Funded EngD Studentship: Coil Coatings – An Investigation into Expedited Plastisol Degradation Related to Poor Coating Adhesion
Physical and Environmental Sciences,Chemistry,Materials Science,Physics and Astronomy,Engineering and Technology,Production Engineering and Manufacturing,Chemical Engineering,Metallurgy and Minerals Technology,Other Engineering
Short info about job
Company: Swansea University
Department: Engineering
Hours: Full Time
Type / Role: PhD
Phone: +44-1435 4560394
Fax: +44-1376 5101745
E-mail: N\A
Site: N\A
Detail information about job Funded EngD Studentship: Coil Coatings – An Investigation into Expedited Plastisol Degradation Related to Poor Coating Adhesion. Terms and conditions vacancy
Coil coating is a continuous, automated process for coating metal (aluminium or steel) before fabrication. The metal, in the form of a rolled coil, is positioned at the front of the coating line and in one continuous process it is unwound, cleaned, chemically treated, primed, oven cured, top-coated and oven cured again before being re-coiled at the end of the line. This process occurs at a rate of 60 m/min.
Coil coating provides aesthetically pleasing products with durable, corrosion resistant surfaces. Pre-coated metal is used in a variety of applications including products such as building panels, metal roofs, interior wall panels, garage doors and domestic appliances.
There are many types of failure mode associated with plastisol coatings, most of these result in loss of adhesion. Plastisol is susceptible to degradation induced by excessive heat or prolonged exposure to UV wavelengths. Plastisol degradation results in loss of colour, decrease in gloss and reduction in flexibility. In situ failures of plastisol coatings have been reported with an increase in the rate of coating degradation occurring when there has been a prior failure in adhesion.
The focus of this project is to investigate the various coating failure mechanisms and understand why adhesion failure results in expedited plastisol degradation.
This is an excellent opportunity for a research engineer to work with a leading global coatings company to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms associated with coating failure. The results of this work could lead to the future optimisation of coating formulations.
The research engineer will be based at Swansea University, but will have regular contact with the industrial supervisor.
Project Aims
Plan and conduct an analytical investigation, using an array of techniques, to understand the mechanisms of adhesion failure related to coil coated PVC plastisol over steel substrate.
The matrix of variables to be investigated should include:
- Substrate grade
- Galvanisation type
- Substrate thickness
- Cleaning method
- Chemical pre-treatment
- Primer type
- Plastisol colour (pigment type can affect coating application and performance)
- Primer cure temperature
- PVC plastisol cure temperature
Once the mechanisms of adhesion failure have been determined the newly acquired knowledge of local chemical interactions will be used to understand why coating disbondment results in expedited plastisol degradation.
The Athena SWAN Charter recognises work undertaken by institutions to advance gender equality. The College of Engineering is an Athena SWAN bronze award holder and is committed to addressing unequal gender representation.
Eligibility
Academic requirements:
Candidates should hold an Engineering or Physical Sciences degree with a minimum classification level of 2:1 or equivalent relevant experience. This project would be suitable for someone with a degree in Chemistry or Materials Science with a good understanding of analytical techniques.
Please visit our website for further information on eligibility.
Funding Details
The studentship covers the full cost of UK/EU tuition fees, plus a tax free stipend of £20,000 p.a.