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Coatings & Surface Engineering

The Coatings & Surface Engineering is the place for conversation and discussion about coatings; substrate modifications; cleaning and surface preparation; and friction, lubrication and wear. Here, you'll find everything from application ideas, to news and industry trends, to hot topics and cutting edge innovations. This blog is inspired by the Coatings & Surface Engineering newsletter from GlobalSpec, which you can subscribe to here.

Keeping Carbon Out of It

Posted July 30, 2008 8:28 AM

In an effort to limit the amount of carbon dioxide that they contribute to the atmosphere, some manufacturers and industrial processors are looking to carbon capture and storage methods. But how does it work? Gaseous CO2 is captured before it is released into the atmosphere and compressed into liquid, then pumped into rock at the ocean floor. Many scientists see this as a promising solution to handle our excess of greenhouse gases, but some questions still arise. Where are the best places on earth to store CO2? Can all industries afford to do it?

The preceding article is a "sneak peek" from Coatings & Surface Engineering, a newsletter from GlobalSpec. To stay up-to-date and informed on industry trends, products, and technologies, subscribe to Coatings & Surface Engineering today.

7 comments; last comment on 08/16/2008
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The Role of Associations

Posted July 03, 2008 8:16 AM

The surface technology market has continued to globalize and grow in the last ten years, with leaders emerging in China and India. To help manage this growth and ensure industry standards, the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) is hoping to encourage more international participation from coatings professionals. The organization believes the coatings industry may be headed for a crisis as committee members retire without any younger professionals eager to take their place at the table. Is apathy hindering the industry's progress? Or, have associations lost their meaningful role in such a diverse and expansive global marketplace?

The preceding article is a "sneak peek" from Coatings & Surface Engineering, a newsletter from GlobalSpec. To stay up-to-date and informed on industry trends, products, and technologies, subscribe to Coatings & Surface Engineering today.

5 comments; last comment on 07/12/2008
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Quantifying Our Quirks?

Posted June 07, 2008 8:22 AM

Humans can behave in unpredictable, strange ways. But one scientist at MIT believes we can actually study our irrationality like other scientific mysteries. Dan Ariely provides fascinating insights into why humans sometimes make terrible decisions, including when it comes to our long term physical or financial health. Is it possible to develop some objectivity about our own quirks? Can we quantify our behavior to the point where we might be able to predict it or control it?

The preceding article is a "sneak peek" from Coatings & Surface Engineering, a newsletter from GlobalSpec. To stay up-to-date and informed on industry trends, products, and technologies, subscribe to Coatings & Surface Engineering today.

7 comments; last comment on 07/04/2008
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Paying to Get the Lead Out

Posted April 29, 2008 8:41 AM

California's Supreme Court tentatively upheld the constitutionality of the state's Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Act fee allocation. The current fee allocation determines that the gasoline industry pays 85% and the paint industry pays 14%. A suit recently filed by Shell Oil challenged the allocation, but with the intervention of The National Paint and Coatings Association on behalf of the paint industry, a judge determined that the current split is fair. What do you think? Who should pay to mitigate the damages caused by lead left in our environment?

The preceding article is a "sneak peek" from Coatings & Surface Engineering, a newsletter from GlobalSpec. To stay up-to-date and informed on industry trends, products, and technologies, subscribe to Coatings & Surface Engineering today.

20 comments; last comment on 06/26/2008
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Color Trends Come to the Surface

Posted April 06, 2008 8:01 AM

In European fashion right now, the colors black and white are all the rage. Interior designers and even automobile manufacturers typically follow, providing customers with the latest in color trends. Keeping up with the consumer's changing preferences is a challenge for coating manufacturers, who have to predict the rise and fall of a particular color or hue. Some trends are seasonal, but not all. How do you forecast what's hot and what's not in your product line? Are the colors your customers are demanding readily available?

The preceding article is a "sneak peek" from Coatings & Surface Engineering, a newsletter from GlobalSpec. To stay up-to-date and informed on industry trends, products, and technologies, subscribe to Coatings & Surface Engineering today.

1 comments; last comment on 04/06/2008
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