F O C U S

suitable for applications requiring

added hydrophobicity.
Original Source: Paint and Resin Times, Oct
2013, 2013 (5), 8 (Website:
http://www.completecircmktg.co.uk)
Complete Circulation & Marketing 2013

New depths for oil pipelines

Axalta Coating Systems
introduces a new thermosetting
epoxy powder coating under its
Nap-Gard brand. Nap-Gard High
Tg 7-2555 can be used as a
corrosion barrier coating for
underground and sub-sea
pipelines that operate in
temperatures up to 155C
(311F). The product can be used
alone or in a dual-powder coating
system or as a corrosion coating
under multi-layer insulation
systems. The product can
withstand continuous operating
temperatures up to 180C
(356F) when used with Axaltas
most recent dual layer system
Nap-Gard 7-2675. Water
permeability and chemical
resistance are enhanced with the
second layer of coating.
Original Source: PPCJ, Polymers, Paint,
Colour Journal, Jan 2014, 204 (4592),
(Website:
http://www.polymerspaintcolourjournal.com/)
Quartz Business Media Ltd 2014

Daikin patents powder coating

US Patent 8,552,115 B2 has
been awarded to Daikin
Industries for a powder coating
composition.
Original Source: Coatings World, Dec 2013,
18 (12), 18 (Website:
http://www.coatingsworld.com) Rodman
Publishing 2013

MARKETS
Combating corrosion
According to Amir Eliezer,
president of the World Corrosion
Organization, corrosion costs
approximately $2.5 trillion/y
globally or 3-4% of the worlds
total GDP. The problem caused
by corrosion is recognized by
high-risk sectors such as the oil
MARCH 2014

O N

POWDER

and gas, petrochemical,

aerospace and marine industries.
For governments and other
industries, however, corrosion is
considered a repair and
maintenance issue. Nevertheless,
corrosion control is increasingly
being addressed in the design
stage due to the cost savings
that can be realized in this
manner over the longer term.
More specifically, proper material
selection and protection combined
with a preventive approach can
reduce the costs of corrosion by
about one-third. There are two
ways of controlling corrosion:
actively or passively. Active
protection focuses on the
reactions involved in corrosion,
whereas passive protection aims
to prevent moisture and other
corrosive reactants from reaching
the substrate by using a film or
coating. A challenge for corrosion
control coating manufacturers is
the replacement of chromium (VI)
inhibiting pigments. A promising
solution for aerospace
applications, where aluminium is
the common substrate, is the
magnesium-based technology
initially developed at North
Dakota State University and
licensed and further improved by
AkzoNobel Aerospace Coatings.
More and more designers prefer
composites, or glass fibrereinforced polymers (GFRPs),
over corrosive metals for
construction. GFRP formulated
with resins, such as thermoset
vinyl esters and epoxies, can
enhance corrosion resistance.
Owens Corning, a glass fibre
manufacturer, has launched a
campaign to raise awareness
about the advantages of FRP in
preventing corrosion. Meanwhile,
NACE International is currently
conducting a two-year, global
study to estimate the global cost
of corrosion and will look at case
studies on corrosion control as
well as the savings to be
achieved.
Original Source: Chemistry and Industry
(London), Oct 2013, 77 (10), 24-27
(Website: http://www.soci.org/) Society of
Chemical Industry 2013

C O AT I N G S
Market outlook: transformations to
spark chemical mergers and
acquisitions in 2014
It is expected that the worldwide
chemical mergers and
acquisitions (M&A) market will be
stronger in 2014 because of
increased aggressiveness among
chemical companies for
transformations, removing noncore assets to focus on key
growth areas. It is also predicted
that the financing market for
deals will continue to be strong.
A number of chemical firms, such
as DuPont, Dow Chemical,
LANXESS, Ashland, Rockwood
Holdings and Chemtura, have
announced portfolio
restructurings. DuPont announced
in Oct 2013 the planned spinoff
of its performance chemicals
segment. The segment includes
its chemicals and fluoroproducts,
and titanium dioxide (TiO2)
businesses, which had 2012
sales of approximately $7 bn.
Activist investor Nelson Peltz,
who runs Trian Partners, was
investing in DuPont. Peltz
reported that he had a 2.2%
stake in DuPont as of Aug 2013.
On the buy side, US-based
coatings company PPG Industries
is proactively acquiring to divest
non-core asset sales and
strengthen core businesses. The
company has 90% of its pro
forma sales in the core coatings
business after acquiring the North
American architectural coatings
business of AkzoNobel and
merging its chlor-alkali business
with Georgia Gulf to create an
integrated polyvinyl chloride
(PVC) company Axiall. Dow is
also considering carving out its
US chlor-alkali, global epoxy
resins and global chlorinated
organics businesses. The sale of
its plastic additives business was
also pulled out in Sep 2013. After
acquiring the speciality TiO2
business of Rockwood for $1.1
bn in cash and $225 M in
assumed pension liabilities,
Huntsman is also aiming an IPO
of its combined inorganic
pigments, functional additives and
5