International Coatings Scene
EUROPE
BY SEAN MILMO
EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT
MILMOCW@RODPUB.COM
Reformulation challenges
Making the
switch to
waterborne
formulations
is a challenge
to industry
and raw
material
suppliers
are trying to
help paint
companies
meet those
challenges.
Coatings companies in Europe are striv- ing to meet the challenge of reformu- lating their decorative paints to comply with new strict limits on emissions of
volatile organic compounds (VOCs) effective
in the European Union (EU) from January 1
next year.
In order to conform with the new limits, manufacturers of decorative coatings are having to
make big cuts in the VOC content of their
paints—as much as 90% with solventborne
paints and even 60% with waterborne.
The vast majority of large decorative paint
producers in the EU, which account for more
than half of sales in the European markets have
been ensuring for some time that their products
are compliant with the 2010 VOC restrictions.
This is mainly because much of their portfolio
has been switched to waterborne.
Otherwise they have opted for high solid
paints in which VOC contents has been reduced
by making greater use of reactive solvents, new
surfactant systems and other modifications.
The high solids route has also tended to be the
one chosen by many small- and medium-sized
decorative producers in Europe, which have been
slower to move over to waterborne paints.
There are well over 1,000 small and medium
enterprises (SMEs) in the European decorative
sector, according to figures from the European
Commission, the EU executive. When localized
small businesses, particularly in southern
Europe, are included the total rises to more
than 3,000.
Waterborne paints have an estimated
share of approximately 60% in the decorative market in Europe—one of the largest
shares in the world. But there is still an
entrenched loyalty to solventborne among
small producers and significantly among
many professional painters because of their
perceived superior qualities.
In the EU’s regulation for VOC emissions from
decorative paints, which is being implemented in
two phases, one from 2007 and the other 2010,
the toughest restrictions are on interior paints.
The VOC content of solventborne paints for interior matt walls and ceilings has to be cut by 92%
from 400 grams per liter to 30 grams per liter by
next year and for interior glossy walls and ceilings by 75% to 100 grams per liter.
For solventborne paints for interior and
exterior trim and cladding the reduction
must be 25% to 300 grams per liter.
“It’s a bit of a struggle for small coatings companies to meet the VOC limits,” said Hans
Ridderikhoff, technical marketing manager at
the polymers and coatings operation of Croda
International, Gouda, Netherlands. “All paint
companies will be complying with the new VOC
limits next year. But some will have reformulated quickly to keep within the limits. They will
have chosen a temporary solution.”
Due mainly to the effects of the economic
downturn, many coating companies are
selecting low cost technologies to ensure
their paints keep within the VOC limits. One
common choice has been the application of
high solids containing reactive solvents or
diluents, which remain in the paint.
A customer survey in 2007 by DSM Resins
of the Netherlands, which prompted 200
responses, found dissatisfaction with these
types of high solids with a high oil content
and low molecular weight because of their
low level of hardness and slow drying times.
“What we are seeing at the moment is the
commodity part of the decorative market
accepting old technology based on oil diluents and low molecular weight components
as the solution to VOC compliance despite
the deficiencies of low hardness and slow
drying times,” said Jan Besamusca, innovation director, DSM Resins. “Customers have
been influenced by the current economic
downturn by choosing what is available at a
low cost. The market has accepted the older
but more economical solution.”