Dow Corning Corporation, an innovative leader in the development of fluorosilicone technology for coatings and other industries, introduced its new high-performing UV-cure hybrid hard coat technology at the 12th annual Coatings for Plastics Symposium.
In his presentation, Steve Block, Dow Corning's commercial development manager for the Fluorine Business Program, focused on fluorosilicone hybrid functional coating technologies for plastic. He discussed producing materials that offer unique surface properties, including excellent abrasion and mar resistance, UV stability, weatherability, anti-fouling and easy cleaning.
"Protecting surfaces that are prone to abrasion and staining represents a significant technical challenge," said Block. "A unique combination of silicone and fluorine resins and polymers has been identified yielding these high-performance characteristics. This hybrid approach takes advantage of the synergies of silicone, giving a hard weather-resistant coating, and fluorine, providing low surface energy, while using UV energy for fast cure and minimal energy consumption."
This advanced coating technology can be used on many common substrates. It was specially designed for portable electronic devices such as cell phones, computers, MP3 players and GPS units, and for automotive components including wheels, roof racks, emblems and trim.
In addition, this UV-cure technology reduces energy usage, contains no ozone-depleting chemicals (ODCs), has a high solids content and is PFOA free. Dow Corning's fluorosilicone technology platform is an important development that offers innovation and sustainability, enabling improved surface performance. Active in the plastics industry, Dow Corning offers a wide and growing range of silicon-based product and service solutions. With its patented versatile fluorosilicone technologies, the company is developing new or improved materials for driving customer growth in existing and new markets with high-value, differentiated products. This technology platform can provide distinct competitive advantages and offer an option for replacing regulated fluorine-based products. For more information about Dow Corning's silicone-fluorine coatings, contact Block at [email protected]. For more information about Dow Corning's coating solutions, visit dowcorning.com/coatings.
Block is the commercial development manager for Dow Corning's Fluorine Business Program. His responsibilities are to lead, manage and direct global sales of new products, applications and services involving fluorosilicone technologies for the Coatings, Textiles, Construction and Automotive Industries. During Block's 24 years with the company, he has held positions in Strategic Business Development, Supply Chain Engineering, Technology Management, Product Development and Application Engineering. He earned a B.S. in chemical engineering from the University of Missouri at Rolla and an M.S. in engineering management from Wichita State University in Kansas.