Expert analysis.
Real answers on metal
coatings failure.

Independent expertise in coating failure analysis, warranty disputes, and technical litigation support for metal buildings and roofing systems.

Senior Research Chemist
AkzoNobel Coatings
Metal Buildings & Roof Systems

Stephen
Burdick

Stephen Burdick spent over three decades as a Senior Research Chemist at AkzoNobel Coatings, where he led formulation development for high-performance coating systems for metal buildings and roofing. His work focused on PVDF fluoropolymer and polyester coatings applied to coil-coated steel and aluminum substrates.

Now operating independently, Stephen works as a coatings science consultant assisting building owners, roofing contractors, manufacturers, and legal counsel with warranty claims, failure investigations, and technical disputes involving architectural coatings.

His specialty is diagnosing premature coating failures in the field — including chalking, fading, adhesion loss, delamination, and corrosion under the film — and translating complex chemistry into clear, defensible findings.

"Decades of formulation experience means I know not just what the coating should do — but exactly how and why it falls short."
35+
Years Experience
Coatings R&D and applied chemistry
AkzoNobel
Former Employer
Senior Research Chemist, Coatings Division
Metal
Specialty Substrate
Buildings, roofing, architectural panels

What I can do for you

01

Coating Failure Analysis

Root cause investigation of adhesion loss, delamination, chalking, cracking, undercutting corrosion, and color fade.
02

Warranty Claim Support

Independent technical evaluation for warranty disputes, working with manufacturers, contractors, and building owners.
03

Expert Witness & Litigation

Clear, defensible expert opinions for arbitration, mediation, and court testimony.
04

Technical Consultation

Pre-project guidance on system selection, surface prep, pretreatment chemistry, and coating compatibility.
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Decades of applied chemistry

Deep technical knowledge built from over 35 years in the lab formulating the exact systems that are applied to today's metal building products.

Fluoropolymer & PVDF Systems
Kynar 500 and Hylar 5000 PVDF formulations for metal panel, roofing, and curtain wall.
Polyester & SMP Coatings
Coil coating chemistry for pre-painted steel and aluminum including polyester, silicon-modified polyester, and urethane-modified systems.
Corrosion Mechanisms
Undercutting corrosion, galvanic interactions, edge corrosion, and protective film breakdown.
Weathering & UV Degradation
QUV, Xenon arc, Florida south 45° exposure, and real-world durability correlation.
Adhesion Science
Pretreatment chemistry including chromate, non-chromate, and zirconium-based systems, primer selection, and failure mode analysis.
Test Method Interpretation
ASTM, NCCA, and AAMA standards including AAMA 2604 and 2605 warranty compliance.
Paint Film Diagnostics
Cross-section analysis, DFT measurement, hardness, gloss retention, flexibility testing, and field assessment.
Application & Process Review
Coil line and field-applied process evaluation, cure parameters, and process-related failure identification.

Let's talk about your situation

Whether you are dealing with a failing roof system, evaluating a warranty claim, or needing expert testimony, I can provide the technical clarity you need to move forward.

Website
coatingsci.com
Availability
Remote & on-site engagements · USA