Interview: “Corrosion protection is and will remain the key

European Coatings: Corrosion protection alone is not always enough. Customers often want further functionalities. Are there any new developments that will play a important role here in the coming years?

Maximilian Bendix: Corrosion protection is and will remain the key to cathodic dip coating. We are seeing new challenges in the form of the growing share of multi-metal car bodies and equally the growing share of thin film pretreatment as an alternative to traditional zinc phosphating. New developments are bound to keep coming from this direction in the future. From our point of view, we are extremely well equipped to deal with this thanks to our current technology.

Maximilian Bendix, Head of E-Coat Customization at BASF Coatings. (Picture: BASF)

European Coatings: Do you believe that the layer thickness can be further reduced without any adverse effect on the protective performance?

Maximilian Bendix:One layer thickness is not like another. Due to the different requirements imposed by the automotive industry, our current technologies already cover a wide range of coating thicknesses, while maintaining excellent corrosion protection. We see reduced consumption as being the driver here. This can also be achieved by means of a uniform layer thickness distribution on the multi-metal body, as we have already shown in the market.

European Coatings: Corrosion protection paints, too, need to become even more environmentally friendly. Where do you see the greatest challenges here?

Maximilian Bendix:Our current technologies for automotive OEM and tier market are playing a big role by eliminating the use of heavy metal and tin. Overall, a holistic approach is important when it comes to conserving resources in production and application. The challenge will continue to be finding the right balance between environmental friendliness and performance (corrosion protection), including under changing conditions such as thin film pretreatment and new substrates.

Event tip: If you want to learn more about protective coatings, you should visit the European Coatings Seminar on anticorrosive coatings. It will take place in October in the lovely town of Amsterdam and be lectured by Dr Peter Plagemann of Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials.

Book tip: The Book “Anticorrosive Coatings” brings together all the disciplines involved in the creation and use of corrosion protection coatings for metals. It presents the latest insights into the quality and chemistry of surfaces, the proper way to prepare them by conversion treatment