IE55148B1 - Coating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

2 2 55 148 ,\ The present invention relates to an apparatus adapted simultaneously to apply a vehicle and a drying agent upon a substrate, and in particular to such an apparatus for producing dried coatings, films and the like as described and claimed in Patent Specification 5 No. 551 φ7 The invention finds application in the drying of paints, lacquers, varnishes, printing vehicles and printing inks, liquid adhesives, surface coatings, caulking compounds and the like. Γη the above definition, the following are to be understood: 10 1. In respect of coating, film or the like, the term "drying" is to be understood as (i) including within its ambit "curing" and as (ii) indicating that the coating is either free from "tack", insoluble in solvent, possessed of an advanced degree of integrity, or able to withstand reasonable abrasion or pressure 15 without damage. It will also be appreciated that, in some circumstances, a dry coating may evidence all of the foregoing qualities. The expression "coating", when used as a noun, is, for the purposes of this invention, to be understood as synonymous with "film" (or the like). 2. The expression "substrate" is to be construed in the widest possible sense, any surface to which the vehicle can be adheringly applied, and upon which it will be retained while treatment with the agent is being effected. Thus, such wide-ranging materials as paperboard, metal foil, steel plate, 25 plastic material, thermally sensitive material and so on may (depending upon other circumstances) be employed. 3. The expression "vehicle" includes within its ambit the paints et al as particularised heretofore. 4. The expression “agent" connotes the at least one chemical 5 514 8 compound which effect(s) the curing or drying of the vehicle.

It may be sometimes alternatively referred to, in this text, as a catalytic agent, or simply as a catalyst.

The vehicle may be of the type which contains free isocyanate groups. The expression "free isocyanate groups" includes within its ambit potentially free such groups, the meaning to be conveyed being that the pre-polymer has isocyanate groups which are releasable, or available, for reaction with any other compound possessing active hydrogen sites (for the purposes of polymer propagation and/or film formation). Compounds containing free isocyanate groups are to be understood as embracing all such compounds. Accordingly, comprehended thereby are, not only isocyanates with urethane structure and polyisocyanates, but also those with polyisocyanuate, biuret, and allophanate structure.

The drying (or catalytic) agent, which effects its treatment in vapour-phase, may be ammonia, or an amine, or any other compound, such as organo metals, capable of accelerating the desired reaction pathway. The expression "amine" includes within its ambit not only those of simple primary aliphatic monofunctional structure, but also amines characterised by (i) polyfunctionality and (ii) a more advanced degree of hydrogen substitution. The expression "vapour-phase" denotes that the agent - namely ammonia, an amine et al - is in gaseous, vapour, or any other entrained air-borne form (e.g. dispersion, fog or aerosol) in which it is available for reaction.

The amine itself may be widely exemplified. Thus, typical examples are mono compounds such as methylamine, ethylamine, propylamine, isopropylamine and the numerous isomers of butylamine, and poly functional amines such as hydrazine, ethylene-diamine, propylene diamine and diethylene triamine. Further examples are diethylamine, triethylamine and dimethylethanolamine (DMEA) the latter being an alkanolamine, and ditertiary amines such as Μ,Μ,Μ',M'-tetra-methylethylenediamine (TMEDA) and Ν,Ν,Ν',M',2-pentamethyl-l, 2-propanediamine (PMT) - and, indeed, at\y combination of such amines, proportioned as required, whereby advantage may be taken of the synergistic effect of such a combination. 55148 The organo metals may also be widely exemplified. Thus, typical examples are dibutyl tin dilaurate, lead tetraethyl, titanium acetyl acetonate, dimethyl tin dichloride, and stannous and zinc octoates. Likewise, advantage can be taken of the synergistic effect of these 5 compounds in association both with one another and with the above-mentioned amine(s).

The vehicle may be a one- or two- component paint et al which contains free isocyanate groups (as defined above). A typical such paint - which is able to be electrostatically or otherwise deposited 10 upon a substrate to be coated, and speedily dried by a vapour-phase drying agent as further demonstrated hereafter - is a two-component preparation formulated from a hydroxyl-bearing synthetic resinous first component, and an isocyanate terminated pre-polymer second component. It will be appreciated that these components are 15 themselves capable of wide exemplification.

One suitable such paint is a two-component white polyurethane preparation in which pigment dispersion has been carried out using a coconut alkyd based resin which is subsequently mixed with an isocyanate terminated pre-polymer based on XDI (xylene diisocyanate).

In alternative formulations, the XDI- based isocyanate terminated pre-polymer can be replaced by one or more pre-polymer(s) based on (using the standard abbreviations) HDI, TDI, HDI, H-j^MDI, IPDI, and H5XDI - or the reaction products of these diisocyanate monomers with appropriate polyols, polycarboxy or polyamine intermediates.

Likewise, the first component can be alternatively chosen from inter alia (using generic designations) acrylic, epoxy, polyether, polyester and polysiloxane resins.

A further exemplary vehicle, which is able to be electrostatically coated upon the substrate, and speedily dried using 30 the apparatus of the invention, is a two-part vehicle in which the first part comprises a polyepoxide resin containing hydroxyl groups, and the second part comprises a resin containing free polyamide groups. 55148 According to the invention there is provided an apparatus adapted simultaneously to apply a vehicle and a drying agent upon a substrate comprising, in combination, means for vapourizing a liquid drying agent; means for directing an electrostatically charged vehicle 5 upon a substrate to be coated; means for simultaneously directing an electrostatically charged drying agent in vapour-phase upon the substrate; the second and third-mentioned means being concentrically arranged in relation to one another; the vapourized drying agent being control 1 ably delivered to said third-mentioned means.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a perspective-type view of a device for providing a drying agent in vapour-phase which is part of the apparatus of the present invention, and 15 Figure 2 is a perspective-type view of a device for effecting co-deposition of vehicle and drying agent which is part of the apparatus of the present invention.

The device of Figure 1 (generally designated by the numeral 1) is comprised of a box-like outer structure 2 containing a tank 3 for 20 the liquid catalyst. The catalyst is atomized within an inner chamber 4, situated beneath tank 3, by means of atomizing nozzles 5 which receive catalyst from the tank 3 under gravity. Air is admitted to the chamber 4 via an air inlet filter 7 in a side 8 of the structure. Within the chamber 4, a turbulent air flow is created in ' order to facilitate mixing and atomization therein. This is achieved by a turbulence-creating fan 6 in the base of the chamber.

The atomizing nozzles 5, whilst being fed with catalyst from the tank 3, receive compressed air via a hose 9 which is used to produce a fine atomizing spray at the nozzle 5.

To deliver the vapour-phase catalyst from the chamber 4, a variable-speed turbulence fan 10, the operation of which is controlled from mechanism 16, is located in a side 11 of the structure opposite the side 8 containing the air filter 7. The fan 10 directs vapour-phase catalyst to a required.location - in this instance to the co-deposition device referred to above and described hereafter with reference to Figure 2 - via a flexible conduit T2. Located in a cowling 13 disposed around the fan 10 is a catalyst sensor 14. This sensor measures the concentration of vapour-phase catalyst passing along the conduit and provides a concentration reading which is fed back to, and recorded on, a dial 15.

By adjusting the atomization and vapourization of the liquid catalyst stored in the tank 3, which can be controlled within pre-determined limits from the dial 15, the concentration of the vapour-phase catalyst being delivered from the device can be monitored as required. Also, as indicated heretofore, the rate of delivery of the catalyst is controlled by operation of the variable speed fan 10. In this manner, preset concentrations of catalyst can be maintained with accuracy.

In the case of molecular solution of the vapour-phase catalyst in air, the concentrations will of course vary between zero and the saturation concentration for the particular catalyst used at the temperature under consideration. In the case of aerosol fogs this restriction does not exist.

As indicated above, the device of Figure 1 can use flexible conduit 12 to feed vapour-phase catalyst to the device illustrated in Figure 2 (and generally designated by the numeral 20). This latter device can be used for electrostatic deposition of catalyst only, 7 7 SSI 48 or for the electrostatic co-deposition of catalyst and a vehicle -typically paint.

The device 20 comprises a standard electrostatic gun 21 having a barrel 22 from whence the electrostatic charge is emitted. Feeding into the rear of the gun 21 is a supply conduit 23 which delivers the paint to the barrel 22 of the gun, from which it is likewise emitted with an electrostatic charge. Power lead 24 provides the power for the production of the electrostatic charge in the gun 21. Thus far, the gun is conventional - and well known in the art.

As indicated above, the flexible conduit 12 can connect the device of Figure 1 to the gun 21. The vapour-phase catalyst is projected to the barrel of the electrostatic gun by means of the pressure difference created by the fan 10 of Figure 1. In the device of Figure 2, a barrel shroud 25, concentrically deposed around the barrel 22, ensures that the vapour-phase catalyst is not emitted from the gun 21 before the tip 26 of the barrel is reached. In this way, the catalyst is also charged by the electrostatic field produced at the tip of the barrel 22 - and is charged sufficiently to allow the vapourized, and now charged, catalyst to deposit itself on an earthed substrate at which the gun is being pointed.

If the gun is to be used, in one mode, for electrostatic deposition of drying agent only (following previous painting of the substrate), actuation of trigger mechanism 27 will achieve this end. If, in another mode, co-deposition is required, the gun 21, controlled by operation of trigger mechanism 27, will be simultaneously supplied with paint via conduit 23, vapour-phase catalyst via conduit 12 (and electrostatic charge via lead 24). When the trigger 27 is depressed in this mode, paint from the barrel 22 and catalyst from the shroud 25 will be simultaneously electrostatically charged. Both, the flow of paint and the flow and concentration of catalyst can be controlled to achieve a desired ratio in the co-deposition of paint and catalyst.

It will of course be readily appreciated that, when the components of Figure 1 deliver the drying agent in vapour-phase to the components of Figure 2, via flexible conduit 12, the so associated components function as a single apparatus.

The process by which electrostatically charged catalyst is applied to pre-painted articles (to all surfaces thereof) or where co-deposition of electrostatically charged catalyst and paint is effected (to all such surfaces), results in a significant acceleration of the curing of the paint film, to give drying times of obvious commercial significance. The manner in which deposition or _ co-deposition is effected at all surfaces will be understood from Figure 2 - which depicts divergent path of drying agent and vehicle as the said agent and vehicle leave the device.

The invention will now be described with reference to five numerical examples. In relation thereto, the following should be noted.

The paint employed in these examples is a two-component white polyurethane preparation as mentioned hereinbefore.

In so far as it is of known structure, the electrostatic gun is of three basic types - which, for convenience, are referred to hereafter as types I, II and III respectively. Briefly, the type I gun performs the electrostatic deposition of paint (or other vehicle) by means of a rotating disc which atomizes the paint within an electrostatic field generated at the tip of a wire filament disposed for that purpose (the thus charged paint being delivered to the substrate being coated). The type II gun generates an electrostatic field per medium of a filament disposed at the end of a barrel, through which is delivered the paint to be carried by the electrostatic charge (the paint being delivered to and through the barrel by means of air assistance). The type III gun operates in substantially the same manner as the type II gun; however, the paint to be electrostatically charged is delivered to the barrel hydraulically.

EXAMPLE 1 (sequential deposition) A metal panel, earthed properly, is coated on both faces with a paint as previously described, using an electrostatic hand type I gun. Air containing approximately 2,000 parts per million of 55148 dimethylethanolamine in vapour form which has been generated from the apparatus of Figure 1, is passed at right angles to the painted plate - and within two minutes of elapsed time, the vapour-phase catalyst is charged using an electrostatic type III gun, with no paint being 5 supplied to the gun, and only a charge being generated. The gun is arranged opposite the plate thus allowing the charged field to intersect the catalyst flow. The passage of vapour-phase catalyst and the electrostatic field from the type III gun is run continuously for approximately two minutes after which time both catalyst and 10 electrostatic charge are discontinued. After a further eight minutes post-curing time in slightly turbulent air, the film is found to have been accelerated in drying on both sides of the plate to give a satisfactorily dried film.

EXAMPLE 2 (sequential deposition) 15 Vaporized dimethylethanolamine (DMEA hereafter) from the device of Figure 1 is passed through flexible tube 12 to plastic barrel shroud 25 around the barrel 22 of an electrostatic gun. This is the apparatus of Figure 2 with the gun, in this case, being an electrostatic type II gun. Painted panels prepared in a manner as 20 described in Example 1 above, are exposed to a flow of the vapour-phase catalyst from the gun as illustrated in Figure 2. The vapour-phase catalyst Is applied at a concentration of approximately 2,500 parts per million, for approximately sixty seconds after painting. This flow of catalyst is maintained, for approximately two 25 minutes, after which it is cut out and the plate exposed to gently turbulent air for approximately eight minutes. After this post-curing period, drying of the painted film is found to have-been markedly accelerated on both sides of the plate.

EXAMPLE 3 (co-deposition) A deposition gun, as described in Example 2 and illustrated in Figure 2, is set up and connected to the device of Figure 1. 5 S 1 4 8 1.0 Paint, as previously described, is then passed through the gun - and simultaneously, the vapour-phase catalyst (DMEA) was introduced in a concentration of approximately 4,000 parts per million of DMEA as a molecular solution in air. Properly earthed panels were painted by 5 the simultaneous application of paint and catalyst. Under these conditions, the painted plates showed equally rapid attainment of touch-dry condition and overall conmercial dryness.

EXAMPLE 4 This example is similar to that described in Example 3 above, 10 i.e. the same procedures were repeated but in this instance, the vapour-phase catalyst employed was PMT (all other parameters were the same). The degree of accelerated drying was even more marked than with DMEA and an even more rapid conmercial dryness was effected.

EXAMPLE 5 15 In this example, the vapour-phase catalyst was lead tetraethyl.

All other conditions as detailed in Example 3 above were identical. Once again an equally marked acceleration in the curing of the paint was achieved.

Claims (4)

1. An apparatus adapted simultaneously to apply a vehicle and a drying agent upon a substrate comprising, in combination, means for vapourizing a liquid drying agent; means for directing an 5 electrostatically charged vehicle upon a substrate to be coated; means for simultaneously directing an electrostatically charged drying agent in vapour-phase upon the substrate; the second and third-mentioned means being concentrically arranged in relation to one another; the vapourized drying agent being controllably delivered to said 10 third-mentioned means.

2. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings. Dated this the 7th F. R. KELLY & CO. day of June, 1988 EXECUTIVE.

3. 27 Clyde Road, Balla^ridge, Dublin

4. AGENTS FOR THE APPLICANTS.