Axalta Develops New Self-Bonding Electrical Coating

Axalta Coating Systems , which is one of the leading manufacturers of liquid and powder coatings in the world has developed a self-bonding electrical steel coating. The one-component steel varnish is called called Voltatex 1175W-1K and promises to deliver a longer shelf life and technical performance that is as good as that offered by standard two component systems. As it has only one component, handling is a lot easier.

When it comes to high-quality magnetic cores for stators and rotors, self-bonding characteristics have become increasingly important. They offer key advantages from a manufacturing perspective as they deliver precise and reproducible adhesion and the varnish is not squeezed out of bonded stacks. Hence,  customers prefer coatings with self-bonding properties, especially in the case of manufacture of motors for electric vehicles (EVs)and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs).

Speaking about the new product, Frank-Rainer Boehm, Global Technology Manager for Axalta’s Energy Solutions business said that Voltatex 1175W-1K will provide users with better product reliability, more efficient processing and highly user-friendly handling. An effective self-bonding one-component varnish calls for a highly-sensitive and well-controlled crosslinking system so that the coating’s application, drying and hardening processes all work well. It is not easy to achieve this chemically. The new Voltarex 1175W-1K will be the first such product as traditionally, only advanced two-component waterborne formulations have been able to deliver the required self-bonding performance.

Voltatex 1175W-1K is supplied in 200 liter drums or 1000 liter containers. Prior to use, it needs to be mixed with the Voltatex 1075K catalyst in a varnish-to-catalyst weight ratio of 90:10, and offers a pot life of one week at room temperature.