The University of Minnesota will offer a short course on the fundamentals of the coating process, May 19-21, 2015. This course provides coating engineers and their co-workers with an understanding of the principles of the many processes by which liquid coatings are applied and solidified.

To coat is to replace gas at a solid surface by a layer of liquid, then to solidify the liquid by drying, chilling, or curing. Typically the coating must be thin and continuous and, often, uniform and smooth. Usually the final microstructure is important; often it is critical. Coating processes are vital ingredients of modern technology: from organic polymer photoresists in microelectronics and microphotonics to inorganic polymer sol-to-gel optical coatings; to magnetic oxide suspensions for tapes and disks; to adhesives and laminates; to ubiquitous paints, enamels, and related protective and decorative coatings; to photoreceptor suspensions for xerography; to multilayer photographic film, graphic arts products, liquid crystal, and light-emitting displays. Coating itself is fluid mechanics and interfacial phenomena, often delicate.

Drying involves mass and heat transfer, phase equilibria and colloid phenomena. Curing is chemical reaction and more. Drying and curing entail adhesion, shrinkage, stressing, and consequences. Coating processes consist of unit operations that can be understood scientifically. This continually evolving short course is based on research studies and is the first university course to cover coating process fundamentals. Comprehensive course notes are provided.

The course fee includes instruction, course materials, lunches, refreshment breaks, and reception. You may register for the course online at www.cce.umn.edu/coatingprocess or you may fill out the registration form and fax or mail it to the address on the form. A refund, minus a $75 cancellation fee, will be made if a written request is made by April 20, 2015 (another person may attend in your place if you are unable to attend – please notify the course coordinator if this becomes necessary). The University of Minnesota reserves the right to cancel the course if necessary, in which case a full refund will be made.

The short course will be held on the East Bank campus of the University of Minnesota campus. Final meeting room location will be sent to participants before the course. A block of sleeping rooms has been set aside at The Commons Hotel Minneapolis, 615 Washington Avenue S.E., Minneapolis; Phone: 612-379-8888, or 800-822-6757. Reserve your room by April 18 and mention the “Coating Process Fundamentals Short Course” to be placed under the room block.