ica and Europe with demand shares of 32.1 percent and 20. 7
percent, respectively. The remaining shares were held by the
South and Central American and Middle Eastern and African
markets, with eight percent and 3. 8 percent, respectively.
China, notable for its fast growing economy, is set to lead the
way in the global paint additives market. Already growing faster
than the major developed countries, though currently slowed down
by the economic recession, China has emerged as the second largest
market (after the U.S.) in the global paint additives market. In
2010, it accounted for 40. 8 percent of the total Asia-Pacific paint
additives market by volume. It is likely that China will overtake
the U.S. in the next decade by growing at a rate of 14.1 percent by
volume. By offering good growth opportunities in the paint additives market, China has become the most attractive and lucrative
destination for Western European and North American producers.
For example, The Lubrizol Corporation is expanding its additives testing capabilities with a new technical services laboratory initially based on the campus of Jilin University in Zhuhai,
Guandong, China.
The lubricant and fuels market in China is growing at a rapid
pace, in line with the expanding domestic automobile industry.
“Our investment in testing capabilities in China and throughout Asia is significant because it will allow us to collaborate and
improve the quality and efficiency of our work on a highly global
scale,” said Phil Shore, Lubrizol vice president of testing.
The testing laboratory in Zhuhai will offer advanced technical
services for lubricant and fuel additive customers and OEMs in China.
The new additives laboratory builds on Lubrizol’s long established presence in Asia and will support Lubrizol’s ongoing
sales and manufacturing efforts in the region. In 2010, Lubrizol
announced the construction of a new lubricant additive production facility in the Zhuhai Gaolan Port Economic Zone, located
within 20 miles of the Jilin University campus. The new manufacturing site in Zhuhai will also provide opportunities for future
expansion of laboratory infrastructure in China.
Evonik has also opened its first research and development
center for additives for paints and coatings in Asia. A single-digit
million US dollar amount has been invested to set up the “Tego
Innovation Center” in two locations, Singapore and Shanghai,
as part of the global Evonik innovation network. The Tego Innovation Center will cater to manufacturers in the paints and
coatings industry in India and Asia.
“Evonik expects the Asian market to generate the largest market
growth for the paints and coatings industry in the coming years,”
said Thomas Haeberle, the Evonik executive board member responsible for segment resource efficiency, which oversees the coatings
and additives business unit. “We are anticipating the greatest demand
in the segment for environmentally-friendly coatings. Our new Tego
Innovation Center addresses exactly these growth markets.”
Advances in Additives Technology
Environmental regulations are continuing to fuel demand from
formulators for novel additives from their suppliers. As such additive technology is constantly evolving.
cycled PTFE, is also a leading worldwide supplier of a broad line
of micronized powders, dispersions, emulsions and compounds
including PTFE, PE, PP, fluoroploymers, custom wax alloy, natural waxes and specialty additives.
New products that Shamrock recently introduced include new
additions to the Fluoroslip brand (FS 383, FS 422N), as well as
the new process technology driven Narrow line of powders for
thin film applications (TUF- 4, Narrow 4).
“Powders with improved flow properties have been requested
by customers, and we are introducing an experimental line based
on new technology for testing purposes,” said Joon Choo, vice
president, Shamrock Technologies.
Shamrock also introduced AquaFLON MG, a new high performance dispersion featuring a stabilized blend of PTFE and
oxidized waxes for use in thin film metal coatings.
Also, X-8178 is a new fine wax powder specially formulated for
improved slip, and with de-gassing properties in powder coatings.
Headquartered in Newark, N.J., United States, Shamrock
Technologies manufactures hundreds of products and has over
500,000 square feet of manufacturing operations at six facilities
on three continents. All facilities are ISO 9001:2008 certified.
Another additives supplier, Micro Powders, Inc. of Tarrytown,
N.Y., United States, is a major manufacturer of specialized micronized waxes, wax dispersions and emulsions in the printing
ink, paint and coatings industries with an extensive and innovative product range.
Micro Powders specializes in developing innovative micronized wax technologies to meet formulators’ needs. Its unique
“stir-in” wax provides the formulator with optimum performance in surface protection additives the company said.
Micro Powders offers a full range of high performance micronized wax additives that are easily dispersed without prior
melting or grinding. Key product groups include: MP synthetic
waxes for lubricity and economy; MPP polyethylene waxes for
rub and mar resistance; Polyfluo and Synfluo waxes for slip and
abrasion resistance; Aqua waxes for all water-based applications;
AquaBead waxes and emulsions for water repellency and moisture resistance; Micropro, PropylMatte and MicroMatte waxes
for uniform matting and scratch resistance; Polysilk waxes for
improved slip, tape release and a smooth surface; Superslip
waxes for high lubricity, without PTFE; Microspersion Aqueous
Dispersions for “stir-in” wax dispersions; and Propyl Tex waxes
for for texture and gloss control.
Eastman Chemical Company is also a major player in the paint
and coating additives market and has introduced its newest Solus
performance additive, Solus 3050. Specifically engineered to help
formulators meet VOC, performance and productivity goals in waterborne coatings systems, Solus 3050 is derived from natural and
renewable cellulose material and can be used in the automotive,
industrial metal and consumer electronics coatings markets.
Performance benefits of Solus 3050 include smoother finish,
optimal metallic flake control, better redissolve/strike-in resistance, superior flow and leveling, improved atomization, and
greater adhesion to galvanized steel said the company.
