Monthly Meeting
Meeting Registration Current Meeting Info Upcoming Events
The NWSCT is planning
IN-PERSON
meetings for the current
2024-2025 meeting season.
Meetings are typically held the second Tuesday every month through April.
The February TopGolf event has been postponed (due to the inclement frigid weather) and it will be rescheduled in the near future.
April Meeting
Tuesday, April 8th
This is our Annual Education Symposium and features presentations from students at North Dakota State University's Department of Coatings and Polymeric Materials. The meeting will begin with an overview of current NWSCT business, including a vote for nominated executives for the NWSCT for the 2025-2026 season. The meeting is being held on Tuesday, April 8th, 11:30am-1:30pm at Sherwin Williams in Minneapolis, MN (1101 S 3rd St, Minneapolis, MN 55415 MAP) and will include lunch which the cost is $30 for members and $35 for non-members. Registration must be made by/before Thursday, April 3rd.
There will be two (2) presentations titled, "Make polyurethanes without isocyanates? What are the possibilities?" presented by Dean C. Webster, Jingbo Wu, Alan Ekin, Ivan Hevus and "Hybrid Fluoropolymer Coatings" presented by Mark Rigel Ali, Eugene Caldona.
Abstracts: Polyurethanes are a high-performance class of polymer materials and are valued for their toughness, abrasion resistance, adhesion, and durability. Two-component polyurethanes can be applied under a wide variety of conditions and rapidly cure at ambient temperatures to a solid coating film. Due to potential health hazards of handling isocyanates, there has been growing interest in finding alternative ways to make polyurethane materials without exposing the end user to isocyanates. Some involve alternative urethane-forming reactions, but so far these have been found to have drawbacks. Another approach is that of alternative crosslinking polyurethanes (ACPU) where urethane groups are in the polymer backbone, but another chemistry is used for crosslinking. Epoxy functional polyurethanes are a potential ACPU and have been shown to have rapid cure speeds, which can enable curing at low temperatures. A good combination of properties such as hardness and flexibility along with good adhesion can be realized. A new and improved method to make epoxy functional polyurethanes has been discovered that has the potential to increase the commercial viability of these systems. We have also identified a method of making polyurethanes where isocyanate chemicals are not used in the process at all, and can lead to coating systems that cure rapidly under ambient conditions.
Fluoropolymer-based composite coatings with hybrid configurations offer an advanced solution for enhancing corrosion resistance, mechanical durability, and surface functionality in aggressive environments. This work explores the synergistic integration of functional additives into fluoropolymer matrices to optimize their protective performance. By incorporating inorganic and organic reinforcements, the hybrid coatings exhibit superior adhesion, electrochemical stability, and environmental resilience compared to conventional coatings.
Our strategy involves integrating either network perfluorocyclobutyl (PFCB) or melt-processable poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) matrices with nanostructured fillers such as polydimethylsiloxane-modified silica, electrodeposited polyaniline, thienyl-functionalized silane, and organo-modified montmorillonite. These tailored hybrid formulations exhibit remarkable improvements in corrosion resistance, as measured via electrochemical assessment, and enhanced mechanical robustness through optimized filler-polymer interactions. The inclusion of hydrophobic and conductive polymeric phases contributes to both barrier protection and active electrochemical passivation, reducing water uptake and ionic transport at the metal-coating interface.
Surface engineering approaches, including electropolymerization, silane coupling, and nanoclay functionalization, further improve coating-substrate adhesion, mitigating delamination risks under cyclic environmental stress. Wettability modifications, such as superhydrophobic structuring via fluoropolymer integration, also contribute to prolonged coating lifespan by minimizing corrosive electrolyte interaction. The thermomechanical performance of these coatings demonstrates significant improvements in hardness, flexibility, and thermal stability, making them suitable for demanding industrial applications.
Our work provides a comprehensive framework for designing fluoropolymer-based hybrid coatings with tailored multifunctionality. By leveraging synergistic material interactions, these coatings offer a scalable and effective approach to improving long-term protection for metal substrates in various industrial applications.
SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES:
Dean Webster is Professor and Chair in the Department of Coatings and Polymeric Materials at North Dakota State University.
He received a B.S. in Chemistry and a Ph.D. in Materials Engineering Science both from Virginia Tech. Prior to joining NDSU in 2001 he worked for Sherwin-Williams and Eastman Chemical Company. He was named Fellow of the American Chemical Society in 2016. In 2024 he was named a Fellow of the National Association of Inventors. His research is in the area of new high performance polymer systems for coatings and composites, high throughput methods, marine antifouling coatings, and use of renewable resources in polymers and coatings systems.
Mark Rigel Ali holds a bachelor's and master's degree in chemical engineering, equipping him with a strong foundation in materials science and process engineering.
He has over four years of professional experience as a process engineer in the downstream oil and gas sector, specializing in process design, process control dynamics, and optimization for petroleum and gas processing and storage. Driven by his passion for materials innovation, he transitioned into research and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Coatings and Polymeric Materials under the supervision of Dr. Eugene Caldona. His work focuses on fluoropolymer-based composite coatings for corrosion protection and surface engineering. His research involves surface functionalization, electrochemical analysis, and hybrid material systems for protective coatings.
For questions about the event please contact Jeff Hodges at: (
jeffh@boehlechem.com)
or register here
Register below and Pay Online for April
Scholarship Program
We have launched a Scholarship program that will award individual scholarships to an active member of the NWSCT in good standing OR the son, daughter OR grandchild of an active member of the NWSCT in good standing. Applications are available at monthly meetings and on our website (Scholarship Program page). The deadline to register is May 1st.
Important Dates and Upcoming Events
Tuesday, December 10th:
Monthly meeting is hosted by 3M in Maplewood. Speaker is Mike Praw.
January
No meeting
February 11th:
TopGolf Event
No speaker/technical presentation
Tuesday, March 11th:
TBD
Tuesday, April 9th:
Annual Education Symposium, NDSU to present
May
No meeting
June:
Golf Event
July
No meeting
August
No meeting
September:
Golf Event
March 2025 Meeting
Bonnie Piro of Sudarshan discussed pigments during our March 11 meeting at Sika in Shakopee.
November 2024 Meeting
John Du of Patcham presented to our group on November 19th at Cortec. His presentation focused on specialty additives for coatings.
April 2024 Meeting
Kyle Kingsley, New Education Chairperson, Presents Dean Webster of NDSU with a scholarship check from NWSCT.
Students and Staff from the NDSU Department of Coatings and Polymeric Materials, who attended the 2024 NWSCT Education Symposium.
December 2023 Meeting
On December 12th 3M hosted our monthly meeting. We were treated to two speakers, Mike Praw from Indorama and Jeralyn Camp from Byk Gardner.
November 2023 Meeting
On Tuesday, November 14th Ceramic Industrial Coatings hosted our monthly meeting in Osseo. We had 30 attendees for this meeting. The technical speaker was Tony Moy of BASF who presented on alternative formulating options to PFAS materials.
March 2023 Meeting
At our March, 2023 meeting Stephanie Yates of Momentive and Francisco Cortes of Evonik presented on emerging Silicone technologies at Master Builders in Shakopee.
February 2023 Meeting
NWSCT enjoyed a sunny day at TopGolf on February 7, 2023. Thanks to all who participated.
December 2022 Meeting
Kevin Rink of 3M and Tony Moy of BASF presented on specialty additives at the December, 2022 NWSCT monthly meeting, hosted by 3M.
November 2022 Meeting
Ms. Amanda Andrews discussed various water-based wax emulsion/dispersion technologies and illustrate how they’re used to meet sustainability initiatives across a variety of these applications.
October 2022 Meeting
Dr. Mervin Wood of BASF presented to NWSCT on UV Stabilizers during our October 11th meeting
April 2022 Meeting
Presentations from the April, 2022 Meeting
March 2022 Meeting
Presentations from the March, 2022 Meeting
October 2021 Meeting
Steve Brunner of WPC presents to our group on Corrosion Resistance during a meeting held at Cortec on October 12, 2021.
March 2020 Meeting
Laura Kovach of Emerald Kalama presents on novel coalescent technology.
February 2020 Meeting
Jon Lawniczak of Eckart presents on dispersion techniques for aluminum flake pigments.
October 2019 Meeting
Allison Abbey from Borchers presents on “Post-Add Solutions to Enhance Color Strength and Acceptance with Additives”
April 2019 Meeting
Dr. Dante Battocchi of North Dakota State University’s Department of Coatings and Polymeric Materials presents “Formulation and testing of anticorrosion primers”.
March 2019 Meeting
Dr. Romesh Kumar of Clariant presents “Creating Appearance” to the NWSCT at our March, 2019 meeting at BASF in Shakopee.
February 2019 Meeting
John Kelly of Venator presents to the NWSCT on Ti02 during our February 12th meeting at Sherwin Williams in Minneapolis.
December 2018 Meeting
Stuart Lipskin of BYK USA discussed paint formulating and resolving paint defects at the December 11, 2018 meeting
November 2018 Meeting
Jacob Shevrin of Evonik discusses Silane chemistry during the NWSCT monthly meeting in November at Tennant.
October 2018 Meeting
Dr. Thom Dombrowski of Specialty Minerals presented at our October meeting at Cortec. He discussed the role that mineral fillers play in the formulation of coatings.
APRIL 2017 MEETING
This is was our Annual Education Symposium and featured presentations from students at North Dakota State University's Department of Coatings and Polymeric Materials.
Please see the recent newsletter for further information.
April 11, 2017 Meeting
Students from the NDSU Department of Coatings and Polymeric Materials presented at our April meeting, hosted by Valspar.
Students from the NDSU Department of Coatings and Polymeric Materials presented at our April meeting, hosted by Valspar.
March 14, 2017 Meeting
Scott Brown of Lonza discussed trends and issues related to biocides used to protect paints and coatings at our March meeting at BASF in Shakopee.
Scott Brown of Lonza discussed trends and issues related to biocides used to protect paints and coatings at our March meeting at BASF in Shakopee.
January 2017 Winter Outing
This year the NWSCT broke new ground by hosting an event at Summit Brewing in St. Paul on January 10th. This event included a tour of their facility, dinner and of course beer sampling. It also allowed us to gain insight into a very important batch making process. Based on the turnout and enthusiasm for the event it will probably not be the last time that we host an event like this.
December 2016 Meeting
held at HB Fuller
Dr. Jeff Klang of Sartomer presents to the NWSCT on UV Coating Technology during our December meeting at HB Fuller.
Dr. Jeff Klang of Sartomer presents to the NWSCT on UV Coating Technology during our December meeting at HB Fuller.
November 2016 Meeting
held at Multi-Clean
Ron Romer of Huber Engineered Materials presents to the NWSCT in November on unique mineral products.
Ron Romer of Huber Engineered Materials presents to the NWSCT in November on unique mineral products.
October 2016 Meeting
held at Cortec
Yaw Aidoo of Elementis Specialties discusses novel rheology modifiers for use in waterborne coatings.
Yaw Aidoo of Elementis Specialties discusses novel rheology modifiers for use in waterborne coatings.
January 2016 Meeting
held at Tennant
Tony Hennessy of Elementis explains the importance of selection of rheology agents for solventborne coatings.
Tony Hennessy of Elementis explains the importance of selection of rheology agents for solventborne coatings.
Richard Grenville of Philadelphia Mixing explains the importance of proper mixing in paint batch manufacturing.
Richard Grenville of Philadelphia Mixing explains the importance of proper mixing in paint batch manufacturing.
November 2015 Meeting
held at HB Fuller
Stuart Lipskin of Byk USA presented: “Pursuit for the Perfect Coatings Finish”.
Stuart Lipskin of Byk USA presented: “Pursuit for the Perfect Coatings Finish”.
April 2015 Meeting
Annual Education Symposium
Casey Orgon of NDSU discusses an evaluation done on Polyester based powder topcoats.
Alison Rohly of NDSU discusses Vanillin based crosslinkers for epoxy coatings.
Annual Education Symposium Abstracts
Electrochemical Investigation of Polyester Powder Topcoats and Application to Magnesium-Rich Primers for Corrosion Protection Systems
Casey Orgon
Abstract
Environmental concerns in the coatings industry have led to strict regulation of the use of conventional solvents used in coatings formulations. Powder coating systems avoid this issue by fluidizing finely ground particles in air for efficient transfer to a substrate. Once cured, these coatings can provide high performance protection and have already proven themselves in many extreme environments. In partnership with Valspar and The United States Air Force, NDSU has begun research on powder coatings for corrosion protection. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy has been used to assess barrier properties of polyester powder topcoats crosslinked by TGIC and Primid chemistries. In addition, the feasibility of applying powder topcoats to Mg-rich primers has been explored with promising results. Combining these coatings can provide a corrosion protection system with high barrier properties of the powder topcoat and cathodic protection by the Mg-rich primer.
Vanillin: A Biobased Crosslinker for Epoxy Thermoset Coatings
Alison Rohly
Abstract
With an increasing need for biobased replacements of petrochemical materials, lignin offers significant potential in strength, durability, cost, and functionality. Lignin can be depolymerized to form small molecular weight compounds, the most abundant being vanillin. Although little research has been done, vanillin offers great potential as a crosslinker in coatings systems due to its unique functionality. The current research is therefore focused at incorporating lignin-derived vanillin into epoxy thermoset systems as a biobased crosslinker.
March 2015 Meeting
AJ Marsica of BASF presents to NWSCT in March on Kaolin Clay technology.
Andy Thorn of Heucotech presents to NWSCT in March on Zinc and Zinc-Free anti-corrosive agents.
February 2015 Meeting
Our monthly meeting in February was a tour of the Andersen Window facility in Bayport, MN. Thanks to everyone at Andersen for opening their doors to us and being such a great host.
January 2015 Meeting
Mark Ryan of Shepherd Color discusses Inorganic Pigments
December 2014 Meeting
Ed Casama of Buhler presents on Grinding and Dispersing during our December meeting.
Amanda Andrews of Wacker presents on the use of silicones in paint during our December meeting.
November 2014 Meeting
Hersjel Wehrens of Elementis presents on Dispersant Technology during our November meeting.
Hersjel Wehrens of Elementis presents on Dispersant Technology during our November meeting.
October 2014 Meeting
Christine Fortener of Arkema presents on Waterborne Alkyd Technology during our October meeting.
March 2014 Meeting Photos
February 2014 Meeting Photos
Audience Members for the NWSCT Monthly Meeting in February, 2014
Dr. Thomas Dombrowski addresses NWSCT on February 11, 2014
Dr. Thomas Dombrowski addresses NWSCT on February 11, 2014