BASF Coatings AG,  Munster, Germany

The design of an efficient process for the production of small batches up to 500 kg of powder coatings and the use of shear-sensitive effect pigments is a desired goal in modern powder coatings production technology.

An innovative process – based on fluidised bed technology – will be illustrated. The goal was the development of a powder tinting system which is based on a typical powder coating particle size distribution showing no draw-backs to conventionally produced coloured powders. This process allows to create powder coatings with new or improved effect colours as well.

The new „Tinting System“ is based on core shell particles with typical powder diameters. The pilot system results in a standard powder (polyester with carboxyl-groups and a polyglycidyl ester hardener). A non-pigmented base powder is coated with a pigmented shell consisting of pigments, resin, hardener and additives. The colour adjustment process is advantageously done by mixing resins and pigments in a liquid phase. In addition the integration of effect pigments like aluminium flakes or micas works efficiently in this tinting process. Experiments with several attractive pigments even in a one-layer metallic powder system demonstrated exceptional results.

The advantages of this innovative process versus the state of the art “bonding process” could lead to the creation of exciting effect powders with a new level of performance profile.

Main activities are related to technologies for thin film coating and the formulation of paints and inks for coating processes up to pilot scale.

Background: graduation in chemistry from the University of Freiburg, Germany, and Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry in 1985.

After 5 years of applied analytical chemistry at Agfa-Gevaert Munich entry into BASF at 1991, business unit BASF Magnetics.

Main focus: development of magnetic tapes for consumer and professional video.