Overview
Simply stated, a coating consists of a film-forming material dissolved in a solvent. The film-forming material is called a resin. When the resin contains pigments it is called a binder because it binds the pigment particles together and to the substrate over which it has been applied. Pigments are used to add color to the coating and can also enhance the coating's resistance to heat, abrasion and acid. The solvent is present in the coating to make it liquid for ease of application. After application, the solvent evaporates and the binder remains behind.
The chemicals selected to be used for the resin, pigment and solvent influence the properties of the coating in the can, as well as the properties during application and curing. Most importantly, the selection of resin, pigment and solvent will influence how well the coating performs in its intended service environment. For example coal tar resins have excellent moisture-resistance, but poor UV light resistance. Hybrid resins have been formulated to improve the overall performance of resins. In the example of coal tar, it is often combined with an epoxy resin to form coal tar epoxy, which has improved UV resistance relative to an unmodified coal tar resin.
Environmental regulations and safety concerns have had a large influence on the coatings industry in recent years. Legislation limiting the amount of volatile organic compounds (VOC's) in paint has required coating manufacturers to reformulate their coatings to meet environmental regulations. Additionally, the safety concerns associate with such toxic materials as lead and chromate has continuously challenged manufacturers to formulate high-performance coatings using alternative materials.
In this course, the student will study the types and characteristics of commercial coatings. The course will cover Chapter 4, "Coating Types and Characteristics" in the US Army Corps of Engineers document EM 1110-2-3400, "Painting: New Construction and Maintenance".
The student must take a multiple-choice quiz consisting of twenty questions at the end of this course to obtain PDH credits.
Specific Knowledge or Skill Obtained
This course teaches the following specific knowledge and skills:
- Basic components of a coating system including the resin, pigment and solvent
- Types of resins, including vinyl, acrylic, epoxy, phenolic and urethane
- Function of drying oils and the relative merits of each type.
- Purpose of pigments and the various types including inhibitive, sacrificial, hiding, color and extender
- Different types of solvents and their relative merits
- The function and types of miscellaneous additives, such as antiskinning agents, fungicides, emulsion aids and flow agents
- Types of zinc-rich coatings and their relative merits
- The impact of VOC's on coating manufacture and selection
- Types and applications for powder coatings and thermal-spray coatings
- Description of galvanizing and its advantages/disadvantages in various applications
Course
Click on the following link to the PDF document to review the course material before taking the quiz for credit.
Coating Types and Characteristics
Having trouble downloading the PDF file?
If clicking the link does not bring you to the PDF file, then right-click the link. Click "Save Target As" and save on your desktop. To view the file, double-click the icon on your desktop and return to this page to take the quiz. You may want to bookmark this page for your convenience. If you have questions, Live Support Chat can help.
You
may need Adobe Reader to view this document. Click on the link to download a
free copy of the latest version of Adobe Reader.
To receive PDH credit for this course, you must pass a multiple-choice quiz. Click the button below to Purchase Course and Take Quiz. To take the quiz, your computer must be set to accept cookies. See how to check your cookie settings.
