Predicting the Service Life of Organic Coatings
"Options and Constraints"

21 January 2009, Hampton UK

Background:

There are many stages in the process of bringing a new product to the market place any one of which can prove critical. However for exterior coatings with an expected lifetime of many years it is the determination of exterior durability which can become rate determining. Taking too long over this stage can unacceptably delay a product launch. On the other hand a failure to properly evaluate service life could lead to a loss of reputation and expensive warranty claims. The coatings industry is undergoing considerable change in responses to legislative action, and the emergence of new technologies, hence the need for sound predictive methodologies is higher than ever before.

Predicting the service life of exterior products subject to natural weathering is beset with many difficulties. Coating failures are seldom catastrophic and unequivocal, but rather a more gradual process of deterioration with competing failure modes. Ultimately performance in the real world must be taken as a bench mark but the weather is complicated and does not duplicate itself from year to year and varies substantially from place to place between and within geographical areas. Furthermore there is a strong interaction with the design and nature of the substrate.

The established approach to predicting service life within the coatings industry within a reasonably short time span relies upon correlation between laboratory and field studies. Laboratory studies attempt to simulate outdoor exposure challenges and also intensify them. This is a very difficult challenge as the dose-response characteristics of polymers to factors such as UV light, temperature and water is non-linear with strong interactions. Too much increase in the intensity of the factor can introduce failure mechanisms not found in practice. In consequence the scientific literature has many papers which report a lack of correlation between laboratory and field exposure. Pragmatically the industry has responded by relying upon comparative ranking tests using a well characterised product as a 'control'. This is more difficult when comparing different technologies and eschews more fundamental mechanisms which could speed up product development.

Purpose of the Symposium:

The Objective of the Symposium is to provide a forum in which some examples of different techniques and methods used to investigate durability and service life are presented in the context of alternative strategies for investigation. Eight papers have been selected for this purpose but delegates are strongly encouraged to make additional short contributions, and to participate in the concluding discussion. The issue to be discussed from the perspective of the coatings industry is whether alternative strategies e.g. phenomenological, scientific or reliability based can be harmonised. Do they meet the needs of the coatings industry in a cost effective manner; if not what are the gaps and what should be done to fill them?

Who Should Attend?

The symposium will also have elements of a workshop and will be of interest to scientists, technologist and marketing personnel charged with introducing new products to the market where durability and longevity are a premium. This covers new innovative products and established products which are subject to formulation change for legislative or other reasons. The emphasis is on how to gain information in the short term with high confidence about predictions of behaviour many years in the future. Although the emphasis is on weathering behaviour, the generic nature of service life prediction may apply to other challenges to coating performance.

The symposium should be of value to established practitioners of durability investigation but would also be of value to newcomers requiring and overview of the many issues involved. It is hoped that delegates will be willing to participate in discussion and also contribute to the event with their own experiences, and provision for this has been made in the programme.

Venue

The Symposium will be held at PRA's premises in Hampton, UK.

PRA
14 Castle Mews
High Street
Hampton, Middx
TW12 2NP, UK

PRA is approximately 13 miles from Heathrow Airport and 15 miles from Central London. There is a direct bus link from Heathrow and a direct train service from London Waterloo Station. Full travel information can be seen on the PRA website. A limited number of parking spaces will also be available. Please indicate when registering whether you will be arriving by car and we will confirm to you where to park.

Hotel Accommodation

If you require hotel accommodation a list of local hotels is available on the PRA website.

Symposium Language

Both presentation and discussion will take place in English.

Travel & Visa Arrangements

Please make your own travel arrangements. Please contact the British Embassy/Consulate in your own country if you require a visa.

Registration Fees (including VAT)

	Before 21 December 2008	After 21 December 2008
Standard Fee	£355	£410
PRA Member Companies	£310	£360
Academic Fee*	£250	£280
Student Fee*	£150	£180

* Applies to Full-time University Staff only

** Applies to full-time University students only

Fees include:

- Conference programme, abstracts, list of delegates and participating companies.

- CD-ROM containing the written papers or copies of the presentations.

- A Summary of the discussion session will be forwarded to all delegates after the conference.

- Lunch, coffee and tea on the 21 January 2008.

Cancellation/Substitutions

No refund will be made for cancellations made after the 21 December 2008. Refunds are subject to an £80 administration charge. Substitutions may be made at any time.

How to Register

Register on line.

Predicting the Service Life of Organic Coatings "Options and Constraints"