4:30pm: Social Hour
5:00pm: Dinner
5:30pm: Commercial Talk
6:15pm: Technical Talk
7pm: Wrap up

Commercial and Technical Talk

Amanda Andrews

April Henkel

A Brief Introduction to Metal Pretreatment (What am I really painting?)

Abstract: Metal surfaces need thorough cleaning and preparation to ensure proper bonding of a subsequent paint layer. However, the pretreatment chemistry and morphology of the pretreated metal surface is sometimes overlooked. In this presentation, a broad overview of cleaning and pretreatment chemistries will be discussed along with best practices that promote good paint adhesion, minimize defects and provide corrosion protection. We will explore commonly-used processes in general and automotive industries.

Biography: April Tang is a Surface Treatment Technical Manager at Henkel. She received her M.Sc. degree in Organic Chemistry from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Prior to joining Henkel, April held roles in R&D and Marketing at AkzoNobel. She brings her experience in paint chemistry to her current role, where she provides technical expertise and support for Automotive OEM’s conversion coating processes, focusing on innovations in sustainable metal pretreatment technology.