Coating failure analysis is a critical part of customer support in the coatings industry. As an organization that stands behind its coatings and its customers, The Sherwin-Williams Company has a team of experts who step in to help understand the root cause of coating failures. An analytical chemist must have experience and objectivity, while also being highly cross-trained in multiple analytical and instrumental techniques. It is not enough for a chemist to only have proficiency with the analytical techniques; it is paramount that a sound understanding of the coating chemistry be applied to the investigation process. To illustrate the types and intensities of these investigations, several examples will be highlighted. The chemistry behind the coatings will be explained and paired with the techniques used to analyze real-world paint failures. Some of the commonly used techniques include microscopy (Optical, SEM), spectroscopy (FTIR), chromatography (GC/MS), thermal analysis (TGA, DSC), and elemental (XRD, EDX).

Analytical approches to understanding coating failures: A multifaceted discipline

247th National Meeting (2014)

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