ANALYSIS
The GSB International: Sustainability at the Cutting Edge Philipp Mader GSB International e.V. – Düsseldorf, Germany
info@gsb-international.de
I
t is hard to imagine current news without
must be carried out according to GSB. Also,
the topic of sustainability. One cannot
the coating material has to have a GSB-
and - normatively speaking - should not
approval and the coating has to be carried
avoid the topic. Of course, sustainability is of
out by a GSB-certified coating company.
great importance in the context of coatings.
These companies are inspected twice a year
In order to understand which different areas
by independent accredited testing institutes
of the coating process can be analysed under
without prior notice.
sustainability aspects - one thing in advance, can briefly have a look at the coating process
Quality as a comprehensive sustainability aspect
according to the GSB Quality Regulations.
Before analysing the sustainability aspects
it is possible to do it with all of them - one
of the individual parts of the coating
The coating process according to GSB Quality Regulations
process chain, it is worthwhile to mention a sustainability aspect that spans over the entire
The GSB ensures the quality of coatings
process chain. This is the quality itself. In
on aluminium, steel and galvanised steel.
many tenders for applications in architecture
Depending on the substrate, different pre-
and industry, coatings for outdoor use are
treatment processes are permissible. In
required to be in accordance with GSB. This
the case of aluminium, pre-treatment with
happens for a simple reason.
chromium- or chromium-VI-free pre-treatment chemicals is permitted. These must have a GSB approval. For applications in highly corrosive
© Enviral® Oberflӓchenveredelung GmbH
The entrance portal of the Berlin City Palace/Humboldt Forum was coated according to GSB Quality Regulations.
GSB quality exceeds the requirements of current norms and standards. Architects, planners, building owners and industrial customers can thus be sure that there will
environments, pre-anodisation can also be
be no need for any premature repair work.
used as a pre-treatment process. If steel is
Resources that would have to be used for such repair work can thus be saved.
to be coated, the following pre-treatment
however, the use of chrome VI for pre-
processes can be used: iron or zinc
treatment is now largely banned within the
phosphating and blasting. This is somewhat
EU. Some companies still have a special
Sustainability in pre-treatment
different with galvanised steel. Chromating,
authorisation.
Now it is time to consider the sustainability
chromium- or chromium-VI-free chemical
After the pre-treatment has been completed,
aspects of the individual steps of the coating
pre-treatment, sweeping and zinc phosphating
the electrostatically charged coating powder is
process chain. Therefore, let’s start with
may be used in this case as pre-treatment
applied to the grounded component. Finally,
the pre-treatment. Most GSB-certified
processes.
the coating is cured. It should be added that
coating companies that coat aluminium use
To complete the matter, it needs to be added
coating with liquid paint is also possible for
chromium- or chromium-VI-free pre-treatment
that, according to GSB Quality Regulations,
GSB coaters. For coatings according to GSB, it
chemicals.
chromating may also be used for the pre-
is mandatory that the three presented process
The GSB played a leading role in establishing
treatment of aluminium.
steps have to be carried out according to the
the use of chromium-free and chromium-
In the course of the REACh regulation,
GSB Quality Regulations. The pre-treatment
VI-free pre-treatment processes. A look at
06
N. 76 - JULY/AUGUST 2022 - international PAINT&COATING magazine
