Resins Market Update
April 2015 www.coatingsworld.com Coatings World | 39
functionality of a coating. Therefore, resins are considered the
first place to look for innovation and we invest resources in
bringing new functionality to customers. In turn, this enables
both parties to stay competitive.
“It’s difficult to hold a lowest cost position and to constantly innovate. We tend to focus our attention on projects that are
driven by innovation and specifically tailored to the end user’s
needs,” he concluded.
Resins suppliers are being pushed towards increased functionality and high-performance products, according to Hiel at
Arkema. “In architectural coatings, customers are seeking better
washability and dirt pickup resistance. In industrial applications, there continues to be strong interest in improved corrosion resistance. Arkema has an extremely broad ‘toolbox’ of
chemistries, which allows us to offer the optimal solution for
that customer’s needs- giving them the best balance of performance and value. We in turn work very closely with our suppliers to provide us with new, cost-effective raw materials,” he said.
Alberdingk Boley’s Sayed-Sweet said that plunging oil prices
and lower feedstock prices are causing customers to demand
lower resin prices, as well as resins with near-zero VOC. “To
address these demands we continue to innovate with emulsions
and polyurethane dispersions to address these demands. Lower
cost is still the primary driver,” she said.
Sustainable Solutions
Stricter environmental regulations have led to the need for increasingly lower VOCs, and resins suppliers have responded by
providing the market with “green” technologies.
King, of King Industries, said that his company strives to be
on the forefront of resin technology where VOC compliant coatings in both U.S. and EU markets are concerned.
“Our new lower viscosity K-FLEX XM-332 and XM-366
specialty diol resin modifiers for solventless and high solids applications are offered at 100 percent active, and are highly effective at improving hardness while maintaining good flexibility.
They provide the formulator with additional tools to formulate
low VOC and ultra-high solids coatings,” he said.
“For our customers who are formulating waterborne coatings,
their performance needs are typically very demanding. We continue to develop new diols designed specifically for water based
applications. K-FLEX UD350W and K-FLEX XM-386 are both
soluble in water without a neutralizing amine, co-solvent, or a
surfactant, and impart hardness and chemical resistance.
“Our K-FLEX polyester diols are extremely effective at com-patibilizing other resins, which are not soluble in certain solvents (including exempt solvents), or with other incompatible
resins where the need for compatiblization directly effects VOC
compliance,” King concluded.
Sayed-Sweet of Alberdingk Boley said that the company incorporates renewable castor and linseed oil into its PUDs, as well
design solvent-free PUDs with low cosolvent demands. “Whereas
in the emulsions category, we continue to innovate and design
multiphase and self-cross linking technology platforms for hydrophobic, fast drying and stain resistances,” Sayed-Sweet said.
DIC International’s Stanley said that light-weighting in the
automotive sector is one of the most “satisfying” areas the company is working in. “Polymers and composites are replacing
metal in automotive construction. In turn, we will drive down
fuel consumption with lighter and more aerodynamic vehicle
designs,” he said.
Arkema has developed a line of products under the EnVia
trade name that are suitable for use in formulations for sustain-
able paints, coatings, adhesives, sealants and construction prod-
ucts. According to Hiel, each EnVia product must pass a rigorous
certification program in order to meet the following requirements:
• Have no added alkyl phenol ethoxylate (APEO) surfactants
• Have no added formaldehyde or formaldehyde donors
• Have total latex VOC < 5 g/L
• Are below regulatory reporting limits for carcinogens, re-
productive toxins and ozone depleting compounds
• Have Low residual monomer levels - Total Monomer <
500 ppm
• Minimize use of hazardous substances
-Green Seal hazardous components < 0.01% by per
component
- California Prop 65 substances are minimized and docu-
mented with data available upon request
- Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPS) < 0.1%
- No known added phthalates, triphenyl or tributyl tins,
1,2 – dichlorobenzene
Petrangeli, of Sartomer, said that he feels VOC reduction has,
in fact, lessened in priority across most segments that have tra-
ditionally held that concern.
“Sartomer continues to have the largest offering for VOC
reduction for those markets seeking to enhance the properties
of their high VOC formulas or reduce VOCs as a strategy,” he
said. “Environmentally friendly, sustainable products continue
to be of interest, but have not begun to drive the market activi-
ties. Sartomer continues to offer and develop additional offer-
ings to compliment the SARBIO line of products that contain
sustainable raw materials.”
“Beyond our ongoing effort to custom build high perfor-
mance, low VOC emulsions,” said McPhee of Specialty Polymers,
“we have seen a growing interest from customers that rely on
solvent-based technology to help them build a green product
line. Specialty Polymers is also proud of our continued effort
to build high performance, low VOC emulsions. We are also
involved in several non-conventional coatings markets were the
sole purpose of our technology is to provide green solutions.”
Scott Cooley, coatings technology director at Reichhold, said
that the company’s fastest-growing product line in the North
American coatings market is BECKOSOL AQ, which he attri-
butes to its “low VOC profile, the renewable raw materials used
to make each unique polymer and exceptional performance in
formulated paints – all while being competitively priced.”
“Additionally, Reichhold sells water-based epoxy esters un-
der the EPOTUF trademark and water-based oil modified ure-
thanes under the UROTUF F trademark,” he said.
