As paint is stored, its physical properties change over time impacting performance. Students on the Axalta team will investigate innovative ways to improve the accuracy of stability predictions of specialty paints and coatings by focusing on modeling physical properties.
Abstract:
Axalta supplies paint and coatings to over 90,000 body shops in over 140 countries. As paint is stored its physical properties change (e.g., changes in color, viscosity, settling). These impact the performance of the coating, and significant changes eventually lead to reduced quality and/or unusable product. Collision shops need to keep a large inventory of paint products to be able to support their customer base, therefore paint can sit in inventory for extended periods of time, eventually resulting in stability issues. The ultimate objective of this project is to improve the accuracy of forecasting shelf life for these products which would greatly improve the collision shops’ ability to manage inventory.
Several factors can impact the storage stability of coatings, such as temperature, dispersion and colloidal stability, microorganism growth in waterborne coatings, and chemical reactions. These result in changes in things like the color, viscosity and settling of the paint. Currently Axalta uses a basic correlation combining physical property measurements to forecast shelf life of their product. They have a number of ideas based on the availability of new evaluation technologies, insights from related situations, and advances in chemical theory-based modeling that they’d like to investigate.
After background investigation the student team will prioritize concepts for improvement and develop a strategic research approach. Student ideas might include better measuring known physical attributes, identifying new attributes that correlated to stability over time, and/or implementing new modeling approaches based on theory. At the conclusion of the project students will incorporate their learning into a forecasting model with improved accuracy.
Impact:
If successful, this project will advance Axalta’s understanding of the physical and chemical processes happening during storage. This will lead to reduced waste of coatings used in collision shops, benefitting the environment, as well as reduce new coatings testing and approval time.
Scope:
Minimum Viable Product Deliverable (Minimum level of success)
- Supported by the sponsor mentor develop an understanding of paint/coating technology, current best practices, analytic methods and data from prior studies.
- Complete an extensive literature review of relevant subjects, patents, application papers, etc. Identify and evaluate potential innovative methods to assess aging.
- Together with the mentors develop a prioritized list of concepts/techniques to investigate. Develop a research plan to implement the highest priority ideas.
- Before the end of the winter term implement the initial of high priority ideas. Start aging studies at the sponsor’s lab (where preliminary results would be available in the Fall). Generate a research plan to complete the evaluation of additional ideas.
Expected Final Deliverable (Expected level of success)
- Complete the research investigation of other priority ideas.
- Combine various results into an improved model for forecasting stability. Initiate longer term validation study of the proposed model.
- Provide recommendations on next steps of the project.
Stretch Goal Opportunities: (High level of success)
- Propose new methods to accelerate stability testing.
Below are the skills needed for this project. Students with the following relevant skills and interest, regardless of major, are encouraged to apply! This is a team based multidisciplinary project. Students on the team are not expected to have experience in all areas, but should be willing to learn and will be asked to perform a breadth of tasks throughout the two semester project.
Physical Properties Evaluation (3-5 Students)
Specific Skills: Experimental evaluation of material properties such as contact angles, surface energy, surface roughness, rheology. Data analysis and modeling
Likely Majors: ChE, MSE, CHEM
Design of Experiments, Modeling, Statistical Evaluation of Results (1 Students)
Specific Skills: Design of Experiments and statistical evaluation.
Students in this role will also participate in the lab based experimental work. You should have interest/background in aspects of the project
Likely Majors: IOE, DATA, Stats
Physical Chemistry (1-2 Students)
Specific Skills: Surface Chemistry, Wettability, Particle Analysis
Likely Majors: CHEM, ChE, MSE
Additional Desired Skills/Knowledge/Experience
Strong candidates will have familiarity or experience with some of the following items and a positive attitude to learn what is necessary, as the project gets underway.
- Team-based project experience/good team player
- Ability and willingness to teach yourself new skills and techniques
- If you have specific skills or knowledge in any of the following, please highlight them in your personal statement
- Coatings technology
- Surface science
- Laboratory Rheology measurement
- Design of Experiments
- Project management
- In addition to the key technical skills students bring to the team, students will also engage deeply in self-directed learning of new and essential concepts, demonstrate flexibility, collaborate, cooperate, and develop strong professional communication skills.
Sponsor Mentor
Jefferson Porto
Jefferson Porto is a Technology Team Manager for Axalta Coating Systems, based in Mount Clemens, MI. He has over 30 years of experience in product development, product and process optimization and leadership of international technical teams. His main areas of expertise are automotive coatings formulation and technical problem solving. Jefferson holds an MSc in Transport Phenomena Engineering from University of Hiroshima, in Japan.
Geanne Boston
Geanne is a Sr. Scientist for Axalta, working in the Refinish Global Technology team. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from State University of Campinas, in Brazil, MSc in Chemistry from University of Fribourg, Switzerland and a PhD in organometallic chemistry from the Leibniz University, in Hannover (Germany). Before joining Axalta, Geanne worked for Dow Chemical in Brazil.
Executive Mentor
Matthew Boland
Matt Boland is the Vice President of Global Refinish Technology and Product Platform at Axalta Coating Systems. In this role, Matt leads a global team of technology managers, product managers/specialist, scientists, engineers, and technicians who are responsible for new product and color development, manufacturing, and customer support.
Matt holds a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from the University of Detroit, a Master of Science in chemical engineering from the University of Notre Dame, and an MBA from Michigan State University.
Faculty Mentor
Professor Anish Tuteja
Materials Science Engineering
Anish Tuteja is a Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Macromolecular Science and Engineering at the University of Michigan. He is also the director for the DARPA IceCycle center on icing research at the University of Michigan. He joined the faculty at the University of Michigan in 2009. Professor Tuteja’s work has been recognized by several awards including the David E. Liddle Research Excellence Award, the NSF Career Award, and the Air Force Young Investigator award. His work has also led to over 25 patents and patent disclosures. Multiple startup companies have been launched to commercialize the research discoveries from his group.
Weekly Meetings: During the winter 2025 semester, the Axalta team will meet on Fridays from 3-5. Location TBD.
Work Location: Most of the work will take place on campus in Ann Arbor. There will be periodic trips to the Axalta R&D facilities in Mt. Clemens, MI (north Detroit suburb) for training, presentations and access to specialty lab facilities.
Course Substitutions: CE MDE, ChE Elective, EE MDE, CoE Honors, SI Elective/Cognate
Citizenship Requirements: This project is open to all students. Note: International students on an F-1 visa will be required to declare part time CPT during Winter 2024 and Fall 2024 terms.
IP/NDA: Students will sign standard University of Michigan IP/NDA documents.
Summer Project Activities: No summer activity.
Learn more about the expectations for this type of MDP project