Coatings World - January 2010

the additives business as well. During
the recession customers invested their
resources to a larger extent into the
development of new and improved for-
mulations, which we see as a chance to
improve market position through 2010
and beyond.”
Keim Additec Surface USA LLC
additive sales were relatively off in
direct proportion to the water-based
paint and coatings markets at large,
according to Alan Kalmikoff, presi-
dent, Keim Additec Surface USA LLC.

DEVELOPING BIO-BASED ADDITIVES WITH REACTIVE SURFACES

One company making a name for itself in the coatings industry is Reactive Surfaces Ltd. (RSL) of Austin, TX. A research and development company founded in 2002 by chief executive Steve McDaniel, RSL has been developing bioengineered molecules designed to add functionality to coatings and materials. It has extensive patents worldwide covering functional coatings and bio-based active ingredients, most recently in Canada on its self-decontaminating additive technology.

“Through discovery or creation of new enzymes and peptides, Reactive
Surfaces has the capability to rapidly develop tailor-made additive candidates
that function in a wide variety of surfaces,” said
McDaniel. “Our development effort is supple-
mented by an impressive team of external
expertise in coatings, polymers and biochemistry
at top universities including Texas A&M, the
University of Southern Mississippi and the
University of Georgia.”
In 2008, RSL and its research partners at Southern Mississippi were award-
ed the first American Coatings Award for innovative coatings research. At the
upcoming 2010 American Coatings Show, RSL will be presenting two papers on
its bio-based additives and a pre-show tutorial on biocides.

RSL has not yet brought its products to market, but McDaniel said, “com-
mercialization efforts are to focus on gaining market share in the large, well-
established biocide markets.”
The company is also pursuing the development of markets for innovative,
new bio-based functionalities such as anti-corrosion, anti-viral and anti-fouling
additives, according to McDaniel. To date RSL has developed three product
lines including:
• ProteCoat, a family of non-toxic and non-polluting biocides. Products include
antimicrobial peptides and a newly-developed, anti-algal enzyme/peptide mix-
ture—DeGreen;

• OPDtox, a “green” pesticide and nerve agent neutralizer; and • DeGreez, an oil-dissolving enzyme that creates self-degreasing surfaces.

“In 2010, Reactive Surfaces will begin testing novel bio-based functionality that will revolutionize anti-fouling coatings, it will conduct proof-of-concept testing for bio-based anti-corrosion additives and will finalize testing to show that its ProteCoat biocides are effective anti-viral additives,” said McDaniel. “While Reactive Surfaces will generate revenue in 2010 from OPDtox and DeGreez, successful completion of EPA registration of the ProteCoat product line by the end of 2010 will open the way for initial sales in 2011. In parallel with EPA registration and scale-up activities, Reactive Surfaces will explore strategic partnerships with key customers and major additives suppliers. Revenue is expected to grow rapidly in 2013-2014.”

ADDITIVES TECHNOLOGY
CONTINUES TO ADVANCE

Thanks to their environmental friendliness, waterborne coatings have already found a substantial market compared to traditional solvents, for example in the wood sector.

This trend is also gaining in importance due to stricter legislation. In the light of generally increasing environmental awareness, the tendency towards stricter international regulation continues with the objective of reducing volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Coating additive suppliers are actively building on this development towards environmentally friendly, solvent-free coatings. Not only do waterborne solutions improve existing applications but new market opportunities are also opened up.

Keim Additec Surface USA continues to be an innovative supplier of water-based surface modification additives to both thin film coatings, industrial, wood and floor coatings.

“In 2010, we will be announcing a new partnership with a major supplier of resins to the floor care industry with new innovative high performance products to enhance clarity, gloss, scuff resistance with APEO and VOC-free properties,” said Kalmikoff.

After several years of development, Buhler has just entered the coatings additive market with Oxylink, a new functional additive for waterborne paints and varnishes based on nanoparticle technology. A widely applicable additive, Oxylink is particularly suitable for one-com-ponent (1K) formulations and facilitates compliance with future environmental requirements.