Deformulation (Reverse Engineering)
Deformulation, or reverse engineering, is the breaking down of a formulation into its basic components, usually finding ingredients that are present down to the 1% level. It involves the separation of the coating components and then identification of these components through analytical chemistry.
These investigations can answer such questions as:
- What's in my competitor's product?
- Why is the new supplier's coating different?
- What is causing the batch-to-batch variations?
Paints and coatings reverse engineering usually starts with solvent analysis using Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) to identify and quantify solvents. Dried coating samples can be extracted with proprietary solvent combinations to isolate materials based on solubility. Once materials are isolated, they can be identified using a number of analytical techniques such as Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (SEM/EDXA). Other methods can be used to quantify such as Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and Karl Fischer titration.
Click to read "The Art & Science of Paint Deformulation"
An Article by: By Michele L. Bruck, M.S., Analytical Section Manager, and G. Fred Willard, Ph.D., Vice President, Technology,
CAS-MI Laboratories, Ypsilanti, MI