Paint Recycling for End-of-Life Construction Cladding
Lead Research Organisation:
Swansea University
Department Name: College of Engineering
Abstract
Background:
The project will be undertaken in collaboration with Beckers, which dates back over 150 years and is a true pioneer in providing unique, high-quality solutions that answer coating needs across many sectors.
Research:
One of the main uses of Coil Coatings is on exterior façade panels used in building construction. Coatings are applied to continuous, wide metal strip and then thermally treated so as to induce gelation or crosslinking. Chemistries used include Polyester/Melamine, Polyurethane, PVdF & PVC plastisol amongst others. Currently, as cladding is removed from buildings at the end of life the metal is recycled via melting and then re-casting. During this process the coil coating is incinerated from the metal and so is lost.
Currently, a significant part of the carbon footprint of a coated metal panel is the emissions related to the production of the raw materials used to make the coating. Therefore, if a route to recover those raw materials was to be developed, this would yield a significant reduction in the total carbon footprint of the coil coating.
Project Description:
The specific focus of the doctorate will be firstly to investigate and develop low-carbon impact methods, chemical or mechanical, that would support the removal of the end-of-life coating from the substrate. Secondly, to develop a route to extract the constituent parts that can be reused in future Coil Coatings. This process would be carried out before the metal is then recycled.
Desired outcomes:
Development of a method to extract usable Coil Coating raw materials from exposed paint films that are applied to a metal substrate. The materials that would be most desirable for recovery are the coloured or anti-corrosive pigmentation (especially TiO2), and the organic polymers used as the binder.
The project will be undertaken in collaboration with Beckers, which dates back over 150 years and is a true pioneer in providing unique, high-quality solutions that answer coating needs across many sectors.
Research:
One of the main uses of Coil Coatings is on exterior façade panels used in building construction. Coatings are applied to continuous, wide metal strip and then thermally treated so as to induce gelation or crosslinking. Chemistries used include Polyester/Melamine, Polyurethane, PVdF & PVC plastisol amongst others. Currently, as cladding is removed from buildings at the end of life the metal is recycled via melting and then re-casting. During this process the coil coating is incinerated from the metal and so is lost.
Currently, a significant part of the carbon footprint of a coated metal panel is the emissions related to the production of the raw materials used to make the coating. Therefore, if a route to recover those raw materials was to be developed, this would yield a significant reduction in the total carbon footprint of the coil coating.
Project Description:
The specific focus of the doctorate will be firstly to investigate and develop low-carbon impact methods, chemical or mechanical, that would support the removal of the end-of-life coating from the substrate. Secondly, to develop a route to extract the constituent parts that can be reused in future Coil Coatings. This process would be carried out before the metal is then recycled.
Desired outcomes:
Development of a method to extract usable Coil Coating raw materials from exposed paint films that are applied to a metal substrate. The materials that would be most desirable for recovery are the coloured or anti-corrosive pigmentation (especially TiO2), and the organic polymers used as the binder.
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP/S02252X/1 | 01/10/2019 | 31/03/2028 | |||
| 2887100 | Studentship | EP/S02252X/1 | 01/10/2023 | 30/09/2027 | Anna Voytyukova |