Due to their unique chemical structure and properties, silicone based coatings (SBCs) can be a formidable solution for imparting flame retardancy to various textile substrates. With increasingly stringent safety standards that must be complied with, the significant increase in demand for safer textiles offering enhanced flame retardancy can be seen in multiple industries. This is...
The surface tension of a coating is a fundamental property that describes how the molecules or particles at a coating’s surface interact with each other. It is typically measured in dynes per centimeter (dyn/cm) or millinewtons per meter (mN/m) where higher surface tension values indicate stronger cohesive forces at the surface. In the context of...
With respect to print and graphics, the processes of laminating and coating have vital roles in enhancing the durability, aesthetics and functionality of various materials. Both processes offer protective layers, but there are important differences between laminating and coating that merit exploration. Herein, we delve into these distinctions to shed light on their unique characteristics...
Additives are an essential part of coating applications for many manufacturing processes and end products. If added to a formulation, a solvent can manipulate properties to provide a ‘customised’ coating solution. This action results in additional functionality that many alternative coating technologies cannot match in terms of manufacturing capabilities or the specific performance properties of...
Question: can bio-based adhesives and coatings provide the same high performance as conventional formulations for “greener” application solutions? The environmental challenge Increased pressure from environmental groups, recent natural disasters, and increased environmental awareness has pushed climate change further up the agenda as a major global concern for governments, businesses and the public across the world. ...
Silicones are synthetic polymers that can take many forms including solids, rubbers, liquids, gels, oils and pastes. They have an extremely wide range of physical and chemical properties due to their inorganic silicone-oxygen molecular structure. This makes them quite different to organic carbon-based substances in terms of greater chemical stability and inertness, providing silicones with...
Colour is a marketing differential that has significant branding importance for a company’s product range. Whether it’s the practically minded olive drab, or a favourite shade of lavender, the importance of consistency is paramount when designing performance coatings for end use applications. Consider a newly painted room. The perceived difference between a white and an off-white...
In 1902, and long before polyurethane adhesives and coatings were known of, ITAC’s founder John Marcus, discovered tyre scrapings dissolved in solvent made an excellent rubber adhesive. When painted on to the outside carcass of a tyre, this formed an ideal primer coat to which the tyre tread could be bonded. This marked ITAC’s beginnings...
Specialist coatings play a critical role in satisfying the requirements of an ever-increasing number of industrial and commercial products and systems. The coating’s end application and intended use determines the effects it should impart in order to provide the desired performance. This clearly has a direct influence on their formulation design. Therefore, for specialist coatings...
Welcome to part two of our summary of adhesive coating testing methods used at ITAC. We explained in part one that the tests we perform and results we provide are a critical element of our work. These enable our customers to choose the best adhesive or coating system for a specific application, and to help...
