Book excerpt: APPLIED COATINGS An integrated collection of case studies providing a concise guide for professionals working with coatings materials in academia and industry In Applied Coatings: Chemistry, Formulation, and Performance, distinguished scientist Dr. Weih Q. Lee delivers an illuminating collection of case studies designed to connect various elements of applied coatings technology. Going beyond generic discussions, the author describes the fundamental chemistry, formulations, and properties of applied coating materials – including the structural and functional components of structure-property relationships – as well as the foundations of applied cure kinetics and the rheology of epoxy coatings. Each chapter is self-contained, comprehensive, and can be read individually, while the book remains technically and editorially integrated. Core themes include structure-performance relationships, formulation index driven experiment design, and consolidated thermal analysis. Readers will also find: A thorough introduction to epoxies and epoxy curing agents, including oxetanes, vinyl esters, glycidyl methacrylate (GMA), isocyanate and silicone crosslinkers, cationic catalysts, acrylate and phenol accelerators, and specialty derivatives Attentive descriptions of epoxy curing chemistry, including epoxy-phenolic, -polyamide, -active ester, and acid- or base-catalyzed systems in a broader scope Comprehensive explorations of cure kinetics and rheology, including model-free kinetics (MFK), the nth-order model covering Kissinger plots and the Borchardt—Daniels (BD) approach, the autocatalytic model, executive quantification via curve fitting of DSC (differential scanning calorimetry) exotherms, the rheology of non-reactive fluids, and the viscoelasticity of reactive coatings Practical discussions of C1S thick-film surface coatings, C2S structural lamination, liquid and powder epoxies, and phenolic coatings, including fluorene monomers, heterocyclic resins, and polymerizable derivatives Complete treatments of coating characterization, microencapsulation, epoxy hybrids and non-epoxy platforms, adhesion of applied coatings, and adhesion promotion, including reactive and functional silicones Perfect for formulation and research and development scientists and engineers at any technical level, Applied Coatings will also benefit research professors and students studying coatings, adhesives, composites, electronic materials, and more.