A new ASTM International standard will provide the means to quickly detect and quantify the lead concentration in toys and other children's products. The new standard, F2853, Test Method for Determination of Lead in Paint Layers and Similar Coatings or in Substrates and Homogenous Materials by Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry Using Multiple Monochromatic Excitation Beams, was developed by Subcommittee F40.01 on Test Methods, part of ASTM International Committee F40 on Declarable Substances in Materials. The analytical technique described in this standard is commonly referred to as HDXRF.

"Frequent testing of children's products aids in identifying sources of lead contamination and ultimately prevents out-of-compliance merchandise from reaching store shelves," said Berry Beumer, vice president, XOS Inc., and chairman of the task group that developed F2853.

ASTM F2853 provides a convenient means to test for lead using the energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy technique. Such testing will ensure that toys and other children's products will comply with laws (such as the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008) that are currently being enforced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

According to Beumer, the HDXRF test described in F2853 enables lead quantification separately for the substrate and paint level in a 5 minute measurement cycle. Beumer notes that all interested parties are invited to join the task group responsible for F2853 as it considers future revisions to the standard.

"While the presence of lead has been of primary concern to industry, other harmful elements such as cadmium, arsenic and antimony are now also under scrutiny," said Beumer. "The task group is anticipating continued expansion of F2853 to include these and other elements in the standard.

"Additional interlaboratory studies will be required for the precision and bias statements for these additional elements, and the continued participation of third party test labs and toy and apparel manufacturers in such studies will be very helpful in expanding the scope of method," said Beumer.

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Dow Corning Corporation has entered into an agreement to acquire a 49 percent ownership interest in Timminco Limited's silicon metal manufacturing facility in Bécancour, Quebec, in a transaction estimated at $39.7 million. The transaction is expected to be completed on or about September 30, 2010. To complete the transaction, Dow Corning and Timminco will form a joint venture that will consist of the existing silicon metal operations of BécancourSilicon Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Timminco. The Bécancour site will initially produce 47,000 metric tons of silicon metal, of which Dow Corning will receive 49 percent.

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Huntsman Corporation has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the chemicals business of Laffans Petrochemicals Ltd. Located in Ankleshwar, India the Laffans chemicals business manufactures amines and surfactants. The chemicals business has 130 employees and annual sales of approximately $45 million. The acquisition is expected to close in the first half of 2011. The Laffans chemicals business will be integrated into Huntsman's Performance Products division. "In addition to the recently announced expansion of our polyetheramine facility in Singapore, the acquisition of this business is strategically important as we look to meet the rapid growth in demand for other amines within Asia," said Daniele Ferrari, president of the Performance Products Division. "This acquisition will bring total annual Huntsman Corporation sales in India to approximately $260 million or three percent of total sales."

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PPG Industries has introduced Claritage Extra anti-scratch topcoat, a factory finish for wood floors. Claritage Extra anti-scratch topcoats are based on new PPG proprietary ultraviolet-curable resins and nanotechnology that make them resistant to scratches and stains, enabling them to help wood floors retain their original gloss longer.

“In standardized wear testing against 14 competing products, Claritage Extra topcoats remained scratch-resistant after 3,000 cycles of abrasive scrubbing, while the next-best competitor failed after 1,200 cycles,” said Randy Brown, PPG technology manager for UV flooring in North America. “The topcoat achieved similar results in testing for gloss retention and resistance to stains from common household materials such as shoe polish, nail polish, mustard, iodine, food color, dyes and colored markers.”

“For several years, our customers have told us that better scratch resistance is a top priority," said Brian Knapp, PPG market manager for UV flooring in North America. "We worked closely with several of them to perfect the technology.”

In addition to scratch and stain resistance, Brown said Claritage Extra topcoats feature added clarity to highlight wood’s natural grain patterns. “To increase durability, coating manufacturers typically formulate finishes with additives that can make them look cloudy," he said. "We eliminated that problem by basing Claritage Extra topcoats on PPG nanoparticle technology. In fact, these coatings are an extension of PPG nanotechnologies that already have achieved commercial success in anti-scratch automotive and colorful consumer electronics coatings."

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The NanoSteel® Company, a leader in surface coating technologies, announces the launch of the company's LPA Screen product line which extends SCR catalyst service life through enhanced protection from bed plugging by reliable screening of Large Particle Ash (LPA)

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Adwest Technologies, Inc. announces 97% primary energy recovery for ultra low RTO energy usage on low solvent inlet loading VOC and odor abatement processes.

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BASF Coatings GmbH in Münster, Germany, and the Audatex GmbH in Stansstad, Switzerland, have agreed to comprehensive international cooperation. As part of the Solera Group, Audatex is a top solutions provider for the processing of collision damage and an established partner of insurance companies, bodyshops, carmakers and automotive experts. The majority of computerized damage estimates are based on an Audatex calculation. "BASF Coatings is the first company from the coatings sector with which we have concluded such an agreement on an international level," said Jan Koolen, senior director of industry relations at the Solera Global Automotive Center.

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Fresard of Ferndale, a Detroit-area automotive dealership and collision repair facility, transitioned its shop to waterborne basecoat from solvent-based systems in anticipation of new air quality regulations. The collision shop is now using the AWX Waterborne Basecoat System from Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes. Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes implemented AWX, a waterborne basecoat system that utilizes a proprietary resin technology that allows it to behave like the solvent borne systems of today. AWX was designed to be an easy-to-use, high-quality color coating that provides excellent color match and offers up to a 96% decrease in VOC emissions compared to other solvent-borne coatings.

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PPG and Steelscape will jointly market Dazzle colorful metallic coverings for walls, ceilings and other interior surfaces and accessories. The new line of Dazzle coverings features Truform tinted clear coatings by PPG applied to galvanized TruZinc panels by Steelscape. The products are available in 16 color options encompassing eight tinted clearcoats and two gloss levels. Because of their clearcoat appearance, Truform tinted coatings enable Dazzle coverings to join the natural spangle of TruZinc products with a vivid color palette. Suggested applications for Dazzle coverings include column covers, wall panels, decorative ceilings, heating and cooling equipment and walk-in coolers. The product also provides a colorful alternative to white boards because it resists dry-erase and permanent markers. Dazzle coverings are resistant to fingerprints, stains, graffiti, scratches and marring. For building owners, this durability means less maintenance along with the ability to add color without the disruption of painting. It also is lighter and less expensive than other materials.

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Valspar has introduced a new paint color and performance technology with the launch of Valspar Signature Colors with the Hi-DEF Advanced Color System. The new formulation, available exclusively at Lowe's, includes a hiding formula, which covers most old colors in one coat, delivering a faster, easier application, according to the company. Available exclusively at Lowe's stores nationwide, Valspar Signature Colors with the Hi-DEF Advanced Color System technology comes in matte, eggshell, satin and semi-gloss finishes, and comes with a lifetime warranty. Valspar Signature Colors with the Hi-DEF Advanced Color System technology retails for $30.98 to $33.98 per gallon.

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