Coatings Solutions

Dow Corning presents innovative fluorosilicone hybrid coatings at SCAA Eco Footprint Conference

MIDLAND, MICH., USA: Dow Corning Corporation fluorosilicone innovation expert Steven R. Block will present Fluorosilicone Hybrid Coatings: Bridging the Gap between Performance and Sustainability at the Surface Coatings Across Australia (SCAA) Eco Footprint Conference, which will take place August 6-8 in Glenelg, South Australia.

Block, whose presentation was named this conference’s Lou Cash Memorial Lecture, will discuss recent developments in fluorosilicone hybrids for coatings and additives, and how these developments provide unique performance benefits while satisfying demanding environmental requirements and employing many of Dow Corning’s Eco-Design Principles.

“Innovative fluorosilicone materials are a springboard for sustainable business,” said Block of Dow Corning’s Fluorine Business Program. “They also offer concrete solutions that can reduce the environmental footprint of coatings. New fluorosilicone coating technologies can reduce the use of VOCs and Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs), and conserve energy by requiring lower cure temperatures and shorter cure cycles.” For example, the implementation of a new UV cure fluorosilicone hybrid coating technology could save enough energy to heat approximately 180,000 houses in the U.S. each year.

In his presentation, Block will also discuss innovative fluorosilicone applications that improve quality of life, such as new fluorosilicone surface coatings that actually repel fingerprints and associated contaminants. With an increasing number of electronic devices now offering touch-screen displays, keeping surfaces free of fingerprints is increasingly important. Block will highlight this and other performance and sustainability benefits of using fluorosilicone coatings.

The Sustainable Coatings Across Australia Eco Footprint Conference will take place August 6-8, 2009, in Glenelg, South Australia. Hosted by the Surface Coatings Association Australia (SCAA), the conference brings together members who are involved in the supply of raw materials and the end users of these materials in the manufacture of paint, printing ink, adhesives and cosmetics.

Dow Corning’s fluorosilicone technology platform is an important development that offers innovation and sustainability, enabling improved surface performance. Active in the coatings industry, Dow Corning offers a wide and growing range of silicon-based product and service solutions. With its patented versatile fluorosilicone technologies, the company is developing new and improved materials for driving customer growth in existing and new markets with high-value, differentiated products. This technology platform can provide distinct sustainable competitive advantages and offer an option for replacing regulated fluorine-based products. For more information about Dow Corning’s silicone-fluorine coatings, contact Block at steve.block@dowcorning.com.

About the presenter
Steven Block is the commercial development manager for Dow Corning’s Fluorosilicone Business Program. His responsibilities are to lead, manage and direct global sales of new products, applications and services involving fluorosilicone technologies for the Coatings, Textiles, Construction, Electronics and Automotive Industries. During Block’s 24 years with the company, he has held positions in Strategic Business Development, Technology Management, Product Development, Application Engineering and Technical Service. He earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Missouri at Rolla and a master’s degree in engineering management from Wichita State University in Kansas.

About Dow Corning
Dow Corning (dowcorning.com) provides performance-enhancing solutions to serve the diverse needs of more than 25,000 customers worldwide. A global leader in silicones, silicon-based technology and innovation, Dow Corning offers more than 7,000 products and services via the company’s Dow Corning® and XIAMETER® brands. Dow Corning is a joint venture equally owned by The Dow Chemical Company and Corning, Incorporated. More than half of Dow Corning’s annual sales are outside the United States.