Brazil. The Brazilian Association of Paint Manufacturers (Abrafati) held on December 10 the sixteenth installment of the Abrafati Awards for Science in Paintings, in which three studies aimed at research and technological innovations in the sector were highlighted: the search for sustainability as a central theme.
The first place was won by a group of researchers from the Department of Chemistry of the University of Central-West of Paraná, with a work on non-toxic colored aluminates based on polysaccharides. The main author is Mariane Dalpasquale, with co-authors Filipe Quadros Mariani and Marcelo Muller, and as a guide the masters Eryza Guimarães de Castro and Fauze Jacó Anaissi.
For his part, Marcelo Augusto Gonçalves Bardi and his advisor, Dr. Luci Diva Brocardo Machado, both from the IPEN -Institute of Energy and Nuclear Research- classified as seconds with a study of biodegradation of graphic inks applied in plastics, cured by ultraviolet radiation or electron beam.
In third place was Manuel Julimar Lopes, from the company SJD Rastreabilidade e Manutenção de Instrumental Cirúrgico, whose research focused on the use of aminosilane as the only curing agent in epoxy paints of high chemical resistance, resulting in the reduction of environmental risks and the improvement of occupational health.
"We received a series of works of very good level, showing that there is a lot of relevant research related to the paintings that are developed in the country, both in the academic world and industry. This is essential to the scientific and technological development of our industry, leading to breakthroughs and innovations that have a strong connection to our strategy of prioritising sustainability," said Dilson Ferreira, Executive Chairman of Abrafati.
