Requirements and challenges
It was found that more than a litre of coating could be applied on batches of components which were then cured in an oven.
The volume of combustible/flammable liquid in the coating was high enough to create a significant explosion once it had been vapourised in the oven (comparable to a Molotov cocktail), and reliable control of ignition sources would have been difficult.
Solutions
Following a DSEAR assessment, R&B Industrial Ltd. were able to recommend changes to the coating process based on modelling and experimental data, which involved a pre-curing stage and oven temperature ramping, in combination with appropriate ventilation of the oven.
Outcome
Design and installation of the required ventilation systems was also carried out by R&B Industrial Ltd. and validated as safe using measurements with a PID (photoionization detector).