International. A Chemist at Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine Coatings is the recipient of the 2014 Neyman Award for Excellence in Innovation for global technical achievements. The Protective & Marine Coatings division has won this award twice since its inception in 2012."I am honored to receive this award on behalf of my research colleagues," said Mike Yajko, Senior Team Chemist at Protective & Marine Coatings Technology. "This recognition is more than a symbol of technical achievements, it represents Sherwin-Williams' commitment to progressive innovation and technical excellence."
The award was presented to Yajko for his innovation and leadership in an interdisciplinary team that developed a method to visually determine the thickness of the coatings applied.
Marine coating applications typically require thousands of individual dry film thickness (DFT) readings during inspection. The team investigated the possibilities of a self-inspection coating capable of providing a visual indication of film thickness during application.
Yajko demonstrated a novel non-contact inspection technique that will help applicators and inspectors identify potential defects. This translates into the return of goods to serve faster and extend the life cycle of a seagoing vessel.
