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Wet Film Processes at TWI

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Wet film processes for industry cover the use of paints and other coatings used in industries including aerospace, automotive, and construction. Wet film coatings are used to modify the chemical and/or physical properties of a substrate through the addition of a surface layer. These layers offer a number of properties across industry, from anti-soiling, and hydrophobicity to heat resistance, insulation, wear resistance, and more.

The considerations for process and coating selection include part shape and size, required surface finish and considerations of the nature of the liquid to be deposited. Liquid or wet coatings can be deposited onto the part in a number ways, including spin coating, dip coating, draw-down or bar coating, spray, reel-to-reel, or even by brushing or roller coating.

Post deposition processing is an additional consideration, particularly if there is a need to dry the part or a need to cure using UV or by heating. Deposition of uniform, flaw free coatings is essential for testing, evaluation, validation and comparison of candidate coating chemical formulations.

Core Research Programme (CRP) and Joint Industry Projects (JIP)

Core Research

Each year the TWI Core Research Programme (CRP) addresses challenges on behalf of our Industrial Members as well as developing specific technologies and processes. Each of the projects under the CRP is focussed on engineering, materials or manufacturing technologies.

Find out more here

Joint Industry Projects

TWI also conducts Joint Industry Projects (JIPs) that bring together groups of Industrial Members to share the cost of research activities in areas of mutual industrial interest, gaining exclusive access to the outcomes. These projects cover a broad range of topics.

Find out more here

Wet Film Processes and Coating Deposition at TWI

TWI has been involved in over 1,000 projects related to coatings and surfacing, including many wet film processes, where our experts have supported industry with everything from design, specification, preparation and application through to quality assurance, deployment and repair.

Our track record includes coatings deposition for applications in plastic and high-temperature electronics, power storage (batteries), solar power, automotive glazing, medical devices, oil and gas use, and more, providing support including:

  • Coating failure investigations/process reviews
  • Material and process selection
  • Coating / applications development
  • Independent analysis and performance evaluation (In accordance with industry standards and/or bespoke testing in representative service environments)
  • Specification development and review
  • Manufacturing development/upscaling/demonstration
  • Consultancy/technology transfer
  • Training – bespoke and certified (BGAS - CSWIP)

Testing and Validation

As an impartial and independent organisation, we work across all industry sectors, allowing us to deliver the best solutions for our Members’ needs. This includes coating and paint validation, test coupon preparation, verification against manufacturer specifications, and functional assessment against standards such as:

Cyclic ageing ISO 12944

Abrasion ISO 7784

Impact testing ISO 6272

Indentation testing ISO 14577

Defence Standard Def Stan 05-133

Our experts can help assess properties including viscosity, NVC, surface preparation, roughness, DFT, adhesion, gloss, colour, flexibility, hardness and stiffness.

Deposition

TWI's multi-disciplinary coatings team has considerable experience in coating deposition and has a unique laminar flow coating line available. This line has a series of filters that ensure that the air inside the line is free from dust particles, which may otherwise be incorporated into the wet film once it is deposited. The coating line has dip, spin and drawn-down coating film application methods, together with heating and UV curing facilities.

We take pride in offering a full and rounded solution to our Members, and take great care to ensure that we recommend the coating selection, testing and application methods that best suit your circumstances, paying attention to:

  • Coating deposition and curing process selection
  • Functional performance and long term durability
  • Supply chain considerations
  • Legislative considerations (e.g. VOC content)

Our advice is always impartial because we are not allied to the suppliers of any particular raw materials or formulation chemistry.

To find out more about wet film processes at TWI please email, contactus@twi.co.uk.

For more information please email:


contactus@twi.co.uk