Coatings World - January 2009

end. Reductions have been slow.”

NEW ADDITIVE TECHNOLOGY

Formulators should consider additives that will not only solve the problem at hand but offer additional benefits to the specific product or process. “Another major consideration of choosing a new additive for complicated formulations with several additives already in the system, is to first understand the functions of the additives already in the system,” said Nargiello. “We refer to these types of complicated formulations as ‘legacy systems’ or ‘witch’s brews’ where the formulations have developed over many years and the formulator has no knowledge about why additives in the system are there to start with. We suggest to try and avoid just fixing the problem with another additive on top of the myriad of products already in the system.”

Evonik offers a number of high performance additives. Acematt matting agents offer consistent, highly transparent, gloss reducing solutions suitable for green technologies like UV, high solids and water-based coatings technologies. Inxel pigment preparations are high speed dispersible pigment solutions for solventborne formulations. They offer manufacturers and formulators highly durable, color pigment technology options which are easy-to-use, eliminating the necessity of costly milling steps and clean-up, while allowing easy expansion into new color space. Aeroxide fumed metal oxides are used for improving free flow, fluidization of powder coatings and bringing transparent, highly conductive or IR absorbing characteristics to specialized coating systems.

Formulators should look to an additive to help them achieve their needs from the lab through paint manufacturing and application. “The additive that enables them to reach the performance targets in all these steps will be the best choice,” said Bernadette Corujo, director, NAFTA marketing, coatings, Ciba Corp. “In addition to the selection of the additive, formulators should consider the supplier’s reputation for quality and consistency.”

Ciba has launched several additives for coatings this year including Ciba EFKA 250, a silicone-based defoamer

for water-based architectural coatings; EFKA 4310 and 4320 high molecular weight dispersants made via a con-trolled-free radical polymerization process for solvent-based coil and plastic coatings used in industrial and automotive coatings and Tinuvin 477, a high performance, red shifted UV absorber for SB and liquid UV curable coatings.

“The choice of an additive should be based on the value added to the product and cost in use and not on the specific cost of the additive,” said Izzy Colon, VP and GM, Troy Europe. “The trend is to provide additive products focused on green coatings. These additives allow the coating manufacturer to offer coatings that are no VOC, have low impact on humans and the environment and are made with renewable resources where possible.”

Troy has launched a number of additives, notably Troysol Z377, a no VOC acrylic flow additive for solvent systems; Troysol MS350, a slip and mar additive for aqueous systems; Troysol WD95, a no VOC, APE-free pigment dispersant for aqueous systems and Troysol Z370, a no VOC wetting and flow additive for solvent systems.

“Formulators have to value the benefit of additives in their formulation,” said Napalowski. “Additives take only a small part in a formulation volume-wise, but they have a huge impact on the properties of the final product. Regrettably, additives are often judged by their cost instead of performance. Most of the time, the formulator is able to save overall cost by adding an additive and at the same time improve the properties of the coating or ink.” Tego has recently added Tego Foamex 883 and 885 to its portfolio for low VOC waterborne architectural coatings.

Product differentiation is a key consideration, especially during a difficult economic time. “Formulators should look for unique additive solutions that will help them differentiate their paints and coatings,” said Singhal. This may take the form of additives that are compatible with low-VOC paint, provide improved sag resistance, and enhance viscosity stability upon the addition of colorant.” Rohm and Haas has developed a number of new products. Acrysol RM-3000 non-

ionic associative thickener is a hydropho-bically-modified ethylene-oxide urethane (HEUR) rheology modifier provided in a solvent-free form. Acrysol RM-5000 rheology modifier is a solvent-free, nonionic associative thickener suitable for both interior and exterior latex paints.

Air products has launched four new ZetaSperse pigment dispersing additives designed to meet the needs of the aqueous dispersion of high performance and problematic pigments. ZetaSperse 2500 additive was designed for robust viscosity stability with metal salt reds and similar organic pigment chemistries. ZetaSperse 3100 additive offers broad compatibility with a range of carbon black pigment grades.

Clariant has launched a number of products under the Licocene name, including micronized versions of these waxes. To meet the current shortage for montan waxes, Clariant has also added two new replacement products, Licoclub CE 2 and WM 31, to its portfolio.

King Industries has developed a number of non-tin, mercury free catalysts. K-Kat XC-604, XC-617 and XC- 618 are for urethane coatings, cast elastomers and foam applications. Nacure XC-205, a blocked sulfonic acid catalyst, has been specifically designed to offer superior resistance to popping and blistering in coil primers and topcoats. A series of sulfonate ester- amine-free blocked catalysts have been developed offering improved stability with anticorrosive pigments for coil primers and topcoats, general industrial primers and primers for appliance coatings.

For coatings, ISP has launched low to no-VOC industrial biocides based on no-or low-odor, non-metallic, totally organic chemical actives. For in-can preservation and paint-film mildew protection, water-based dispersions of the actives BIT and IPBC have been developed and patented. In addition, a new-line of formaldehyde-free in-can preservatives based on combinations of Bronopol and isothiazolinones has been launched.