Coatings Overview

Wood Coatings Research Group maintains research and development facilities dedicated to the research, development, and study of coatings and inks.

Drawing upon its extensive background in coating development, Wood Coatings Research Group maintains mixing, testing, and application equipment necessary for the development of coatings and inks. Coatings are compounded utilizing a variety of processing techniques such as mixing, dispersing, and milling. Application of coatings to various substrates is accomplished by diverse techniques such as an assortment of spray techniques (HVLP, airless, air-assist-airless, electrostatic, etc), roll coater, roller, brush, and draw down. An assortment of drying and curing methodologies exist such as UV reactors, drying ovens, etc.

Research and development of coatings of all types is undertaken, including thermosets, thermoplastics, interior, and exterior type coatings. Wood Coatings Research Group has a major focus on environmentally friendly and green technologies such as aqueous coating technologies, UV curable coatings and adhesives, and formaldehyde free technologies. Research and testing of coatings targeted for a variety of substrates are effected, including wood, metal, fabric, plastic, and concrete.

Coating and material property testing include abrasion resistance, solvent resistance, hardness, print resistance, flexibility, cold check resistance, rheology, microscopy, impact, adhesion, COF/Tribology, fracture mechanics, film haze and clarity, scratch resistance, resistance to UV light, gloss, KCMA testing, ASTM testing, NEMA testing, etc. Wood Coating Research Group also maintain facilities that allow the assessment of coating appearance, flow and leveling, and liquid film retraction. Our state of the art Rheology Laboratory allows effectual characterization of coating and film rheology.