Daimlerchrysler Aerospace

Thomas Gante

Armin Fangmeier

Dieter Buetergerds

In a method for drying coating films on coated components, microwaves are generated by at least one magnetron (3A) in at least one microwave generator module (3) and introduced into a drying chamber (2A) through one or more waveguides (4). Air or another gas is blown from a blower (5) into the drying chamber (2A). An additive agent comprising a dipolar or polarizable molecular composition is mixed into the gas to form a gas mixture within the drying chamber (2A). The coated components (9) are placed into the drying chamber (2A) in a batch or continuous flow-through process. The microwave energy vibrationally excites and heats the additive agent in the gas mixture, which in turn heats the coating film (9') on the components (9). Alternatively, the additive agent may be mixed or applied directly in the coating film substance, so as to achieve direct heating of the coating film, or so as to evaporate from the coating film into the gas to form the gas mixture. The gas is preferably air, and the additive agent is preferably water vapor in a prescribed and controlled relative proportional content within the range from 20% to 90%, which is maintained within the drying chamber. The component may be a metal component or a non-metal component, and the coating may be a water-thinnable or solvent-containing one-, two-, or more component lacquer based on an epoxy, or a polyurethane, or an alkyde resin, or an acrylic resin. Uniform drying of the coating film is achieved even on components having a complex geometry.

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Ritterhude, Germany

Thomas Gante