Fraunhofer IPA is presenting research results from the field of surface technology at this year's PaintExpo. For example, researchers at the institute have succeeded in producing color pigments based on food waste. The raw material for these products comes from crabs: chitosan can be extracted from their chitin shells, which are produced in large quantities when they are poached. The surfaces of the chitosan powder form stable compounds with various dyes, which can then be added to paints.
Bio-based raw materials
"Painting technology is an energy and resource-intensive industry. It is therefore important to become more resource-efficient. Bio-based raw materials such as the new color pigments can help with this," explains Dr. Volker Wegmann from Fraunhofer IPA. However, it is also important to minimize losses during painting and coating.
Fewer losses through simulations
Studies by the IPA have shown that the programming of painting robots can be accelerated and simplified with the help of simulations: If the entire painting process is modelled and optimized in advance, there is no need for time-consuming and resource-intensive trial painting processes. Losses can also be reduced by using new painting techniques: Fraunhofer IPA has developed the drop-on-demand technique. The paint is applied to the surfaces drop by drop. This saves material.
Coating using drones
In another research project, the engineers were able to develop an automated coating technique using drones. Until now, helicopters were needed to protect wind turbine rotors from imbalance and wear due to icing in winter. Drones are a cost-effective alternative. Fraunhofer IPA has developed a spraying device that works very precisely even in strong winds, but at the same time weighs very little. The technical parameters - such as the required pressure, efficient atomization and optimum droplet size - were determined by the team using fluid-dynamic simulations.
Presentations by the Fraunhofer IPA
The experts from Fraunhofer IPA will be presenting the topics of digitalization, automation and sustainability in talks at the trade fair stand at 10 a.m. (sustainability), 1 p.m. (digitalization) and 3 p.m. (automation).
Hall 1
Stand 1322
All innovations and information about PaintExpo 2024 can be found in our trade fair special