About LASCT

The Los Angeles Society for Coatings Technology (LASCT) is a voluntary, nonprofit trade association. Established May 4, 1924, it is the preeminent organization in the Southern California area representing more than 100 paint and coatings manufacturers, raw materials suppliers, distributors, educators and students.

An important LASCT objective is to provide technical education and professional development to its members and to the Southern California coatings industry through its monthly technical presentations, technical documents, job assistance and scholarships.

CAL POLY SAN LUIS OBISPO – STUDENT RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT

SPEAKER:  Harvir Kalkat
Presentation: Optimization of Direct-to-Metal Waterborne Coatings using Machine Learning
Abstract: Developing coating formulations is a highly iterative process, and finding the right combination of materials can be difficult and time consuming. Machine learning (ML) can provide guidance during the coating formulation process by optimizing ingredient ratios to meet target properties and industry standards. This project seeks to identify the best ML models and hyperparameters that can handle coating formulation data, and find the best method of integrating ML into a coatings formulation laboratory curriculum.

SPEAKER: William Diment 
Presentation: Solar Reflective Exterior Coatings
Abstract: Solar reflective coatings are a field of current research and interest to our modern world. The name of these compounds refers to their ability to more effectively reflect solar light wavelengths than the architectural coatings employed in today’s structures. This research is a worthwhile pursuit to combat the “heat island effect”; the tendency of structures to absorb solar radiation and emit it as heat, leading to the higher average temperatures observed in city regions. Heat is additionally radiated within the structures, so these coatings can have effects such as reducing power consumption from air conditioning systems. Current methods for solar reflectivity include specific crosslinking, the inclusion of SiO2 spheres, and the investigation of well-suited pigments and other inclusions.

SPEAKER: Sachi Ottoes
Presentation: Colloidal COF Pigments in Water-Based Latex Coatings
Abstract: Color-changing coatings with real-time responsivity to environmental conditions have many potential applications. These coatings incorporate crystalline, porous pigments known as COFs, capable of transitioning from red to yellow in response to changes in pH levels. However, incorporating COFs into a coating has been challenging due to issues with their processability when synthesized in bulk powders. To address this, colloidal COFs were synthesized using specific catalysts, enabling stable suspensions in water. These water-stable colloids were then integrated into water-based latex coating formulations. Evaluation through L*a*b* color measurements demonstrated the reversible pH-sensitive color change capability of these coatings.

SPEAKER:  Juan Carlos Palominos Jr. (Masters in Polymers and Coatings Science, June 2026)
Presentation: Exploring the Thermal, Mechanical, and Moisture Resistance Properties of Sodium Alginate Films Crosslinked with GDL & Chitosan
Abstract: The increasing demand for sustainable and biodegradable materials has been a key driving force in developing novel bio-based polymers as alternatives to their conventional petroleum-based counterparts. Brown seaweed, a diverse photosynthetic marine organism found in coastal waters, is rich in polysaccharides such as alginate, a linear copolymer. Alginate’s abundance, biocompatibility and gelling capacity, make it a promising renewable resource for bioplastic synthesis. However, its inherent hydrophilicity and thermal instability due to the hydroxyl and carboxyl groups along its backbone, inhibit it from becoming commercially available. Therefore, this study aimed to address these limitations by synthesizing three sodium alginate films crosslinked with glucono-delta-lactone (GDL) and chitosan via solvent casting. The film’s mechanical strength, moisture resistance, and thermal stability were characterized and evaluated for sustainable packaging applications.

Date:  May 14, 2025
Time:   5:30 pm
Price:   $25.00-Retired; $35.00-Member; $45.00-Non-Member
Location:
DoubleTree by Hilton Buena Park
7000 Beach Blvd.
Buena Park, CA  90620

Click here to make reservation and pay online.

The 37th Biennial Western Coatings Sympsosium and Show
will be held October 19-22, 2025, at the Paris Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV.

Sponsorships open for purchase on December 3, 2024.