Innovations and research methods.

In this space in January, commenting on George Pilcher's Mattiello lecture, I noted the necessity of innovation as the driver of new technologies for the practical and profitable products of the future. This month in COATINGSTECH, we offer two articles on the changes in methods that are helping to drive innovation in the coatings industry. In her overview on Research Methods for the 21st Century, Cynthia Challener discusses how the principles of combinatorial chemistry, together with high throughput methods and data mining technology, are transforming research and product development. Dean Webster focuses on the shift from conventional methods to high throughput methods, and the radical changes in work practices that are required. In articles describing specific innovations, authors from Bayer MaterialScience LLC, Lyondell Chemical Company, and BASF focus on new products for UV cure systems; the development of soft feel coatings is described in a contribution from Rhodia, Inc. And of course this month also brings the latest issue of JCT RESEARCH, providing a broad range of original research articles on topics ranging from HASE thickeners and coatings rheology to microindentation testing of paper coating materials and Monte Carlo simulation of the environmental degradation of polymeric coatings.

Speaking of innovation: the FSCT's new Advancements in Coatings Series (ACSeries) programs are designed to provide the international coatings community with a forum for the exchange of in-depth information in key technology areas. Two of the upcoming programs relate closely to the topics in this month's issue of COATINGSTECH. From May 18-20, in New Orleans, LA, the FSCT will present "Research Methods in the 21st Century: A Toolkit for Competitive Advantage." A primary focus of this program is high throughput research and development. From June 8-10, in Seattle, WA, the FSCT will present "Nanotechnology in Coatings: Realizing the Potential." This event explores emerging nanotechnologies and their potential impact in the development of new coating products. Check out these and other programs in the ACSeries on the FSCT website, www.coatingstech.org, and on pages 7-10 of this issue.

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