Colloids in coatings
Suntan cream, milk, shampoos and toothpaste are familiar
examples of products that
contain colloids, submicron-sized particles held in a fluid. However, by far the largest use of colloidal particles is in the coatings industry, in paints,
varnishes and paper coatings
London meeting, 29 November 2006
 Colloids in coatings is a one day meeting at SCI International Headquarters in London on 29 November, which will discuss a range of issues relating to the use of colloidal particles in coating formulations. The meeting will cover both academic and industrial issues and aims to encourage debate and interaction amongst participants.
It will be of interest to anyone who uses or puts coatings together and needs to understand how the constituent
colloidal particles interact and behave. The meeting will be relevant to both academics and industrialists,
covering a range of issues from specific colloidal morphology to formulation. There will be many opportunities
for networking over lunch and tea breaks and there will be demonstrations of equipment by a number of companies including NanoSight, Meritics and
TA Instruments.
‘The cracking of coatings during drying
is an old problem that is receiving a
renaissance among academics’ |
The day’s agenda begins with an overview of the film formation process by Joe Keddie from the University of Surrey. This will lay the foundation for the rest of the day by illustrating the requirements of the particles in coatings formulations. Knowing this leads into controlling
the synthesis of polymeric particles by emulsion and mini-emulsion polymerisation. This will be described
by Jose Asua of the University of the Basque Country, Spain.
The cracking of coatings during drying is an old problem that is experiencing a renaissance among academics
and one of the leading practitioners is Eric Dufresne from Yale University. His talk will cover the possible driving forces for film failure and discuss some
experiments in confined geometries between two
glass plates.
Surfactant is typically added to coatings formulations to increase particle stability. The final location of these molecules can have a large effect on film properties, with accumulation at interfaces leading to adhesion and feel problems. Omar Matar from Imperial College London will talk about one consequence of surfactant inhomogeneities: Marangoni flow and surface rippling. Olivier Dupont from Cytec Chemicals, Belgium, will amplify the surfactant issue and discuss the role of surfactants in formulations.
After lunch Andrew Howe from Kodak will discuss inkjet printing and the problems associated with coatings
on paper. This will be complemented by John Husband from Imerys, who will discuss paper coatings, and Peter Lovell from Manchester University, who will talk about pressure sensitive adhesives. The final talk will be given by Simon Davis from ICI who will cover a range of industrial problems and issues.
Colloids in coatings is organised by Alex Routh from the University of Cambridge and Jacquin Wilford-Brown from International Paint, through the joint colloid and surface science committees of the SCI and RSC.
Immediately following the meeting the SCI Colloid and Surface Chemistry Group will present a Distinguished Service Award to Paul Luckham who will give a free lecture entitled ‘Colloids on the body’. All members of the SCI London Section are welcome to attend.
Alex Routh
Jacquin Wilford-Brown
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