(19)
(11) EP 0 465 012 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
22.04.1992 Bulletin 1992/17

(43) Date of publication A2:
08.01.1992 Bulletin 1992/02

(21) Application number: 91305142.1

(22) Date of filing: 07.06.1991
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)5: B05C 11/02
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE FR GB IT SE

(30) Priority: 27.06.1990 US 544575

(71) Applicant: Hughes Aircraft Company
Los Angeles, California 90045-0066 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Drummond, James E.
    Lincoln City, Oregon 97367-0107 (US)
  • Chang, David B.
    Tustin, California 92680 (US)
  • Joyce, Alexander H.
    Livonia, MI 48154 (US)

(74) Representative: Colgan, Stephen James et al
CARPMAELS & RANSFORD 43 Bloomsbury Square
London WC1A 2RA
London WC1A 2RA (GB)


(56) References cited: : 
   
       


    (54) Reduction of coating surface irregularities by electrostatic pressure


    (57) A time-efficient method for smoothing a surface 20 of an applied coating composition 22 is disclosed herein. In particular, the present invention sets forth a technique for expediting the subsidence of coating surface irregularities R1, R2. The technique of the present invention is applied subsequent to the application of the coating composition 22 to an electrically conductive object 24, which results in the formation of a coating surface 20. The technique of the present invention includes the step of generating electrically charged particles 40 in a volume of space adjacent to the coating surface 20. The charged particles 40 cause an electric field to develop across the coating composition 22, which induces the charged particles 40 to exert pressure on the coating surface 20.






    Search report