The technical standards on the basis of which the quality, safety and all the values of a product can be made objective are a fundamental asset internationally recognised, values that are at the basis of the free commercialisation of products in an increasingly global economy.
Valuable as they are, however, standards may also be not sufficient to demonstrate all the qualities or special features of a product, aspects that can instead be highlighted by a rigorous product certification process. An example comes from the outdoor paint sector, a segment in which the most significant test is undoubtedly the exposure to sunlight and climate, factors that are, however, strongly influenced by the latitude at which this test is carried out. The standard, therefore, defines the test method necessary to determine whether the quality of a given paint product is sufficient, but it does not ensure that it can live up to expectations in every situation.
If other characteristics are to be emphasised, it also becomes essential to carry out more specific tests, as in the case of checking the adhesion of the paint film when applied under wet conditions, rather than measuring the presence of micro-foam, which would inevitably lead to a reduction in other performances such as: water permeability, resistance to aging or adhesion.
All this information can be kept under control with, for example, the CATAS-WKI product certification. In fact, this certification requires specimens to be exposed to different latitudes (in Italy at Catas and in Germany at the WKI Institute) and evaluated according to several requirements and in different geographical locations.
A product certified by Catas, which can claim of having achieved the “CQA-Catas Quality Award", will be not only perfectly in line with the most up-to-date standards, but is periodically checked in various aspects, thus also ensuring continuity in production.
Moreover, Catas' activity proves to be even more valuable: to the presence of its technicians at all the main national and international standardization working groups it is also added an intense and continuous activity of verification, in its laboratories, of factors that may create particular criticality to products depending on the conditions of use.
Just think of the issue of “paint softening” for which a test method has been under study for many years by Catas together with the “finishing” group of the UNI-Italian body for standardisation. Well, to be part of this specific context means being able to detect any critical issues and bring them to the discussion of all the realities involved, in order to assess the need for changes in the formulation of the product rather than in the method of application, discussions that could also lead the authorities competent to re-discuss the test method itself in order to define a new possible minimum requirement.
For more than fifty years, Catas has been among the protagonists of this process of continuous improvement, which not only concerns coatings, and has enabled the laboratory's technicians to be counted among the top experts in their respective subjects at the international level.
Further evidence of this is the presence of Catas in the scientific committee of the “Wood Coating Congress” since the first edition, held back in 1998. At the most recent edition of this important international event, Catas was entrusted with the task of moderating the proceedings of the “Tests and Measurements” session, during which they discussed ways of optimally measuring the thicknesses of coating films, the effects of the vapor permeability of window and door coatings, variations in the mechanical characteristics of coatings applied during aging, the ability of coatings to reduce resin exudation and various other issues relating to both natural and artificial ageing systems.
A session that was certainly among the richest in the experimental data and requests for further information from the audience present. There was considerable interest in the report presented by Catas on a new test to assess the overmentioned issue of “paint softening” which involves both surfaces intended for exterior use, such as window and door frames, and interior furniture.
“Wood Coating Congress”, an appointment where the growing importance of environmental and sustainability issues and the strong trend underway toward replacing ingredients derived from the petrochemical industry with raw materials from renewable sources was particularly highlighted and to which Catas readily responds through its “CQA Safe, Durable and Sustainable” product certification for paints for interior use, which aims to combine all these aspects while maintaining compliance with minimum performance requirements as a fundamental point.
