Understanding nanoscale inhomogeneities in industrial films

The world wide trade in chemicals is shipped via large tankers. These tankers have their holds coated in epoxy resin based systems. The major issue in their use is the waste and environmental damage produced when the tanks are washed and refilled with a different system, for example changing from methanol to acetone. The coatings are known to absorb the small molecules and this leads to stress and ultimately degradation of the films, in addition to cross contamination. The process of making the coatings is far from ideal and results in a range of inhomogeneities on the nanoscale. We propose to study films of these coatings prepared under a range of conditions, (primarily changing the curing environment) before, during and after exposure to a range of deuterated solvents, in the hydrogenous matrix.