Surface Characterization of Polyester Resins Formulated with Different Crosslinking Agents

Coil Coating is an industrial process widely used to apply a paint layer to metal coil stock, in order to improve the resistance to corrosion as well as the aestetics of the surface. Three thermally cured coatings, formulated on a low Tg ispophtalic based polyester, were investigated by XPS and ToF-SIMS. A model formulation was employed for all three coatings investigated, however, the crosslinking agents used were varied for each formulation. Hexamethoxymethyl melamine (HMMM), tris isocyanurate (TIC) and a combination of HMMM and TIC were included as the cross linking agents in the three coating formulations. The use of TIC alone required a Sn based catalyst to promote the curing reaction. The aim of this work was to investigate the difference in the surface composition of the three coatings and the different behaviour of the different crosslinking agents used. This was in preparation for further studies which will involve interfacial analysis in order to elucidate the mechanism behind intercoat adhesion. The XPS analysis of the air/coating surfaces revealed a nitrogen concentration consistent with the concentration expected from the formulation for the coating containing HMMM. In the other two formulations a lower concentration then that calculated from the formulation was observed. The surface concentration of the two crosslinking agents is not influenced by the presence of the others, indeed the formulation containing both crosslinking agents is, in term of nitrogen concentration, merely a simple combination of the other two coatings. Peaks diagnostic of the cross linking agents were observed in ToF-SIMS spectra acquired from the air/coating surfaces. The coating with HMMM revealed peaks not present on the coating with TIC and vice versa, however the coating with a combination of HMMM and TIC showed all the peaks, with different relative intensities. In the positive spectrum of the sample with TIC the characteristic pattern of the tin catalyst can be observed. By XPS and ToF-SIMS analysis, we have been able to determinate that the HMMM and the TIC have a different distribution on the coating/air surface. Their distribution is not affected by the presence of the other crosslinking agent.