The automotive sector faces increasingly restrictive legislation regarding CO2 emissions, a context in which composite materials play a relevant role because they allow for products with reduced weight and high mechanical properties and rigidity. To overcome these obstacles, AIMPLAS is coordinating the European project ECOGEL CRONOS. One of the project's objectives is the development of a gel coat-type coating with electrical conductivity properties obtained through the incorporation of carbonaceous fillers.
The conventional use of this type of coating has significant limitations, such as the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and long curing times. By applying this coating to the mold, curing times have been reduced from one hour to just a few minutes, as well as VOC emissions (completely eliminating styrene emissions) during coating polymerization. Furthermore, its electrical conductivity eliminates the need for secondary painting steps for the final electrostatic paint finish. All of this considerably reduces production costs and increases production rates.
Another advantage of using powder coatings is the reduction in storage and energy costs, since catalytic systems do not need to be stored under refrigeration because their use is eliminated during the production process. Furthermore, it is a recyclable coating. Excess powder applied to the mold can be recovered by vacuuming and reused.
In addition to the automotive sector, the application of these coatings is also interesting in other sectors such as construction, leisure and sports, and aeronautical and wind energy.
Specifically, in the construction sector, the application of this coating allows for the provision of antistatic properties to products such as fuel tanks, conduits and pipes.
The project, which has received funding from the European Union's 7th Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement no. 609203, involves 12 other European organizations: ECOINNOVA and CIDETEC in Spain, Composite Integration, AXON, FAR-UK, and NetComposites in the United Kingdom, CLERIUM in the Netherlands, Indupol International NV in Belgium, e-Xstream engineering in Luxembourg, Bielefeld University (FHBI) in Germany, KETEK in Finland, Megara in Greece, and Steel Belt Systems Powder Coating Division (SBS) in Italy.
