Automotive OEM Coatings Chemistry and Applications

Course description
Time: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Location: 240 South Forge Street, Akron, Ohio 44325
Classroom 217 (Located inside the National Polymer Innovation Center)
Cost: $1000.00 USD
CEU's: 1.6
Instructor: Howard Senkfor

Course Overview

This course is designed to teach using a practical approach to the chemistry of various coatings types employed on Automotive OEM vehicles.  It is targeted for chemist, engineers, formulators and others who want to learn about coating chemistry. The course will take the student from the micro level (how monomer properties impact polymer properties) to the macro level (crosslinking mechanisms, typical additives impact on performance, color, etc…).  We will cover the various types of polymers used in thermoset coatings and several of the key cure/crosslinking types (1K and 2K) for baked system used on new cars.  In the class we will review Waterborne and Solventborne systems, why one uses various solvents and  common additive types.  There will be an overview of spray gun and pigment designs, color theory, durability defects and much more.  This course is an excellent introduction or enhancement of understanding for a chemist of any level of experience and designed to create a solid foundation of knowledge in OEM coatings.   Please see the outline for more details.

Note: While many of Refinish type coatings share similar chemistry with OEM types, they are not the primary focus of this course.  Ambient cure coatings’ chemistry will not be covered with the exception of Polyureas.  Architectural and House coating types are beyond the scope of this course.

Instructor Biography:

Howard Senkfor has been working for PPG Industries for over 30 years as an expert developing and commercializing a spectrum of Automotive OEM product types including: primers, basecoats, clearcoats, and waterborne/solventborne systems (1K and 2K systems) targeting plastic and metal substrates for global automotive customers such as GM, Ford, Toyota, Nissan, Fiat, BMW, VW, and many others.  In addition, has also developed new closed loop waste water treatment products, new coatings for the US Air Force to protect forces & facilities from various threats and has worked with inorganic anti-corrosive Pretreatment coatings designed for mixed metal systems (i.e. Aluminum, Galvanized and CRS).

He is an inventor on 19 issued US patents and as well 20+ international pending patents.   His patents cover a wide range of areas including:  new classes of organic amines, new fire retardant polymer/coating designs, phosphorus based polymers, poly thio-ureas and polyurea coatings.  He graduated from The College of Wooster with Bachelor of Arts degree in 1985 and joined PPG Industries after graduating.

Howard is currently working as a Senior Development Chemist Associate at PPG Industries specializing in anti-corrosion coatings (including thin-film) for the Automotive OEM industry and is an in-house expert on X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy.  With his knowledge base, he teaches a number of internal and customer facing classes: Coatings Chemistry, Six Sigma Quality, Lean Manufacturing and other courses.