coatings I: Introduction and Use" on April 15, and "CPVC in Coatings II; Advanced Concepts" on April 29.

Thursday, April 15, 2:00-3:30 pm (ET)

CPVC in Coatings I: Introduction and Use

This first session introduces the concepts of Pigment Volume Concentration (PVC) and Critical Pigment Volume Concentration (CPVC) in coatings. A brief history of the CPVC concept is presented, and various film properties affected by the PVC/CPVC ratio (identified as [LAMBDA]) are discussed. The relationship between particle packing efficiency and CPVC is examined, along with the prediction of CPVC effects by the calculation of particle packing efficiency based on pigment particle size and polymer adsorption. Discussions focus on the experimental measurement of CPVC, as well as the importance of proper data analysis in CPVC measurements. The lecture concludes with an examination of the effects of film formation, etc., on CPVC measurement.

Thursday, April 29 2:00-3:30 pm (ET)

CPVC in Coatings II: Advanced Concepts

This session considers the impact of CPVC on coatings performance and the use of [LAMBDA]=PVC/CPVC in analyzing and predicting coating behavior. The formulation and design of organic coatings based on the use of [LAMBDA]=PVC/CPVC is covered, along with general comments on computer-based coatings design. To help interpret the real behavior of coatings, a discussion of the effects of nonuniform distribution of pigments and polymer in coatings is offered, including a description of local and global CPVC effects in coatings. The concept of "coarseness" is introduced to quantify nonuniform pigment distribution. Finally, a model of the CPVC based on a hard sphere packing is presented, and the very interesting results that such a simple model can provide are described.

Learning Objectives:

* Develop a basic understanding of the PVC and CPVC in coatings design and testing

* Examine the concept of particle packing efficiency and how this can be applied to understanding, interpreting, and using the CPVC

* Learn the importance of particle size distribution measurements in the characterization and use of pigments in coatings

* Examine the experimental manifestations of the CPVC and their importance

* Learn that good data handling and analysis are crucial to CPVC measurement and understanding

* Examine the CPVC as a basic characteristic of coatings pigmentation that can be used in coatings design and the interpretation of coatings test data

* Learn that nonuniform distribution of pigments in coatings due to imperfect dispersion of poor film formation can severely impact coatings performance

* Learn that theoretical modeling of the CPVC has much to teach one about coatings performance

Course Instructor:

Gordon Bierwagen received his B.S. in Chemistry and Mathematics from Valparaiso University, his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Iowa State University, and did post-doctoral research in Chemical Engineering at the University of Minnesota. He has been involved in R & D in coatings since his first nonacademic work at Battelle Memorial Institute (Columbus) in 1969 on the electrochemical characterization of anionic electrodeposition coatings and the modeling of solution changes during electrodeposition. After leaving Battelle in 1970, Prof. Bierwagen joined the Paint Research Department at the Sherwin-Williams Research Center in Chicago, where he developed mathematical algorithms for the prediction of the CPVC. For the first publication of the results of these studies, he won first place in the 1972 FSCT Roon Award competition. He published on CPVC effects in the 1970s and 1980s.

From 1986-1989, Prof. Bierwagen was director of R & D for the Decorative Films Div. of Avery, Inc. in Schererville, IN. In December 1989, he joined North Dakota State University as Professor in the Department of Polymers & Coatings (P & C). Since joining the department, Prof. Bierwagen has continued his research interests in the physical chemistry of coatings, foaming in W/R polymer solutions, adsorption from solution onto pigment particles, CPVC-related phenomena, and computer-based coatings design. He has been Chair of P & C since 1999. With Prof. D. Tallman of the Dept. of Chemistry, he has developed an extensive research program on corrosion control by coatings that has been very successful in attracting government and industry support. Most recently, he and his student won first place in the 2003 Roon Award Competition for work on metal-rich primers for aerospace alloys.

Author of over 80 publications, Prof. Bierwagen has received support for his research from many funding agencies. He has been Editor-in-Chief of Progress in Organic Coatings since 1995, and is a member of FSCT, SSPC, NACE, ACS, ECS, and AIChE. He was Chair of the 1989 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Coatings, has been a session chair for the GRC on Aqueous Corrosion in 1996. He was the Plenary Lecturer at the FATIPEC 2000 Congress in Turin, Italy in 2000 and an Invited Keynote Speaker at EIS 2001 in Marilleva, Italy.

Who Should Attend:

The two-part course is designed for R & D personnel, technology managers, quality control/reliability engineers, and coating specialists involved in the coatings formulation, testing and manufacture. In addition, scientists that work with the manufacture and use of pigments will benefit greatly from these lectures, as well as all those involved control coatings, military coatings, or primers in general.

Registration

Early Bird Fees: Register by April 8 for either course to receive the discounted rate of: $349 FSCT member; $399 nonmember.

Regular Fees: After April 8, the registration fees are: $399 FSCT member; $449 nonmember.

Only one fee is charged per location, regardless of how many participate.

To register, contact FSCT, 492 Norristown Rd., Blue Bell, PA 19422-2350; 610.940.0777; fax: [phone]; email: [e-mail]. Visit www.coatingstech.org/Programs/vlc0404 for details.