AkzoNobel and El Pont are exploring the use of electron beams to cure powder coatings, increasing productivity while reducing energy consumption.
The international paints and coatings manufacturer AkzoNobel
has recently announced a partnership between its Coil and Extrusion Coatings division and El Pont Radiation Technology in order to explore the use of electron beams (E-beam) as a potential alternative to cure powder coatings. The co-operation agreement has been signed at a ceremony held in Wuxi (China), attended by representatives from both companies and local government officials.
The E-beam technology is a fast-growing scientific field that is expected to offer significant advantages, such as lower energy consumption, increased productivity with higher quality and reduced environmental impact. The process allows to cure powder coatings applied on metal substrates by using a directed stream of electrons to deliver the energy required to form the final film.
“We are extremely excited about the possibilities of E-beam technology and the benefits this partnership could bring. By working together with Wuxi El Pont, we will be able to leverage their expertise and experience of electron accelerators and beam devices and innovate sustainable solutions together,” has stated Jim Kavanagh, the director of the Industrial Coatings division of AkzoNobel. “As a company, we are fully focused on innovating with and for customers and continue to play a progressive role in energizing entire industries to advance towards a more sustainable future. We are therefore looking forward to a long and fruitful partnership, which could potentially help to advance innovation and sustainability throughout the coatings sector.”
The Chinese company Wuxi El Pont is active in the high energy radiation accelerator market, offering advanced solutions for radiation sterilisation and material processing applications. The E-beam technology it employs is electrically generated and does not rely on radioisotopes, so no radioactive waste or toxic compounds are involved.
“We are committed to developing the civil nuclear technology of China and expanding the application of electron beam technology. We have every confidence that the combination of our process development capabilities for low-energy electron beam equipment with the research and development expertise of AkzoNobel will prove to be a success. Our close cooperation will accelerate the low carbon transformation of the paints and coatings industry, improve product quality and safety and provide strong support for the industry to make strides towards carbon neutrality as soon as possible,” has added Yuwei Zhang, the Chairman of Wuxi El Pont Radiation Technology.