Coating Processes (Chapter in Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology)

Coating process technology is in widespread use because the surface of most materials needs to be treated in order for the final product to meet all the functional needs and requirements. The modification is accomplished by applying a coating or series of coatings to the material to improve its performance and make it more suitable for use, or to give it different characteristics.

Many of the commercially available coating applicators are described, including units for simultaneous multilayer application, for discrete coating, and for patch coating. While convection drying is emphasized, brief descriptions of conduction and infrared heating, as well as of UV and electron-beam curing, are given.