RMUTT researchers driving high potential “Paint Industry Businesses’ towards BOI

Researchers of Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi (RMUTT) made their on-site observation at factory as part of the effort to help develop high quality Thai paint product called, ‘Intumescent fire-retardant paint’ so as to push Thailand’s paint industry business forward. Asst. Prof. Dr. Sommai Pivsa-Art, acting on behalf of the President of Rajamangala University of Technology (RMUTT), revealed that RMUTT researchers had been collaborating with the industrial sector to implement academic insights with professional experience into establishing a collaborative project. Moreover, it was also intended to help create and promote productive scientists from universities and government research institutes in order to increase their professional development to work copperatively with the private sector, thus, corresponding to the national strategy (Talent Mobility). Asst. Prof. Dr. Sorapong Phawasupree and Asst. Prof. Dr. Chantip Sakul-Khemruethai from the Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, RMUTT as representatives had made their on-site observation at a private factory, THAINAKORNPAINT and Chemical Co., Ltd to find practical aspects of conducting integrated R&D project to develop ‘Intumescent fire-retardant paint’. Two of the RMUTT students had also taken their responsibilities in the project either, namely Mr. Kamonthorn Vejakorn and Mr. Natthaphat Chadachit who had successfully completed the project of more than 90% with satisfactory outcome and it was probable that an actual product developed during the project would be distributed in the near future. Therefore, the aforementioned success would be as part of helping push the paint industry business in accordance with the policy and investment promotion measures that benefited the company and various establishments. Moreover, with the support from the Board of Investment (BOI), researchers from universities and private entrepreneurs would have their opportunities to compete and collaborate to support the development of Thailand’s technologies.

Asst. Prof. Dr. Sorapong Phawasupree explained that after making on-site observation and analyzing problems with the representatives of the company, he found that the objective of conducting research and development should be focused on chemical agent that could protect houses, commercial buildings, including industrial factories from fire and this certain chemical was called, ‘intumescent fire-retardant coating for fire protection’.

Concerning research and development technical problems, synthesis process of nanomaterial, and low expansion rates of intumescent fire-retardant coating were found problematic.  Under a normal condition, the intumescent fire-retardant coating in the insulation layer would prevent heat passing through the structural steel to slow down or even protect the structure from fire damage. And thus, to resolve the mentioned problems and to develop a collaborative project, both the company’s representatives and the researchers agreed to conduct research and develop nanomaterial that could help increase fire-retardant effectiveness of intumescent.

Asst. Prof. Dr. Sorapong also added that intumescent fire-retardant coating paint was acting as insulator when heated beyond a critical temperature, the paint would protect the steel structure from damaged and therefore, saved lives and properties. The intumescent fire-retardant coating was primarily composed of nanomaterial that was tested in accordance to the international standard for its fire resistance properties, intumesce properties, particle surface and actual application. After testing, the results showed that the nanomaterial was good enough to be manufactured in commercial application. “The benefits of this research outcome really made a big impact on the decision of the company to produce nanomaterial commercially. However, in order to successfully plan the production of nano-paints and fire-retardant paint, expansion of manufacturing business for industrial production and reducing imports of commercial nano materials from foreign countries must be well-strategized. More importantly, University’s researchers and students were actually working together to help increase their collaborative work experience and skills that could further contribute to the development and joint research between the university and the private establishments”. While Mr. Phoomipat Limsakulwit, Director and Operations Director of Thai Nakorn Paint and Chemical Company Limited said that THAINAKORNPAINT and Chemical was a Thai coating company with ongoing research and development to create quality products, the team of lecturers and students from RMUTT had also been collaborating with the team leader assigned by the company, Mr. Prasan Chai-Saenrit, who was the director of research and development in THAINAKORNPAINT & Chemical company. He really believed that the project had been very beneficial in terms of developing new product and exchanging interesting academic knowledge on nanomaterial and nanotechnology. Hopefully in the future, further collaboration between institutions and private sector would be made again.