wanderlust
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Sequitur (from latin sequi, to follow). Conclusion of an inference.
Non sequitur. An inference that does not follow from the premises.
What were the key factors for our research results to become either sequitur or non sequitur, both being equally valuable to gain knowledge? It was the corporate funding and the backing from our research director which allowed us (me, my group members and several students) to collaborate with experts from other disciplines and to almost freely explore apparently unorthodox approaches over a reasonable time frame.
In the light of the complexity of coatings (vide infra) these were the prerequisites to conceive appropriate designs of experiments (or to discern serendipity), to digest experimental data from complementary probes and to assemble congruent pictures of how the scrutinized samples were composed, structured and how they performed in applications.
Nevertheless, these pictures do not match reality. They still have white spots (unknowns). Some fragments of the puzzles might have incorrectly pieced together and we can't exclude missing parts within an imaginary second layer of the picture (unknown unknowns). Anyway, most of our picture descriptions passed peer reviews and were published in renowned scientific journals, accessible via my ORCID page.
Here, on the achievements page you will find the attempt to give brief summaries of the covered research areas which fall into three time periods. The intermediate phase of sober engineering was quite unproductive from the science perspective but of unfathomable value with regard to gained experience, skills and not least a gut feeling or instinct of how to approach that complex matter in a promising way.
Some of our research activities only led to just a few isolated fragments of overall blurred sketches. One unpublished example is the unsuccessful synthesis of novel analogues of imogolite nanotubes which are briefly described.
Furthermore, inherent challenges for the realization of highly attractive features in real automotive coatings are outlined for superhydrophobic surfaces and structural colors.
In the light of the complexity of coatings (vide infra) these were the prerequisites to conceive appropriate designs of experiments (or to discern serendipity), to digest experimental data from complementary probes and to assemble congruent pictures of how the scrutinized samples were composed, structured and how they performed in applications.
Nevertheless, these pictures do not match reality. They still have white spots (unknowns). Some fragments of the puzzles might have incorrectly pieced together and we can't exclude missing parts within an imaginary second layer of the picture (unknown unknowns). Anyway, most of our picture descriptions passed peer reviews and were published in renowned scientific journals, accessible via my ORCID page.
Here, on the achievements page you will find the attempt to give brief summaries of the covered research areas which fall into three time periods. The intermediate phase of sober engineering was quite unproductive from the science perspective but of unfathomable value with regard to gained experience, skills and not least a gut feeling or instinct of how to approach that complex matter in a promising way.
Some of our research activities only led to just a few isolated fragments of overall blurred sketches. One unpublished example is the unsuccessful synthesis of novel analogues of imogolite nanotubes which are briefly described.
Furthermore, inherent challenges for the realization of highly attractive features in real automotive coatings are outlined for superhydrophobic surfaces and structural colors.
Complex Coatings
Understanding coatings, in particular multi-layered coating systems, is challenging due to their complexity. They may comprise in the order of ten different ingredients for a single paint formulation and many of such ingredients are not a single, well defined compound but a mixture of isomers or molecular weights and structures. Furthermore, processes in the paint production as well as in the paint application are acting via thermal energy and mechanical forces on polymer chains and dispersed particles. Rupture as well as formation of chemical bonds may occur while dispersed pigments may agglomerate or disassemble into primary particles. Finally, an applied liquid coating undergoes a film-forming process during flash-off of solvent or water and - in most cases - a baking step in which the organic film cures through the formation of chemical X-links between polymers (or the polymerization of different monomers into X-linked polymers). These processes may involve the formation or the vanishing of internal interfaces (or better: interphases) between dislike components. In any case the result is a more or less solid material which limits the number of suitable methods for chemical analysis. On the contrary a plethora of testing methods exists for measuring physical properties, optical values or to observe and rate the coatings resistance against chemicals or UV-light and not least to study the impact of heating, freezing, humidity and mechanical deformation on all these properties.
Follow the Science?
Finally you'll find below some quotes I find worth to consider in tough times where some are urging others to "follow the science" in order to pursue their political agenda. As scientists we should refer to the imperfection of scientific methods and to the temporary nature of current insights and models which are going to change with further progress and as a result from scientific dispute. Otherwise scientists are going to jeopardise their creditability, since reality will sooner or later dismantle the propagated biased picture of an agreed scientific community without controversal perceptions ("follow THE science"). COVID-19 has shown us how scientists were instrumentalised by politicians whereas some conspiracy theories turned out to be true in retrospect.
We should be aware that once before being a scientist (the neologism was coined by William Whewell in 1833) became a shibboleth of being slovenly (N.R. Campbell, Nature 114 (1924) 788).
We should be aware that once before being a scientist (the neologism was coined by William Whewell in 1833) became a shibboleth of being slovenly (N.R. Campbell, Nature 114 (1924) 788).
It is not so much that I have confidence in scientists being right, but that I have so much in nonscientists being wrong.
Isaac Asimov
By three methods we may learn wisdom: first by reflection, which is noblest, second by imitation, which is easiest and third by experience, which is the bitterest.
Confucius
Any fool can know. The point is to understand.
Albert Einstein
There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept.
Anselm Adams
Don't waste your time with explanations: people only hear what they want to hear.
Paulo Coelho
It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they've been fooled.
Mark Twain
Don’t sacrifice yourself too much, because if you sacrifice too much there’s nothing else you can give and nobody will care for you.
Karl Lagerfeld
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