"Joint project – Innovative technology for efficient coating of fiber-reinforced plastics" Sub project: Characterization of the coatability of SMC materials

Sponsor:
Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)

Funded project partners:
- Zentrum für angewandte Forschung und Technologie e.V. (ZAFT) an der Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Dresden (HTW)
- Institut für Holztechnologie Dresden gGmbH (IHD)
- OZF Oberflächenbeschichtungszentrum GmbH + Co (OZF)
- IBT InfraBioTech GmbH (IBT)
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V.

Associated project partners:
DaimlerChrysler AG, Karl Wörwag Lack- und Farbenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG, Akzo Nobel Interpon, Jungheinrich AG, Polylec Composites GmbH (former Menzolit Fibron GmbH), Mitras Composites Systems GmbH

Contact Person:
Dr. Anett Müller
Dr. Cornelia Bellmann
Dr. Karina Grundke

Duration:
11/2006 - –04/2009

Abstract
Components from fiber-reinforced plastics are increasingly used as constructions in cars, in mechanical plant and heating engineering as well as in electronic industry (e.g. switchboard). Especially SMC (Sheet Moulding Compounds) and BMC (Bulk Moulding Compounds) offer ecological and economic advantages regarding the weight reduction compared to steel, a large variety for design and efficient manufacturing (compression). In order to realize a uniform optics of multi-component constructions as well as a protection against atmospheric exposure, the components have to be coated. In the automotive industry, an appropriate primer layer is applied to prevent the subsequent coating from inhomogeneities of the substrate.

According to the state of the art, solvent based liquid lacquers are used. Up to now, the application of powder coating technology with its ecological and economic advantages is unresolved due to the insufficient conductivity of fiber-reinforced plastics, inhomogeneities at the surface and in the surface region as well as outgassing during the baking process.

It is the aim of the project to develop an innovative technology for an efficient and environmentally compatible, high-quality coating of fiber-reinforced plastics so that a manual reworking can be widely avoided and a drastic reduction of the failure rate can be achieved.

Our studies are aimed at the characterization of the varnishability of SMC materials by means of physico-chemical, microscopic and spectroscopic methods. In this context, it is necessary to investigate the interrelations between the surface properties of SMC and the coating failure and delaminations in the outermost SMC surface regions.

The surface of the uncoated and coated SMC will be characterized by various methods (contact angle, MicroGlider^®, AFM, REM, XPS, FTIR-ATR, streaming potential). Due to the new expected results and evaluated methods, a qualitatively high-class smooth surface of the coating along with an environment-friendly coating technology, e. g. powder coating, will be guaranteed.