One of the setbacks to increased production in shipbuilding is the painting process. The reason is simply because the painting process requires drying time which precludes other works. In our attempts to shorten the drying time, we studied the following possibilities that may lead to the development of fast-drying paints and painting techniques as well as painting machines that answer this purpose. (1) We manufactured quick-drying paints by mixing recently developed high reaction rate hardners (isocyanate, carbamine, amine and polysulfide) and resins (epoxy, coal tar and polyester). (2) The pot life of these paints is very short, so much so that we manufactured experimental plural component plastics spraying equipment. (3) We clarified the relationship between painting conditions and paint film quality and the relationship between the spraying equipment mixing performance and film appearance. As a result of the study, it has now become possible to shorten the drying time to about 1/10 (1∼4 hours) and reduce the painting frequency by half (1 coating) in the painting process of vessels.
