Drying paint faster

Citation

(2001), "Drying paint faster", Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Vol. 48 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/acmm.2001.12848fab.014

Drying paint faster

Drying paint faster

Keywords: Sunkiss, Coatings, Drying

The fastest train in the world now has a new coat of paint that dried lightning fast in a custom-built drying tunnel. Thermoreator tunnels from Sunkiss, based in Sathonay, France, are said to efficiently transfer infrared radiation to the coating's centre. This is believed to effectively reduce the drying time for organic coatings up to eightfold.

The system uses natural gas or propane-powered catalytic radiant panels. According to Sunkiss the panels efficiently diffuse infrared radiation that is absorbed by organic coatings. The electromagnetic radiation, in conjunction with hot air currents generated at the panel surface, combine to accelerate evaporation, melting, and polymerisation of the coatings.

The company also considers that the dramatically shorter drying time lets the tunnels be more compact than conventional drying ovens. The shortened and more thorough drying process is also said to give the coatings a better finished improved paint-film tension.

Tunnels equipped with the Thermoreator are said to need only a ten minute set up. Energy consumption is stated to be half that of conventional lines. And solvent by-products are said to be destroyed by flameless oxidation, making for a more environmentally friendly coating process.