Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/954267
May 22-24: Polymer Compounding, Formulating, and Testing of Plastics, Rubber, Adhesives, and Coatings. Akron Polymer Technology Services (APTS), Akron, Ohio. Sponsored by the University of Akron. Contact the training c e n t e r a t 3 3 0 / 9 7 2 - 8 3 0 3 ; a p t s @ uakron.edu; www.uakron.edu/apts. May 27-28: ASTM Corrosion Test- ing: Application and Use of Salt Fog, Humidity, Cyclic, and Gas Tests. ASTM headquarters, West Con- shohocken, Pa. Sponsored by ASTM International. Contact ASTM at 610/832-9585; fax 610/832-95555; service@astm.org; www.astm.org. PCI launches updated certification programs TAYLOR MILL, Ky.—Operating under the mantra "Powder Coating Done Right," the Powder Coating Insti- tute (PCI) has launched its reengineered and expanded Certification Programs that support the entire powder coating marketplace by assessing a company's capability to produce quality parts. PCI Certification is an extensive audit program that evaluates the candidate's business practices, process elements, equipment, maintenance practices, and quality control capabilities. Certified coaters can show, through demon- strated audit performance measure- ment, that they have the capabilities to correctly clean, coat, and cure products to produce quality coated parts. The program offers two certification types: PCI 3000 Certification is avail- able to custom coaters, while PCI 4000 Certification is specific to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Powder coaters achieving PCI certifica- tion are afforded a number of benefits. PCI Certification allows a company to differentiate themselves from other coaters and can provide access to business opportunities requiring the use of a PCI Certified powder coater. They are able to use the audit as a basis to create a continu- ous improvement process for enhancing their powder coating operation. In addi- UPDATE:Suppliers tion, they have access to the PCI Certified logo to promote their certification status. PCI Certification is offered to all com- panies who apply powder coatings, in- cluding PCI members as well as non- m e m b e r s . T o l e a r n m o r e , v i s i t www.powdercoating.org and click on the Resources tab. SSPC honors poster presenters PITTSBURGH, Pa.—SSPC has hon- ored the student-participants in its an- nual poster sessions, with executive di- rector Bill Worms presenting honors to the top three entries at a short ceremony held during SSPC's annual trade show. Saiada Fuadi Fancy (right), a Ph.D. stu- dent from Florida International Uni- versity, was awarded first place for her research piece, "Corrosion Performance of a Nanoparticle-Enriched Zinc Coat- ing on Steel with Deficient Surface Preparation." Fancy's poster described research in which she compared the pull-off strength and corrosion-mitiga- tion properties of a nanoparticle-en- hanced zinc-rich primer with those of a regular zinc-rich primer, especially on poorly prepared steel surfaces such as those contaminated with salts. Fancy used electrochemical impedance spec- troscopy to analyze the corrosion miti- gation of the coatings. Kien Nguyen (second from left), a stu- dent from the University of Kansas, rated second this year for his poster, "Numeri- cal Simulation of Welding and Galvaniz- ing Processes on Steel Bridge Girders." Nguyen used finite element modeling to analyze the thermal and mechanical ef- fects of welding and hot-dip galvanizing on steel bridge girders. He found that in- creasing the web thickness of a steel beam could offset the potential effects of the hot processes on the stability of the steel, while increasing the flange thickness ex- aggerated the distortion they brought on. Alexandra Ivey (left), a student from the University of Southern Mississippi, took home third-place honors for her poster, "Management in Protective Coating Systems." Ivey looked at the creation of hydrogel materials that could potentially be incorporated into anticorrosion coatings. By changing the polarity of the hydrogel particles, Ivey altered properties of the materials, which she proposes to add to thermo- plastic or thermoset coatings to help control corrosion. Echo Engineering introduces new catalog product INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.—Echo Engi- neering and Production Supplies Inc. has introduced shower caps as a new standard catalog product. The shower caps add protection for manufacturers looking to cover large openings or intri- cate parts at a low rate. Because of the elastic band in the cap, they wrap tightly around the part to ensure the compo- nent is clean from unwanted dirt, de- bris, and moisture. They are available in eight sizes and are made from 0.05-mil- limeter-thick clear polyester. Although shower caps are new to the catalog, they're not new to the com- pany. For the last few years, Echo has supplied custom shower caps for multi- ple manufacturers to keep their prod- ucts clean throughout the manufactur- ing line, shipping, and storage. Echo provides masking, hanging, and pro- tection solutions as well as rubber and plastic OEM components. CCAI accepting national scholarship applications TAYLOR MILL, Ky.—Over the past several years, the Chemical Coaters As- sociation International (CCAI) has awarded scholarship money from the CCAI Matt Heuertz Scholarship Pro- gram to students who are currently en- rolled in programs that could lead to a career in the finishing industry. The pri- 10 POWDER COATING, March 2018