Additives Industry Update
Latest Technologies
Additives for paints and coatings need to be as technologically
advanced as the needs of construction, automotive and similar industries. To stay up-to-date on the latest customer needs,
Ruckle said that Siltech has recently developed some low fluo-roalkyl content anti-graffiti additives and is introducing non-fluoro anti-graffiti additives in 2016.
BASF said that its latest additives technologies are designed
to help paint producers make improved coatings while being
able to make very-low VOC claims. For pigment dispersants,
the focus is on being able to make water based universal colo-
rants that reduce VOC and glycol levels while improving the
labeling profile from the best of current technologies.
For defoamers, the focus is on developing new active
compounds that help defoam our customers’ emission-free
paints better. For the wetting agent arena, new developments
have focused on fluoro block-copolymer technologies previ-
ously used for dispersants. For rheology modifiers, the focus
has been to improve application feel and paint appearance.
According to King, King Industries is the “industry leader” in
the development of environmentally-friendly, tin-free catalysts
(K-KAT) and resin technology (K-FLEX) designed for formulating Zero VOC systems.
“Additionally, we are leading the field in the successful catalysis of isocyanate –free coatings systems. Although the handling
of isocyanates is dangerous, it is widely accepted. Isocyanate
crosslinked coatings are reliable, widely used, and handlers are
familiar with their use and risk, however we believe recent developments of isocyanate-free coatings systems will have many
formulators considering new options which employ the use of
our K-KAT tin free catalysts.
“We are presenting a paper on the topic at the 2016 ACS
Show, which is titled Catalysts and adhesion promotoers for
ambient isocyanate free PU coatings,” King added.
Additives and the latest technologies for additives, ac-
cording to Lee, are what have made it possible for paint
companies to offer low to no-VOC coatings with reduced
environmental impact.
“Lonza offers zero-VOC preservatives, which provide a bet-
ter handling profile and contain no formaldehyde donors. The
coating industry has recently seen the first hygienic coating
granted an US EPA registration with claims that go beyond the
treated article exemption,” Lee said.
New Products
Additives suppliers are frequently introducing new products in
order to meet customer needs. What follows are just a few examples of product availability in today’s market:
BASF:
BASF launched a new Dispersant Toolbox and a formu-
lary guide that makes critical label-free, very low VOC, uni-
versal colorants possible. Efka PX 4350 and Efka PX 4751
dispersant pair are offered as benchmarks for solvent borne
resin-free or resin-containing universal concentrates for au-
tomotive and industrial paints.
Efka PX 4733, is a dispersant based on core-shell tech-
nology used in radiation curable coatings, inkjet inks and
lithographic inks.
A new deaerator, Efka PB 2744, was launched for 100%
solid polyurethane and epoxy flooring applications that is es-
pecially good in high viscosity systems. Efka FL 3600, a glob-
ally successful high fluoro content copolymer additive, helps
eliminate cratering, improve wetting and flow in solvent based
and solvent-free paints.
This product is now available in the NAFTA region.
Rheovis PE 1350, a 50% active ICI builder, for high gloss
decorative paints recently hit the market. Other rheology modifiers launched include Rheovis PU 1185, Rheovis PU 1235 and
Rheovis PU 1341.
These three products offer the full rheology range from
strong KU build to strong ICI contribution.
Lonza:
Lonza introduced a new product Proxel LS preservative at
the European Coating Show in 2015. Recently, Lonza applied
for US EPA product registration. This is an in-can preservative
for paints and coatings offering an improved handling profile.
Proxel LS Preservative is a dual-active, broad-spectrum
biocide for wet-state preservation of water-based paints, ad-
hesives and construction chemicals. This novel formulation
offers powerful broad-spectrum protection at target dose lev-
els that will not trigger the EU H208 allergen phrase.
Proxel LS Preservative is free of formaldehyde, MIT and
VOC and is pH and temperature stable.
It benefits from the use of two complementary active in-
gredients providing an enhanced antimicrobial efficacy and
protection from bacteria, yeasts and molds in a wide range of
industrial applications. CW
“The major function of a
coatings additive is to address
problems hindering the
performance of coatings, which
would include foaming, wetting
and dispersing, inconsistent
rheology, biocides, and so on.”
- Marketsand Markets
