DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to an anti-impact multilayer coating with high performances. The use is known of anti-impact coatings used to coat vehicles subjected to the risk of impacts. In particular, these coatings are used to protect sensitive parts of ships, trains, aeroplanes, but also motor cars and lorries, from accidental impacts with objects of various type.

The use of anti-impact coatings in the railway sector is of particular importance as trains, above all modern high speed trains, are frequently subjected to accidental impacts with stones which fly up while the trains are moving.

Impacts which may occur, in particular in the lower portion of trains, can cause serious damage to the train, as some sensitive parts, such as the wheelset (system constituted by axle, wheels, brakes and transmission), are located on the bottom of the carriages and are subjected to high risks of collision with stones and ballast, which could cause breakage of these parts with serious consequences for the trains.

Even the simple removal of paint due to the aforesaid accidental collisions can cause damage to the body of the trains, as the lack of a protective coating exposes the metal of which these bodies are composed to premature corrosion by atmospheric agents which causes premature deterioration of the train as a whole.

Currently, the coatings used for example to coat train bodies, in particular to coat the bottom of carriages and of locomotives, are multi-component materials which are applied to the structures to be protected with normal methods for applying paints. However, these types of coating have some problems related to their stability. In particular, common anti-impact paints are not able to guarantee adequate protection if used at low or at high temperatures.

Situations in which it is necessary to guarantee adequate protection against impacts occur for example, in the case of coatings for the wheelsets of trains, wherein in the area around the braking system high temperatures of up to +150°C can be reached. In these parts subjected to high stresses, the inability of normal coatings to withstand such high temperatures causes delamination of this coating, consequently exposing the parts below to impacts and dents.

The use of these coatings at temperatures below zero, can cause phenomena of excessive stiffening with consequent cracking and/or detaching of the coating in the event of impact. Situations in which temperatures may be well below zero occur in those countries in which for some winter months temperatures can drop to even forty degrees below zero; in these particular situations accidental impacts with pieces of ice or compacted snow can also occur. Therefore, it would be desirable to have a paint for protecting structures against impacts with other objects, capable of maintaining the properties of resistance even in less than optimal environmental conditions.

It would also be desirable to have an anti-impact paint capable of maintaining its properties even if subjected to high temperature variations, exposure to solvents or corrosive agents and if subjected to abrasion.

It would also be desirable to have an anti-impact paint easily applicable even to irregular surfaces, which can be applied with normal painting techniques and which maintains at length its impact resistance properties.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a paint for metal and non-metal parts of trains, ships, aeroplanes, but also motor cars, lorries and working vehicles, capable of protecting the treated surface from any type of degradation caused by possible impact with flying or moving objects, preventing dents, cracks and internal stresses of the material.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a paint for protection against impacts capable of withstanding temperature variations, in particular that is capable of performing its anti-impact function in the best possible way even at very high temperatures or temperatures well below zero, thus guaranteeing its performance within a temperature range from -45°C to +180°C.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an anti-impact paint capable of protecting the surface from the abrasive and erosive action of flying particles, such as water, dusts, sands, ice, but also capable of protecting these surfaces against rubbing with moving objects.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a paint for protection against impacts capable of protecting the surface from the action of corrosion and degradation caused by corrosive and/or pollutant agents such as acid vapours, basic vapours, atmospheric agents, industrial fumes, microclimates, but also capable of protecting the treated surfaces from contact with chemical substances, such as acids, bases, organic solvents, detergents and water.

In accordance with the present invention, the aforesaid objects are achieved by means of a paint for protection against impacts, characterized in that it comprises:

- epoxy resin or hydroxyl functional polyol 50-75 %

- hollow spheres 0.5-10 %

- reinforcing fibres 1.0-7 %

- amine and/or polyisocyanate hardener 23-55 % said percentage quantities being expressed in weight in relation to the total weight of the paint. With a paint for protection against impacts according to the present invention, there is provided a paint capable of protecting structures, or portions of structures, against impacts, both accidental and non-accidental, so that it is possible to coat portions of vehicles, such as trains, aeroplanes, but also ships, working machines normally subjected to accidental impacts or impacts caused by the type of work being carried out.

In particular, a paint according to the present invention provides a coating for the bottom of trains, capable of protecting both the carriages and the locomotives against accidental impacts caused by flying stones or other blunt objects during movement of the train. This paint is also capable of performing its protective function even at high temperatures, essential for protecting some parts in proximity of the braking system of trains, which are subjected to high thermal stresses.

The function of protection against impacts of the paint according to the present invention is guaranteed even at temperatures well below zero, or in the presence of solvents or corrosive substances which could damage the metal of which the trains are composed, so that the necessary safety thereof is not guaranteed.

The paint for protection against impacts according to the present invention is composed of an epoxy resin (such as Epikote® 828 by Hexion Specialty Chemicals Inc.) or a functional hydroxyl polyol, in a percentage between 50 and 75 %, an amine or polyisocyanate hardener (such as Eporezit® T-53 by P+M Polimer Kemia Kft) in a percentage between 23 and 55 %, hollow spheres in a percentage between 0.5 and 10 %, reinforcing fibres in a percentage between 1 and 7 %.

The percentages indicated in the present description refer to the quantity in weight of the material in relation to the total weight of the paint.

In a preferred composition, the paint according to the present invention is composed of an epoxy resin or a functional hydroxyl polyol, in a percentage between 60 and 70 %, an amine or polyisocyanate hardener in a percentage between 28 and 42 %, hollow spheres in a percentage between 2.5 and 6 %, reinforcing fibres in a percentage between 1.5 and 3.5 %.

In an even more preferred composition, the paint is composed of an epoxy resin or a functional hydroxyl polyol, in a percentage between 65 and 68 %, an amine and/or polyisocyanate hardener in a percentage between 28 and 32 %, hollow spheres in a percentage between 2.5 and 4 %, reinforcing fibres in a percentage between 1.5 and 2.5 %.

According to the present invention, the term hollow spheres is intended as spheres of inert material with dimensions between 20 ÷ 200 μηι. The material of which these spheres are composed is selected in the group constituted by glass or plastic material or ceramic material.

The term reinforcing fibres is intended as fibres of inert materials appropriately milled to reach a dimension such that they can be amalgamated with the paint and perform their reinforcing function and/or make the coating conductive (carbon fibres, metal fibres). These fibres are selected in the group constituted by glass fibres with dimensions between 0.5 and 2 mm, carbon fibres of dimensions between 0.2 and 2.2 mm, polyamide fibres with dimensions between 0.2 and 2.2 mm, aramid fibres with dimensions between 0.2 and 2.2 mm, metal fibres with dimensions between 0.2 and 2.2 mm, fibres of mineral material (such as Lapinus® Granulated Wools by Lapinus Fibres Company) with dimensions between 0.2 and 2.2 mm, The paint as described in the present formulation can be charged with substances that ensure stability and contribute to facilitating its application. The charge substances are anti- sedimentation additives, wetting and dispersing additives, reaction accelerating additives, pigments, colorants and corrosion inhibiting extender additives, surfactant additives, surface additives, levelling additives, spreading additives, flame retardant additives, anti-static additives (alkyl ammonium salts, Tallow amines, sodium sulfonates, etc.), dry lubricating additives (such as PTFE, silicon spheres, polyamide powder, etc.), additives that improve adhesion to the substrate (silanes, organosilanes, polyester resins, polyolefins, etc.), anti- abrasion additives (ceramic powders, alumina powder, Teflon® powder, etc.), plasticizing/flexibilizing additives (such as chlorinated paraffins, phthalates, sebacates, trimellitates, adipates, hydrocarbon resins, epoxy-polysulfides, polyester resins such as LTW by Evonik Degussa Gmbh or K-flex® by King Industries Inc. etc.), functional reactive diluents (such as Cardura®, k-flex® etc.), opacifying additives (such as silicas, polyurethane and/or polyamide and/or polypropylene waxes, micas, polyamide powders such as Vestosint® by Evonik Degussa Gmbh etc.), UV- absorber additives (such as hydroxyphenyl-triazine, benzotriazol, HALS such as products from the Tinuvin® series by BASF Company), reactive silicons which provide surface lubricating and fluid repellent properties and an anti- graffiti effect.

Anti-sedimentation additives are substances capable of maintaining the solid particles contained in the paint, such as hollow spheres and reinforcing fibres, in dispersion thereby preventing them from depositing on the bottom of the container during storage of the paint; these substances are, for example, modified amide or polyamide waxes, organophilic bentonite, pyrogenic silica or polymer solutions of modified urea. Wetting and dispersing additives are substances capable of promoting and maintaining the solid particles of the paint in dispersion, so as to obtain a homogeneous coating; these substances are, for example, alkyl ammonium salts with acid groups, salts of unsaturated polyamine amides and of acid polyesters with low molecular weight or solutions of a long chain polyamine amide salt and of a polar acidic ester.

Reaction accelerating additives are substances capable of promoting the hardening process of the paint after application to the structure to be treated so as to obtain a continuous and homogeneous layer that guarantees adequate protection against impacts in all parts of the structure treated with this paint. The substances used as reaction accelerants are, for example, DBTL dibutyltindilaurate, zinc octoate, tertiary amines, polyamide adducts.

Surfactant, levelling and spreading additives are additives capable of acting on the surface tension of the product improving its properties of wettability of the substrate and of the pigments, providing the paint with improved surface adhesion, spreading and levelling. Additives such as surfactants, levelling and spreading agents can be silicon, acrylic and/or polyester based.

Flame retardant additives provide the film, in the event of contact thereof with a naked flame, with properties of reduced smoke emission, swelling of the thickness so that the film also performs heat-insulation and flame protection functions in the event of a fire. Flame retardant additives can be, for example, of halogenated type, melamine, melamine cyanurate, ammonium polyphosphates, HDBC, DECA, etc.

Pigments, colorants and extender additives are substances capable of giving colour and body to the paint and particular properties (anti-slip, anti-static, etc.), and of facilitating its application allowing physical assessment of the quantity of paint applied, which is otherwise impossible to assess with transparent paint. These substances can be, for example, barium sulfate, mica, kaolin talc, calcium carbonate, quartz, coloured quartz, coloured polymer spheres, nickel powder, copper powder, coated ceramic powder, alumina powder, iron and iron-chromium oxides, micaceous iron oxides, aluminium flakes and powder, titanium dioxide, carbon black, conductive carbon black, copper phthalocyanine, bismuth-vanadium derivatives, colorants from reaction of acids.

Corrosion inhibitors can be selected in the group composed of borates, chromates, molybdates, zinc phosphates and silicates, aluminium, calcium, strontium, sodium and lead, aluminium and zinc oxides, powdered and flaked zinc, flaked aluminium.

The paint as described in the present invention can be applied with normal methods of applying paint, hence with the aid of brushes or rollers, but can also be applied by spraying or with a spatula.

To facilitate application, but also to make the product more homogeneous, the paint can be diluted with organic solvents. Addition of solvent facilitates both preparation, facilitating mixing of the components, and application, in particular when applied by spraying. The solvents can be esters, such as n-butyl acetate, ethyl acetate, isobutyl acetate; alcohols, such as isobutanol, ethanol, n-butanol, benzyl alcohol; ketones, such as methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK), methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), acetone, diisobutyl ketone (DIBK); chlorinated solvents, such as 1 ,2-dichloropropane, methylene chloride, aromatic solvents, solvent naphtha (solvesso 100), xylene, toluene, glycols, such as propanol methoxy acetate (PMA), propanol methoxy (PM), butyl glycol.

The paint described is applied to the surface of the structures to be protected from impacts with a thickness that can vary from 1 to 15 mm, preferably from 4 to 10 mm. The paint can be applied to structures made of different materials such as metals, for example steel, aluminium, copper; plastic materials, for example PVC, PMMA, HDPE; composite materials, for example carbon fibre or glass fibre sheets; ceramic materials, and mineral media such as concrete or brick.

In order to obtain a coating to protect against impacts which performs its function in the best possible way, before application of the aforesaid paint, the surfaces to be protected (above all in the case of metal surfaces such as steel and aluminium) are treated with a first layer obtained by a paint comprising a polyvinyl resin in a percentage between 5 and 20 %, a phenolic resin in a percentage between 1 and 10 %, an epoxy resin in a percentage between 7 and 20 %, a polyisocyanate resin in a percentage between 15 and 50 %, a corrosion inhibitor in a percentage between 15 and 50 % and an acid or amine in a percentage between 1 and 15 %.

In a preferred formulation, said first layer is obtained from a paint comprising a polyvinyl resin in a percentage between 8 and 20 %, a phenolic resin in a percentage between 2 and 8 %, an epoxy resin in a percentage between 9 and 9 %, a polyisocyanate resin in a percentage between 30 and 40 %, a corrosion inhibitor in a percentage between 20 and 30 % and an acid or amine in a percentage between 4 and 12 %.

In an even more preferable formulation, said first layer is obtained by a paint comprising a polyvinyl resin in a percentage between 10 and 16 %, a phenolic resin in a percentage between 2 and 5 %, an epoxy resin in a percentage between 14 and 19 %, a polyisocyanate resin in a percentage between 22 and 36 %, a corrosion inhibitor in a percentage between 20 and 27 % and an acid or amine in a percentage between 5 and 10 %. According to the formulation of the paint described above of which the first coating layer is composed, the epoxy resin is selected in the group composed of solid or liquid epoxy resin from bisphenol A or bisphenol F or A/F mixture, polysulfide modified epoxy resin, epoxy- polyester resin, epoxy-phenolic resin, epoxy vinyl ester resin (the epoxy resin could also contain a functional reactive diluent); the polyvinyl resin can have hydroxyl functionality and is selected in the group composed of, but not limited to, polyvinyl butyral resin, copolymer resin of: vinyl-chloride, vinyl-acetate, vinyl alcohol, hydroxyalkyl acrylate, taken individually of in a mixture. Said corrosion inhibitor is selected in the group composed of borates, chromates, molybdates, zinc phosphates and silicates, aluminium, calcium strontium, sodium and lead, aluminium and zinc oxides, powdered zinc; said acid is selected in the group composed of phosphoric acid and nitric acid, said amine is selected in the group composed of aliphatic cyclic amine, polyamide adduct, tertiary amine, diamine.

Said paint can also be charged with substances that guarantee stability and contribute to facilitating its application, such as anti-sedimentation additives, surfactant additives, surface additives, spreader additives, levelling additives, wetting and dispersing additives, reaction accelerating additives, plasticizing/flexibilizing additives or resins, (such as chlorinated paraffins, phthalates, sebacates, trimellitates, adipates, hydrocarbon resins, epoxy-polysulfides, polyester resins such as LTW by Evonik Degussa Gmbh or K-flex® by King Industries Inc. etc.), colouring pigments and extender additives as described previously, opacifying additives (such as silicas, polyurethane and/or polyamide and/or polypropylene waxes, micas, polyamide powders such as Vestosint® by Evonik Degussa Gmbh etc.), additives that improve adhesion (such as organosilanes, polyolefins, etc.) and functional reactive diluents. It has been noted that the addition of organosilanes improves compatibility of the system on media of inorganic nature (ceramics, glass, concrete or bricks), while the addition of a chlorinated polyolefin improves adhesion on particular plastic media.

Said first layer can be applied with normal methods for applying paints with the aid of brushes or rollers, but can also be applied by spraying.

According to the type of application to be used for said first coating layer, the paint of which it is composed is advantageously charged with suitable organic solvents, which also facilitate its preparation. Said organic solvents can be esters, such as n-butyl acetate, ethyl acetate, isobutyl acetate; alcohols, such as isobutanol, ethanol, n-butanol, benzyl alcohol; ketones, such as methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK), methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), acetone, diisobutyl ketone (DIBK); chlorinated solvents, such as 1 ,2-dichloropropane, methylene chloride, aromatic solvents, solvent naphtha (solvesso 100), xylene, toluene, aliphatic solvents, such as mineral turpentine; glycols, such as propanol methoxy acetate (PMA), propanol methoxy (PM), butyl glycol.

The paint for protection against impacts is applied on top of the first protective layer described above, so that a coating is formed covering the surfaced to be treated.

According to the present invention, the first protective layer is applied at a dry thickness of between 8 and 12 μ while the protective paint is applied at a dry thickness of between 4000 and 15000 μιη.

With a coating as described above it is possible to treat structures or parts of surfaces of structures of different materials such as metals, for example steel, aluminium, copper, plastic materials, for example PVC, PMMA, HDPE; composite materials, for example carbon fibre or glass fibre sheets; ceramic materials, and mineral media, for example concrete or brick.

Some examples of paint for protection against impacts and of the first protective layer according to the present invention are listed below.

EXAMPLES OF FIRST PROTECTIVE LAYER

Example 1

%

Polyvinyl resin (VROH by Union Carbide Corporation) 1.3

Phenolic resin (Phenodur® by Cytec Industries Inc.) 0.4

Epoxy resin (Epikote® 1001 by Hexion Specialty Chemicals Inc.) 1.7

Anti-sedimentation additive (Bentone® SD2 by Rheox Inc.) 0.2

Dispersing agent (Disperbyk® by Altana BYK Chemie AG.) 0.2

Corrosion inhibitor (Zinc Phosphate PZ20 by SNCZ (Silox Group) 3

Titanium dioxide 0.7

Talc 1.8

PM-Acetate 19.6

Methyl n-Amyl Ketone (MAK) 20

Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) 30

Xylene / Dowanol® PM 1 : 1 17

Aliphatic polyisocyanate resin HDI (Desmodur®N75 by Bayer AG) 3.1

Polyamine/polyamide resin (Aradur®2964 by Huntsmann International LLC) 1

100 Example 2

%

Polyvinyl resin (Mowital® B-30H by Kuraray Europe GmbH) 1.3

Phenolic resin (Phenodur® by Cytec Industries Inc.) 0.4

Epoxy resin (DER 669® by Dow Chemical Company) 1.2

Anti-sedimentation additive (Bentone® SD2 by Rheox Inc.) 0.2

Dispersing agent (Disperbyk® by Altana BYK Chemie AG.) 0.2

Corrosion inhibitor (Zinc Phosphate PZ20 by SNCZ (Silox Group) 3

Red iron oxide 0.7

Talc 1.8

Di-inositol phthalate DINP 0.2

PM-Acetate 19.6

Methyl n-Amyl Ketone (MAK) 20.4

Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) 30

Xylene / Dowanol® PM 1 : 1 18

Aliphatic polyisocyanate resin HDI (Desmodur®N75 by Bayer AG) 2.4

Nitric acid solution 0.5

100

Example 3

%

Polyvinyl resin (Mowital® B-30H by Kuraray Europe GmbH) 1.3

Phenolic resin (Phenodur® by Cytec Industries Inc.) 0.4

Epoxy resin (Epikote® 1001 by Hexion Specialty Chemicals Inc.) 1.7

Anti-sedimentation additive (Bentone® SD2 by Rheox Inc.) 0.2

Dispersing agent (Disperbyk® by Altana BYK Chemie AG.) 0.2

Corrosion inhibitor (Zinc Phosphate PZ20 by SNCZ (Silox Group) 3

Yellow iron oxide 0.7

Talc 1.8

PM-Acetate 19.9

Methyl n-Amyl Ketone (MAK) 20

Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) 30

Xylene / Dowanol® PM 1 :1 18

Aliphatic polyisocyanate resin HDI (Desmodur®N75 by Bayer AG) 2.2

Phosphoric acid solution 0.6 After mixing of all the components of the above formulation, the first layer is applied to the parts to be treated within a time of 5-8 hours.

The first protective layer can be applied with a brush, but is difficult to apply a constant thickness. Therefore, application using a roller or by spraying with a HVLP sprayer, or conventional air sprayer, or with a low pressure diaphragm pump is preferred. The dry thickness which is generally obtained with the formulations of the example, applying a wet coat sprayed with horizontal and vertical strokes, is approximately 8÷12 μιη.

EXAMPLES OF PAINT FOR PROTECTION AGAINST IMPACTS

Example 1

%

Epoxy resin from bisphenol A/F (Araldite® GY1955 by Huntsman International 58.4

LLC or Epikote® 818 by Hexion Specialty

Chemicals Inc.)

5.0

Hydrocarbon resin (Novares LA-700 by RUTGERS Gmbh)

Hollow spheres (Sphericel® 60-P18 by Potters Industries Inc. or Noblite® G200 by 2.3

Noblite Company)

0.1

Dispersing agent (Disperbyk® by Altana BYK Chemie AG)

2.7

Pigments (Titanium oxide, Chrome Oxide green, red iron oxide)

Reinforcing fibres (Rhenogran® AFP-40/EPDM (GE 1909) and Rhenogran® P91- 3.1

40/EPDM by Rhein Chemie Rheinau GmbH or FAR 700/075 by Heinrich Kautzmann Gmbh or Rockforce® MS675 or Rockforce® MS615 by Lapinus fibres)

2.4

Solvent (MEK, MIBK, MAK, MIAK, ETHANOL, ISOBUTANOL, etc)

Hardening amine resin (Epilox® H 10-31 by Leuna Harze Gmbh or Epikure® 26

F206 or Epikure® 05324 by Hexion Specialty Chemicals

Inc. or Aradur® 3296 or Aradur 223 by Huntsman

International LLC or Eporezit® T-53 of P+M Polimer

Kemla Kft or Polypox ® H 015 by UPPC Company) Example 2

%

Έροχν resin from bisphenol A (Araldite® GY253 by Huntsman International 20. 2

LLC or Epikote® 828LVEL or Epikote 816 by

Hexion Specialty Chemicals Inc.)

Epoxy resin from bisphenol A/F (Araldite® GY1955 by Huntsman International 37.2

LLC or Epikote® 818 by Hexion Specialty

Chemicals Inc.)

Reactive functional diluent (K-Flex XM-B301 by King Industries Inc or 3.0

Cardura® 10EP by Specialty Chemicals Inc.)

Hollow spheres (Sphericel® 60-P18 by Potters Industries Inc. or Noblite® G200 3.3 by Noblite Company)

0.1

Dispersing agent (Disperbyk® by Altana BYK Chemie AG)

2.1

Talc

2.6

Pigments (Titanium oxide, Chrome Oxide green, red iron oxide)

Reinforcing fibres (Rhenogran® AFP-40/EPDM (GE 1909) and Rhenogran® P91- 4.1

40/EPDM by Rhein Chemie Rheinau GmbH or FAR 700/075 by

Heinrich Kautzmann Gmbh or Rockforce® MS675 or Rockforce®

MS615 by Lapinus fibres)

1.4

Solvent (MEK, MIBK, MAK, MIAK, ETHANOL, ISOBUTANOL, etc)

Hardening amine resin (Epilox® H 10-31 by Leuna Harze Gmbh or Epikure® F206 27 or Epikure® 05324 by Hexion Specialty Chemicals Inc. or

Aradur® 3296 or Aradur 223 by Huntsman International LLC or Eporezit® T-53 of P+M Polimer Kemla Kft or Polypox ® H

015 by UPPC Company)

100 Example 3

%

Epoxy resin from bisphenol A (Araldite® GY253 by Huntsman International LLC or 43.4

Epikote® 828LVEL or Epikote 816 by Hexion

Specialty Chemicals Inc.)

Epoxy resin from bisphenol F (Araldite® GY783 by Huntsman International 5.0

LLC or Epikote® 862 by Hexion Specialty

Chemicals Inc.)

9.0

Epoxy polysulfide resin (Thioplast by AkzoNobel N.V.)

Hollow spheres (Sphericel® 60-P18 by Potters Industries Inc. or Noblite® G200 by 2.8

Noblite Company)

0.1

Dispersing agent (Disperbyk® by Altana BYK Chemie AG)

4.5

Pigments (Titanium oxide. Chrome Oxide green, red iron oxide)

6.1

Barium sulfate extender

Reinforcing fibres (Rhenogran® AFP-40/EPDM (GE 1909) and Rhenogran® P91- 2.3

40/EPDM by Rhein Chemie Rheinau GmbH or FAR 700/075 by

Heinrich Kautzmann Gmbh or Rockforce® MS675 or Rockforce®

MS615 by Lapinus fibres)

2.4

Solvent (MEK. MIBK. MAK. MIAK. ETHANOL. ISOBUTANOL. etc)

Hardening amine resin (Epilox® H 10-31 by Leuna Harze Gmbh or Epikure® F206 24.4 or Epikure® 05324 by Hexion Specialty Chemicals Inc. or

Aradur® 3296 or Aradur 223 by Huntsman International LLC or Eporezit® T-53 of P+M Polimer Kemla Kft or Polypox ® H

015 by UPPC Company)

100 Example 4

Epoxy resin from bisphenol A (Araldite® GY253 by Huntsman International

LLC or Epikote® 828LVEL or Epikote 816 by Hexion Specialty Chemicals Inc.)

Epoxy resin from bisphenol F (Araldite® GY783 by Huntsman International

LLC or Epikote® 862 by Hexion Specialty Chemicals Inc.)

Hollow spheres (Sphericel® 60-P18 by Potters Industries Inc. or Noblite® G200

by Noblite Company)

0.1

Dispersing agent (Disperbyk® by Altana BYK Chemie AG)

1.0 Talc

2.8

Pigments (Titanium oxide, Chrome Oxide green, red iron oxide)

5.1 Barium sulfate extender

Reinforcing fibres (Rhenogran® AFP-40/EPDM (GE 1909) and Rhenogran® P91- 40/EPDM by Rhein Chemie Rheinau GmbH or FAR 700/075 by

Heinrich Kautzmann Gmbh or Rockforce® MS675 or

Rockforce® MS615 by Lapinus fibres)

2.4

Solvent (MEK, MIBK, MAK, MIAK, ETHANOL, ISOBUTANOL, etc)

Hardening amine resin (Epilox® H 10-31 by Leuna Harze Gmbh or Epikure® F206 25.4 or Epikure® 05324 by Hexion Specialty Chemicals Inc. or Aradur® 3296 or Aradur 223 by Huntsman International LLC or Eporezit® T-53 of P+M Polimer Kemla Kft or Polypox ® H

015 by UPPC Company)

100 Example 5

Epoxy resin from bisphenol A/F (Araldite® GY1955 by Huntsman International LLC 59.4 or Epikote® 818 by Hexion Specialty Chemicals

Inc.)

Reactive functional diluent (K-Flex XM-B301 by King Industries Inc or Cardura® 1.0

10EP by Specialty Chemicals Inc.)

Hollow spheres (Sphericel® 60-P18 by Potters Industries Inc. or Noblite® 3.3

G200 by Noblite Company)

0.1

Dispersing agent (Disperbyk® by Altana BYK Chemie AG)

2.0 Pigments (Titanium oxide, Chrome Oxide green, red iron oxide)

4.0 Barium sulfate extender

Reinforcing fibres (Rhenogran® AFP-40/EPDM (GE 1909) and Rhenogran® P91- 3.1

40/EPDM by Rhein Chemie Rheinau GmbH or FAR 700/075 by

Heinrich Kautzmann Gmbh or Rockforce® MS675 or

Rockforce® MS615 by Lapinus fibres)

2.4

Solvent (MEK, MIBK, MAK, MIAK, ETHANOL, ISOBUTANOL, etc)

Hardening amine resin (Epilox® H 10-31 by Leuna Harze Gmbh or Epikure® F206

or Epikure® 05324 by Hexion Specialty Chemicals Inc. or Aradur® 3296 or Aradur 223 by Huntsman International LLC or Eporezit® T-53 of P+M Polimer Kemia Kft or Polypox ® H

015 by UPPC Company)

100 Example 6

%

Epoxy resin from bisphenol A (Araldite® GY253 by Huntsman International LLC or 30.0

Epikote® 828LVEL or Epikote 816 by Hexion

Specialty Chemicals Inc.)

Epoxy resin from bisphenol F (Araldite® GY783 by Huntsman International LLC or 28.0

Epikote® 862 by Hexion Specialty Chemicals Inc.)

Hollow spheres (Sphericel® 60-P18 by Potters Industries Inc. or Noblite® G200

by Noblite Company) 4.0

0.1

Dispersing agent (Disperbyk® by Altana BYK Chemie AG)

3.4

Talc

2.0

Pigments (Titanium oxide, Chrome Oxide green, red iron oxide)

Reinforcing fibres (Rhenogran® AFP-40/EPDM (GE 1909) and Rhenogran® P91- 4.0

40/EPDM by Rhein Chemie Rheinau GmbH or FAR 700/075 by

Heinrich Kautzmann Gmbh or Rockforce® MS675 or

Rockforce® MS615 by Lapinus fibres)

2.4

Solvent (MEK, MIBK, MAK, MIAK, ETHANOL, ISOBUTANOL, etc)

Hardening amine resin (Epilox® H 10-31 by Leuna Harze Gmbh or Epikure® F206 26.1 or Epikure® 05324 by Hexion Specialty Chemicals Inc. or

Aradur® 3296 or Aradur 223 by Huntsman International LLC or Eporezit® T-53 of P+M Polimer Kemla Kft or Polypox ® H

015 by UPPC Company)

100 After mixing all of the components of the above formulations, the paint is applied to the parts to be treated within a time of 20-40 minutes.

The coating can be applied with a brush, spatula and roller or using a suitably modified airless pump (in the passages and filtering parts, nozzles etc.) to prevent the fibre content of the product from clogging the system. The dry thickness which is generally obtained with the example formulations, applied with a suitably calibrated airless system, can reach 1÷2 mm per coat. In order to obtain optimum resistance to impact a dry film with a thickness of at least 4 mm is applied.

According to the type of resins used (more or less flexible) and/or any plasticizers or reactive diluents, coatings can be obtained which are more or less flexible. The tests performed show that the combination of a more flexible coating as first layer followed by a more rigid coating as second layer, offers optimal resistance to impact also at higher temperatures where a soft coating loses cohesion; the principle is that of the motorcycle helmet.

Tests were performed on structures treated with a coating as described in the examples set forth above, according to the standard BS EN 13261 (2003) Class 1, which assesses resistance to impact at -25°, at ambient temperature (+25°). These tests were conducted to assess the resistance to impact of surfaces which form parts of trains or other means of transport.

The table below shows the results obtained from structures coated with a coating according to the present invention.

TEST AND METHOD OF REQUIRED by EN RESULTS OBTAINED by the REFERENCE 13261 Class 1 COATINGS

+180°C - The projectile does not deform the metal surface

+25°C - The projectile does not

+25°C - The projectile must not

deform the metal surface

Resistance to impact deform the metal surface

Method EN 13261 Annex C -25°C - The projectile must not

-25°C - The projectile does not deform the metal surface

deform the metal surface

-45°C - The projectile does not deform the metal surface

Resistance to gritting Loss of paint: Loss of paint:

Method EN 13261 Annex D max level 3 (loss of less than 30%) max level 1 (loss of less than 10%)

Resistance to cyclic mechanical

stresses After 13 x 10 rotary cycles: After 13 x 10 rotary cycles: no

Method EN 13261 Annex F no flaw flaw

Resistance to salt spray after 1000 hours of NSN corrosion after 1000 hours of NSN corrosion Method ASTM B-117 flaw tolerance of less than 2 mm flaw tolerance of less than 2 mm Tests were also conducted according to ASTM and ISO standards, in order to assess the resistance of the coating when subjected to chemical or mechanical stresses; the results of these tests are set forth in the table below.

With a coating according to the present invention it is possible to coat structures or surfaces of structures, of any material or shape, simply and rapidly. It is also possible to touch up the coating so as to guarantee, at all times, adequate protection of the surface to be protected. The coating described guarantees high performances also at high or at low temperatures, such as also to protect parts subjected to high stresses against impact, guaranteeing optimal functioning thereof.