ACS a Big Success!

The American Coatings Show and Conference, which took place April 7-10 in Atlanta, was a great success, in terms of both quantity and quality of delegates, exhibitors and attendees. The 2 ½-day conference had record-breaking numbers – 1,049 global delegates – who benefited from 96 oral presentations and 27 posters from industry and academia. The 11 pre-conference tutorials also experienced a new record, with 250 attendees. The AC Show also saw record numbers. “This year’s show at 110,600 square feet already was more than 12 percent larger than the 2012 show,” said Matthias Janz, Head of Events Division of Vincentz Network. “We surpassed attendance by visitors and exhibitors by more than 16 percent compared to two years ago, with a record of about 8,700 people.” There were 480 exhibitors covering the show floor, each showcasing their company’s latest technology for the coatings industry.

I was able to meet with many coatings suppliers at the show. The following report covers just a sampling of all of the technology on display at the show.

Air Products’ New Superwetting Surfactants

Air Products was extremely happy with traffic at ACS. “We were very, very busy at the show, as we are finding coating companies have initiated many new project initiatives since the recession has faded,” said Chris Henkee, Ph.D., Specialty Additives Marketing Manager.

At this year’s event, Air Products introduced the latest additions to its portfolio of surfactants – Dynol™ 960 and 980 superwetting surfactants. These surfactants are designed to have a superior balance of properties, including equilibrium and dynamic wetting, system compatibility, and low foam compared to traditional siloxane surfactants.

“With the launch of these new Dynol superwetters, we are now able to offer formulators an innovative portfolio of superwetting solutions, including products that are siloxane-based or siloxane-free, that can aid in film coalescence and provide flow and leveling,” said Solomon Lemma, Global Business Manager, Specialty Additives, for Air Products.

Air Products also highlighted its Airase^® 4500 defoamer, a new nonmineral oil-based product designed to eliminate foam, pinholes and entrapped air in water-based inks, adhesives and coatings without generating surface defects.

The company now also offers a complete line of high-performance ZetaSperse^® dispersants for resin-free and resin-containing systems, as well as a variety of performance-enhancing additives for dispersion formulation. To better enable formulators in choosing the right dispersant, Air Products has developed the Formulators Assistant ZetaSperse Tool (FAZT), which allows formulators to quickly find the proper dispersant product recommendation and dispersion starting-point formulation.

Air Products also launched several new epoxy curing agents at the show. The company developed Ancamine^®2764 and Ancamide^®2767 curatives for industrial coatings and construction applications. These two new products are formulated to offer faster cure, reduced viscosity, and improved color and color stability.

In the area of high-performance epoxy curing agents for industrial maintenance applications the company has developed Ancamine 2748 and Ancamide 2749 curatives for use in demanding, high chemical-resistant applications.

Ancamine 2739 reactive amine curative for epoxy resins can provide excellent water-spot and blush resistance in adverse cure conditions while meeting even the most stringent regulatory and emissions requirements.

Amicure^®IC-322 curative was developed to help cure aliphatic isocyanates to address customers’ needs for high-performance topcoats with satin or low-gloss appearance. Amicure IC-322 curative can deliver low gloss for seamless flooring applications while still providing fast cure and return to service, excellent UV stability, and durability.

Arkema Has Optimistic View on Global Market

Arkema hosted its annual press breakfast during the ACS, where Eric Kaiser, Americas Business Director for Arkema Coating Resins, gave a brief review of market conditions and the company’s growth. According to Kaiser, the view from the United States is very optimistic. Even at the show, the general sentiment from customers was quite good, he noted. Europe is stabilizing and is returning to some growth. For high-growth economies like China and Brazil, growth has slowed down from peak levels, but is still high. As a company, Arkema is moving into a high-growth mode, with a goal of €8 billion in sales by 2016. The company had sales of €6.1 billion in 2013.

Dr. Francois Court, Marketing Director Coatex Group, spoke specifically about the European market. He stated that 2014 perspectives seem brighter, and that they are seeing positive signs from customers in southern Europe. The goal for zero emissions has been the driver in Europe for the past 15 years, and is really embedded into the way companies design paint. Another trend is the use of renewable raw materials, but the question remains, “Are people going to be willing to pay for this technology?”

At the booth, Arkema showcased every aspect of the company’s coatings market offerings, including new products, technologies, business resources and commitment to innovation and sustainability. Arkema’s representation at the event included subsidiaries Coatex and Sartomer; and Arkema business units Arkema Coating Resins, Arkema Fluoropolymers, Arkema Acrylic Monomers and Arkema Specialty Polyamides.

According to Richard D. Jenkins, Global Group President for Arkema Coating Resins, the company is focusing its resources on offering its customers more choices in both the raw materials they need for their formulations and in the way they do business with Arkema. “More choice leads to new opportunities – both for the customer and for the coatings industry in general,” Jenkins explained. “When formulators have greater resources at their disposal – in this case, raw materials – the potential for innovation and new ideas grows exponentially. Arkema’s job is to offer those choices, along with the expanded global support they need to innovate and realize their growth goals.”

Arkema illustrated greater choice by showcasing a wide range of new products and technologies. “All of Arkema’s product development initiatives have been about offering customers more choices,” Alain Mari, CEO of the Coatex business, said. “This includes new ways to approach problems such as environmentally friendlier coatings or water resistance, emerging application areas like white roof coatings or TiO₂ replacement, and even greater latitude in the cost effectiveness of high-performance coating applications.”

Following are what each business highlighted at the show.

Arkema Coating Resins

With sales of €1 billion annually, Arkema Coating Resins has 19 manufacturing locations, three R&D centers and seven regional laboratories. The business focused on the following products at ACS.

CELOCOR^® opaque polymer, a highly efficient, voided latex product that improves hiding and whiteness in coatings, and functions as a partial replacement for TiO₂.
ENCOR^®282 latex, a next-generation general-purpose vinyl acetate/ethylene (VAE) binder for architectural coatings, combining end-use performance with the composition and formulation latitude needed for use in coatings that help meet a range of environmental initiatives.
ENCOR 631 latex, a high-performance, 100%-acrylic latex that can be used in formulations from flat to high-gloss coatings for both interior and exterior applications. It allows coatings formulators the ability to meet the rigorous demands of interior/exterior coatings and a wide variety of environmental initiatives.
ENCOR 657 latex, a 100%-acrylic, high-solids binder that can be formulated into coatings for masonry, interior wall paints and exterior architectural coatings that display a balance of cost and performance.
ENCOR Flex 192 latex, a modified acrylic latex that provides excellent performance properties in elastomeric roof coatings. Benefits include adhesion to weathered TPO without solvent primers and enhanced dirt pickup resistance, making it ideal in helping to maintain solar reflectance and the energy savings of cool roof technology.
SNAP^®728 latex,structured nano-acrylic polymers for satin to high-gloss sheen coatings that display excellent hardness and block resistance at zero to low VOC. These latexes are ideal for systems where odor of the finished product is a concern.
ENCOR 2721 latex, a styrene acrylic self-crosslinking emulsion for kitchen cabinet topcoats that provides excellent water resistance, good clarity, non-yellowing, low odor and excellent chemical resistance in stain- and chemical-resistant coatings.
SYNAQUA^®4804, an APEO- and ammonia-free short-oil alkyd emulsion designed for use in a wide variety of coatings in which performance similar to solvent-based alkyds is desired. It offers the coatings formulator a low-VOC option to develop the highest-gloss products while giving the application feel of a solvent-based alkyd.
SYNOCURE^®854BA 80, a hydroxy functional acrylic resin designed for curing at room temperature. Used in protective and marine coatings, this product offers low VOC, excellent in-roll performance, anti-sagging, gloss retention and less dry spray.

Coatex

According to Bob Ballard, Vice President Sales and Marketing at Coatex, recognition for this business is growing in North America – a difficult market to penetrate. The business offered two new products at ACS, along with several other established products.

Coadis™ 144 A, a new high-performing hydrophilic copolymer for TiO₂ pigment dispersion that provides outstanding performance across a broad spectrum of waterborne coating formulations.
Coapur™ 975 W, a breakthrough, hydrophobically modified highly efficient KU viscosity builder that brings unique properties to zero-VOC paint formulations.
Coatex offers a broad selection of dispersants and rheology modifiers within each key technology, including the following.
Urethane-based (HEUR) and acrylic-based (HASE and ASE) products.
Coapur™ associative polyurethane thickeners,covering a broad spectrum of rheology profiles, from newtonian to pseudo plastic, delivering exceptional flow and leveling behavior.
Rheotech™ associative acrylic thickeners to achieve in-can appearance, syneresis control and outstanding thickening effectiveness with excellent environment profiles. Such properties have made Rheotech an ideal alternative to cellulosic thickeners.
Viscoatex™ acrylic thickeners, robust and versatile, especially in adhesives.
Ecodis™ dispersants are recommended when both shelf life and cost/performance ratio are required for medium- to high-PVC formulations.
Coadis™ dispersantsare designed to meet specific requirements of coatings such as gloss, corrosion or scrub resistance. These dispersing agents are recommended for TiO₂ optimization (Bumper technology™).

Kynar PVDF Resins

• Kynar Aquatec^® architectural coatings provide the same long-lasting properties as Kynar 500^® FSF^® in an easy-to-apply latex. Water-based liquid coatings formulated with Kynar Aquatec latexes can be easily applied to metals, PVC, textiles and elastomers. Benefits include cool roofing properties that help reduce energy use and keep roofs significantly cooler compared to uncoated surfaces. Coatings based on Kynar Aquatec latex are extremely durable in even the harshest weather conditions and resist both dirt accumulation and mildew or mold growth.

• Kynar 500 FSF resin is a special grade of PVDF resin used by licensed industrial paint manufacturers as the base resin in long-life coatings for aluminum, galvanized steel and aluminized steel. Applications include metal roofing and siding, window and door frames, curtain wall and other miscellaneous metal trim and components.

Sartomer

Sartomer promoted its new Sarbio^®acrylates and methacrylates, based on renewable raw materials, which allow formulators to combine high-quality products and high technical performance requirements along with environmental friendliness. End users can develop new systems with increased BioRenewable Carbon Content (BRC).

Sartomer Americas has earned the Certified Biobased Product designation from the USDA for its entire Sarbio line of 13 specialty acrylates and methacrylates. The certification confirms that these products meet or exceed prescribed USDA standards for renewable bio-based content. Sartomer’s Sarbio acrylate and methacrylate products represent the first full line of (meth)acrylates for use in UV/EB-curable coatings, inks and adhesives to earn this certification.

“Sartomer is proud to receive this designation for our Sarbio acrylate and methacrylate products. The new designation will inform customers about our company’s mission to provide high-performance building blocks while advancing green technologies,” said Dr. Heather Rayle, Senior Business Director, Sartomer Americas. “We pursue environmentally responsible products and processes, and this certification acknowledges our ability to do so while offering a broad range of high-quality chemical solutions for our customers,” she added.

Dr. Rayle noted that one of the biggest challenges they face is educating people on the benefits of UV. People don’t want to make the investment in new equipment, however they need to understand both the time and cost savings, as well as the environmental benefits.

Sartomer also presented the following products at the ACS.

Acrylate monomers, a range of products that provides the formulator with viscosity control as well as a wide array of unique chemistries to assist the formulator in dialing in cure speed, adhesion, weatherability, hardness, scratch resistance and many other high-performance characteristics.
Epoxy acrylates, the most frequently used oligomers in a wide number of application areas in the energy-cure industry. They provide high reactivity, chemical resistance and high gloss to formulations for a wide variety of applications.
Methacrylate monomers, which can be used as chemical intermediates to improve crosslinking, compatibility, heat resistance, impact modification, flexibility, paintability/printability, and melt flow index.
Methacrylate oligomers, which bring hardness, heat and chemical resistance, and other critical properties to coating applications.
Polyester acrylatesfor UV/EB-cure applications with an attractive option. Sartomer’s polyester acrylate can provide the bridge between performance properties and cost for epoxy and urethane products, and for many applications demonstrate properties superior to urethane oligomers.
Sarbox^® specialty oligomers in the form of aromatic acid methacrylate half ester and aromatic acid acrylate half ester blends in solvent or monomer.
Urethane acrylates that provide water resistance, high gloss, hardness or flexibility, and chemical resistance.

Arkema Acrylic Monomers

• Norsocryl^®acrylic monomers that improve everyday life by making products last longer, allowing water-based formulations without solvents and a cleaner environment.

Arkema Specialty Polyamides

Orgasol^® fine powders for use as additives for paints, varnishes, paper, inks and adhesives.
Rilsan^® fine powders, which offer protection of auto parts (spline shafts for transmission, brake hoses, etc.), water lines and various types of equipment (dishwasher baskets, hosiery, etc.).

Ashland’s Rheology Modifiers, New Biocides and ART

Ashland Specialty Ingredients introduced three Nuosept™ preservative grades and Application Reader Technology (ART), a device for quantifying the characteristics of paint application feel. In addition, Ashland featured an extensive range of rheology modifiers, including Aquaflow™ nonionic synthetic associative thickeners (NSATs), Natrosol™ hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) and Natrosol Performax™ HEC, for architectural coatings systems.

The new Nuosept preservative grades offer a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity against mold, yeast and bacteria. Nuosept 515RX high-performance liquid biocide is a combination of isothiazolines MIT and CMIT. It controls organisms quickly and is effective over the pH range normally seen in architectural coatings formulations. It has no formaldehyde, no organic solvents and does not impart color or odor.

Nuosept BMc-412 preservative combines three isothiazoline active ingredients to boost antimicrobial activity in water-based products. It is a unique blend of BIT, MIT and CMIT, which have complementary properties. The result is a broader spectrum of activity than standard BIT/MIT preservatives, with better and faster control.

Nuosept BT10 preservative allows coatings manufacturers the flexibility to more precisely add biocide to their formulations.

Ashland also rolled out ART, a new service to help coatings chemists objectively determine paint application feel according to key parameters. First, ART will help formulators select the best rheology modifier for their coating system. Second, Ashland will use ART to help coatings manufacturers maintain consistency in their formulations by establishing baselines on various characteristics and properties.

The company’s Aquaflow NSATs perform across an range of latex resin chemistries, paint PVC ranges and tinting levels. Using a combination of low-shear effective and high-shear effective Aquaflow NSATS, formulators can achieve superior flow and leveling and efficient high-shear viscosity build for precise rheology control.

The company showcased three Natrosol rheology modifiers, each imparting different benefits to coatings quality or production. Designed for economical thickening in a range of paints, Natrosol HEC imparts excellent stability to paint, color compatibility and water retention.

Natrosol Performax HEC disperses easily for faster, more flexible paint production. It enables coatings producers to add HEC in dry form at multiple points in the manufacturing process without lumping. As a result, manufacturers reduce energy usage and costs, and increase plant output.

Natrosol Plus hydrophobically modified hydroxyethylcellulose (HMHEC) delivers excellent spatter resistance, high-shear viscosity, in-can feel, brushability, flow and leveling, and color acceptance.

Rounding out its offerings, Ashland presented its Advantage™ and Drewplus™ foam-control agents, Jaypol™ dispersants and Dextrol™ and Strodex™ surfactants. Advantage foam-control agents help manufacturers minimize entrained air and resultant foam during production.

Drewplus defoamers for architectural and industrial coatings control both process and application foam in latex paint systems and offer quick bubble break for knockdown and macrofoam, and dissolution deaerators that continue to perform even after the coating begins to set.

Jaypol dispersing agents improve stability and shelf life of waterborne coatings. Easy to handle, they are highly effective, thus economical; compatible with glycols; and can deliver a very high pigment load.

Dextrol and Strodex specialty surfactants provide wetting and stabilization for paints, colorants and emulsion polymerization. They enhance color development and in-can stability.

BASF Helps Enhance Formulations

BASF showcased its technologies and product offerings in three main areas: architectural, furniture and flooring coatings; industrial and agricultural and construction equipment (ACE) coatings; and automotive coatings. “Our focus at the American Coatings Show is not on individual products, but rather BASF’s ability to deliver versatile, customized solutions to coatings formulators, based on their needs,” said Derek Fairclough, Senior Vice President, Dispersions and Pigments, for BASF in North America. “Our application know-how and our broad portfolio can help our customers to be more successful.”

BASF highlighted the theme of “Synthesizing our Customers’ Success” at its booth. “This theme acknowledges that BASF values relationships with our customers and wants to work with them to help them be more successful. Our capabilities among our employees, products and technology that support the coatings industry are broad and diverse. By actively creating solutions together, coatings formulators can leverage the entire portfolio offering available at BASF,” continued Fairclough.

BASF offers the coatings industry a broad portfolio of resins, binders, latex polymers, pigments and effect pigments, colorants, specialty formulation and performance additives and minerals, and systems to meet specific applications and customer needs.

Customers were able to discuss BASF’s sustainable solution technologies with formulators to achieve their requirements for improved environmental performance while addressing needs for:

zero- and low-VOC formulations;
low-energy curing, replacement of heavy metal pigments, and;
latex with minimal environmental impact.

In addition, BASF launched or highlighted the following products during the show.

Mattex PRO, a patent-pending, engineered, high-performance kaolin-based product designed for use in flat architectural paints. It is uniquely structured to provide high scrub-resistance properties and low sheen while maintaining excellent hide. Low sheen and gloss make Mattex PRO ideal for paints that require excellent touch-up properties without the use of flatting agents. It provides formulating flexibility that can replace a combination of calcined kaolin, other extenders and flatting agents while improving scrubs up to 30% and maintaining optical properties.
Acronal PLUS^®4670, a zero-VOC-capable,100%-acrylic latex that delivers superior TiO₂ efficiency. It demonstrates hiding, tint strength, outstanding blister resistance and scrub resistance.
Acronal PLUS 4800, a styrene-acrylic latex capable of <50g/L VOC. This economical alternative to straight acrylics does not sacrifice performance, demonstrating high TiO₂ efficiency, block resistance, and excellent wet adhesion.
Acronal PLUS 4235, an <50 VOC g/L-capable, 100%-acrylic latex that delivers exceptional weathering performance. This latex allows formulators to comply with environmental regulations without sacrificing performance.
Joncryl^® 2982, a concrete sealer and paint in one. Capable of formulation at 50g/L VOC, it demonstrates outstanding adhesion and can be applied directly to concrete.
Joncryl 2981, a self-crosslinking dispersion especially suited for performance on wood applications such as kitchen cabinetry and furniture. Differentiated in the market for excellent warmth of wood and clarity, it offers outstanding weatherability, chemical resistance and has the ability to disperse titanium dioxide.
Laromer^®UA 9064, a water-based urethane acrylate dispersion with very good chemical and scratch resistance that is fast drying, shows very little yellowing for luxury vinyl tile and laminate substrates, and wood furniture and flooring applications.
Laromer UA 9095, a water-based urethane acrylate dispersion with high grain enhancement and good chemical resistance. The product also shows low yellowing and fast drying for furniture and cabinet applications.

Bayer’s Look Into the World of Coatings

Inside Bayer’s architectural house model, one of several scaled applications on display at the booth, attendees experienced the varied applications protected and enriched with polyurethane coatings. The beauty and practicality of these coatings were on display, from the miniature kitchen cabinets, to the faux leather couch in the living area, to the steps leading upstairs, to the bedrooms and bathroom floors and walls.

Continuing the tour, visitors could see the practical possibilities of polyurethane coatings in the transportation industry. A model car and gas tank featured high- and low-gloss coatings, respectively, as an example of applications for automotive interiors and exteriors. For train rail cars, bridges and I-beams, polyurethane coatings offer corrosion and ultraviolet (UV) resistance as well as exquisite, yet durable, finishes.

In the sports and leisure world, polyurethane coatings help keep a sportsman’s boots dry, an athlete’s shoes light and durable, improve the aerodynamics of a golf or soccer ball, as well as protecting hockey sticks, baseball bats and golf putters.

Bayer also collaborated with America Makes, the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute, to highlight the potential for 3D printing. Bayer’s booth featured a 3D printer, along with a video display detailing the many innovations possible with 3D printing for products in aerospace, automotive, consumer goods, medical devices, food and a host of other industries.

BioAmber Biobased Succinic Acid

BioAmber featured BIO-SA™ biobased succinic acid for coating resins. BIO-SA is a versatile building block for the synthesis of polyesters. Manufactured using BioAmber’s patented yeast fermentation technology, BIO-SA offers an alternative to petroleum-based adipic or phthalic acids and anhydrides. It can be used in unsaturated and saturated polyester, polyurethane, alkyd and epoxy resins for coatings. Bio-SA-based resins offer better sustainability and enhanced product performance including solvent and abrasion resistance.

New Celanese Emulsions for Architectural Paints

Celanese Corporation showcased new emulsion products for architectural paints, in addition to its broader product portfolio for the coatings and adhesives industries.

“Celanese is pleased to exhibit once again at the premier trade event for the coatings industry in the region – the American Coatings Show,” said Brad Moncla, Marketing Manager. “With technical and commercial experts representing this region’s architectural coatings industry, ACS is an ideal setting for us to launch our new emulsion products – namely EcoVAE^®450, Avicor^®385 and Avicor^®390. These products represent solutions to many of the industry’s issues including low-VOC primers, stain resistance and broad formulation latitude.”

Celanese has added to its EcoVAE line of VAE emulsions with EcoVAE 450 for low-odor primer applications. This product has excellent wet/dry adhesion to a variety of substrates including alkyds, ceramics and aluminum.

The Avicor line of emulsions features a number of new products. Avicor 385 is an all-new vinyl acrylic that is APE-free and designed to give superior performance in interior and exterior paints. The combination of high molecular weight, excellent film formation and water resistance within the product results in excellent stain and scrub resistance while exhibiting great toughness and durability. The product is also designed to provide broad latitude in paint formulation across a range of sheens from flat to semigloss. Avicor 390 is a vinyl acrylic emulsion capable of creating very-low-VOC interior and exterior paints that exhibit excellent stain resistance.

Celanese Polysolvan^®O solvent for use in automotive paints was also highlighted. Because of its very low volatility, it is used chiefly as a paint additive in the form of a highly effective flow agent.

The company showcased a range of products for use in industrial adhesives for paper packaging and converting, woodworking and the building and construction industry. Celanese has a broad array of VAE, styrene acrylic, PVAc and vinyl acrylic emulsions in addition to the Ateva^®brand of EVA polymers for use in industrial adhesives for wood and packaging applications. In addition, the company presented solutions for the building products industry with its TufCOR^®line of emulsions.

Dow Innovations

By collaborating with formulators, customers, distributors and industry experts, five businesses within The Dow Chemical Company (Dow) have developed a broad portfolio of enhanced performance technologies that were highlighted at ACS. Dow Coating Materials, Dow Construction Chemicals, Dow Consumer & Industrial Solutions, Dow Epoxy, and Dow Microbial Control discussed and showcased these collaborative innovations.

Dow Coating Materials

Dow Coating Materials(DCM) showcased technology innovations that include FORMASHIELD™ 12 100% acrylic binder, a waterborne binder that offers active formaldehyde removal from ambient air when painted on walls of a room, RHOPLEX™ EZ Clean 1500 acrylic emulsion, a binder with advanced stain beading technology that helps make it fast and easy to clean up tough liquids, and EVOQUE™ pre-composite polymer technology, the 2013 winner of the U.S. EPA Green Chemistry Award.

DCM also introduced MAINCOTE™ IC acrylic resins. Unintended heat transfer from industrial infrastructure is an ongoing challenge to worker safety, equipment maintenance and energy efficiency. With the introduction of MAINCOTE IC acrylic resins, Dow is helping to create a new category of liquid insulation coating that provides a solution to this challenge, offering low thermal conductivity in an easy spray application.

“We want to provide paint formulators with a product that will help their industrial customers reduce costs and facilitate worker safety,” said Mary Rose Correa, North America industrial coatings field marketing manager, Dow Coating Materials. “Waterborne thermal insulation coating formulations containing MAINCOTE IC acrylic resins not only have safe touch properties at elevated temperatures, but also maintain target temperatures with notably lower energy usage versus without a coating,” she added.

Traditional insulation materials, such as fiberglass, polyurethane foam and other materials can be used to reduce heat transfer and energy loss, but can be expensive and hard to apply over complex geometries, such as valves and levers. These materials only mask the problem of corrosion under insulation (CUI), instead of solving it, potentially leading to costly maintenance and repairs.

Thermal insulation coatings formulated with MAINCOTE IC acrylic resins offer a solution to unintended heat loss and CUI. The resins are designed for use with low-thermal-conductivity fillers, and coatings formulated with them can replace the thick mechanical insulation that can mask CUI. Fiberglass and other industrial insulation materials typically require a separate moisture barrier or jacketing to keep out water to prevent corrosion issues.

Dow Construction Chemicals

Dow Construction Chemicals(DCC) offered a range of coating and construction chemical technologies that help facilitate high-performance, sustainable and energy-efficient products in the building and construction industry. DCC showcased painter’s caulk and other sealant formulations made with RHOPLEX 4400 polymer technology, which can be freed of the effects of plasticizer, resulting in reduced glossing, paint discoloration and mildew pick-up. In addition to its plasticizer-free benefits, RHOPLEX 4400 polymer also facilitates ultra-low formaldehyde, APEO-free, low-VOC formulations.

Dow Consumer and Industrial Solutions

Dow Consumer and Industrial Solutions(DC&IS)highlightedAMP™ 95 multifunctional neutralizer technology, which offers benefits throughout the coating life cycle.AMP 95 offers exceptional performance, low odor, excellent base strength, efficient pigment dispersion, and enhanced scrub resistance. DC&IS also offers additional compounds that offer unique benefits to formulators, such as oxygen and moisture scavenging, corrosion inhibition, and improved wetting. These specialty additives are sold under the trade names DMAMP-80™, ALKATERGE™ FLEXITANE ™, HYDROGUARD™ and ZOLDINE™.

Dow Epoxy

Dow Epoxy featured differentiated products for civil engineering applications as part of its line of D.E.R.™ epoxy resins and diluents and D.E.H.™ curing agent. The business showcased technology that can help enhance performance and ease-of-application through benefits such as strong chemical resistance to protect tank linings and secondary containment applications, low emission technologies to enable healthier indoor spaces, low-temperature-curing products to help extend application seasons, and rapid-curing epoxies to reduce application time. The portfolio also offers solvent-free technologies, being manufactured without added solvent, including options for REACH-compliant curing systems with improved performance. The epoxy business also showcased the company’s specialty line for industrial coatings – the OUDRA™ series of resins and curing agents designed to help protect a wide range of assets from extreme conditions, while balancing the need for performance, respect of the environment, and value.

Dow Microbial Control

Dow Microbial Control (DMC) offered a portfolio of in-can and dry-film biocides designed to help protect products from microbial contamination. DMC highlighted plant hygiene solutions, featuring DOWICIL™ QK-20 antimicrobial, the fast-acting solution for clean-up of equipment, raw materials, wash water and finished products.

Dow Corning’s Antifoam Technology and New Surface Modifier

Dow Corning showcased its new silicone antifoam technology for architectural coatings. According to Gerald Witucki, Associate Scientist, Application Engineering Coatings, Resins and Additives, traditional mineral oil defoamers find compatibility issues in a number of systems (potential for haze and gloss reduction), and also offer limited effect on surface tension and decreased effectiveness in compliant formulations.

Witucki noted that silicone antifoams are effective at much lower dosage rates than organic antifoams, leading to significantly lower cost-in-use. They also tend to be much more persistent than organic antifoams. And silicone antifoams tend to be less reactive in the foaming medium, leading to fewer compatibility problems. Modern silicone foam technology provides a wide range of tailored structures to balance conflicting property requirement, including foam control, stability, surface appearance and recoatability.

“This is a true market opening,” he noted, as using a silicone defoamer for architectural coatings has never before been an option.

Dow Corning also highlighted its Dow Corning^®52 Additive, an ultrahigh-molecular-weight silicone dispersion that gives formulators the unique advantage of customizing slip to precise levels while improving current coatings benefits. This proprietary surfactant can disperse in waterborne coatings and is suitable for use in industrial wood coatings, wood trim, inks, overprint varnishes and interior/exterior paints. It allows users to formulate a host of waterborne coatings that can significantly differentiate products with a range of desirable benefits, including but not limited to:

Customizable slip;
Improved scratch and abrasion resistance;
Improved sandability;
Enhanced anti-blocking;
Good recoatability; and
Good hand feel.

Dow Corning52 Additive will not negatively impact surface hardness, water resistance or intercoat adhesion, and will not decrease recoatability. It allows for easy incorporation into waterborne formulations during the let-down or post-additive manufacturing stages. Silicones have low surface tension and therefore orient to the air/polymer interface, which forms a very thin lubricating layer on the coating surface to reduce the coefficient of friction.

Eastman’s Problem-Solving Skills

Eastman’s booth looked significantly different than others at the ACS. With as few words as possible on its panels, and no products on display, the company chose to focus on its ability to solve problems for customers with its deep product line. The main graphic element to the booth panels were large puzzle pieces, which tied into its theme of helping customers find the missing piece of their formulation puzzle.

According to Maryellen Mantyla, Marketing Communications Manager, Additives and Functional Products, the company fielded a lot of great, application-specific questions throughout the show. Leaving the booth theme open, rather than directing people to specific products, allowed attendees to consider a lot of different options, and collaborate with Eastman on innovative solutions.

Emerald’s Newest Technologies

Emerald Performance Materials has made incredible developments for growth and innovation since ACS 2012, and was excited to return as an exhibitor to showcase new technologies for the coatings industry, as well as strategic investments, expansions and new operations. According to Julie Vaughn Biege, Corporate Marketing Vice President, “The ACS provides an excellent venue for us as innovators to make an impression on the industry, showcase the full range of our company’s capabilities and highlight our latest developments. Our company continues to grow and develop new solutions to bring value to the coatings industry, and we have continued to expand our presence at the ACS in recent years. In fact, since the last ACS, we have completed about a half-dozen expansions, patent applications and new products for the coatings industry across the company, so we have a lot of new areas of development to highlight at both the exhibition and at the conference.”

At the booth, Emerald featured new products from several of its four business groups, including additions to the K-FLEX^®line of non-phthalate, low-VOC coalescents and plasticizers; Hypro™ reactive liquid polymers for toughness, impact resistance, flexibility, and adhesion; FOAM BLAST^®4213 100%-active, mineral-oil-free defoamer for aqueous and energy-curable coatings; and a new modified silicone technology under development – experimental AB-50 – which provides excellent boost in improved blocking and is also repaintable.

CVC Thermoset Specialties has made several significant investments to increase capacity and efficiency for its specialty thermoset formulation products, in part due to increasing demand for products that meet critical performance characteristics for demanding end-use applications, including toughness, corrosion and impact resistance, and flexibility. In December, the group announced the addition of a new reactor train and improved product separation technology to nearly double capacity for its OMICURE™ line of catalysts and accelerators. In November, the CVC group also announced an initiative to increase capacity for its line of ERISYS™ epoxy reactive modifiers used to reduce viscosity and improve handling, processing, and application properties of formulations. The group debottlenecked the reactor train used to produce the line at its Maple Shade, NJ, facility. Debottlenecking and increased efficiency at the group’s Maple Shade facility were also designed to reduce environmental impact of the manufacturing operation.

Emerald Specialty Polymers completed construction on a new R&D pilot plantat its Akron, OH, facility in December to support R&D initiatives and expand the group’s range of Nychem™ latex emulsions, including emulsions that fall outside the traditional acrylonitrile-styrene-butadiene lattices. The new plant, which includes a 100-gallon pilot reactor, will also allow the group to work with customers to develop customized solutions.

Emerald Kalama Chemical has completed a series of recent investments and expansions and more than doubled its capacity for K-FLEX coalescents and plasticizers since 2011. The group completed the fourth expansion at its Kalama, WA, facility in August and also dedicated an additional reactor for production and R&D. The group opened a new global technical center in Kalama in August 2012 and added a K-FLEX operation at its Rotterdam, Netherlands facility in September 2012, greatly expanding the group’s worldwide reach. The group also brought an additional benzoic acid reactor train online in Rotterdam and signed onto a green deal energy cooperative to reduce emissions and reduce carbon footprint in the Port of Rotterdam. (As of May 2013, Emerald as a whole had cut emissions more than 50% since its formation in 2006.)

New Evonik Products Launched

After launching in Europe, the following products were featured from Evonik at the ACS.

• TEGO^®Twin 4200 is the new universal substrate wetting additive for waterborne wood coatings, industrial coatings and printing inks, which can also be used in solventborne and even UV coatings. In addition to outstanding wetting and anti-cratering properties, TEGO Twin 4200 provides no foam stabilization.

• SILIKOPHEN^®AC 900 and SILIKOPHEN AC 1000 were designed for the high-temperature applications of industrial objects, muffler coatings and oven coatings. Due to their ambient-temperature curing capabilities, a feature highly coveted by manufacturers, these resins permit energy-saving coating application of large objects that would otherwise prove difficult in a more traditional oven-cure.

Evonik also featured bright prospects for matte paints. With its new hydroxyalkylamide crosslinker, VESTAGON^® EP-HA 368, Evonik has developed a cost-effective matting concept for the powder coating market. Customers can now benefit from a one-shot production process for manufacturing matte HAA powder coatings. Compared to the traditional dry blend method, a modified process using the new VESTAGON hardener allows manufactures to save time and resources. This less-complex manufacturing process requires only three process steps instead of four. The standard hydroxyalkylamide crosslinker is substituted by VESTAGON EP-HA 368.

Evonik also exhibited technology that makes automotive clear coats even more scratch-resistant. The company has developed an industrial-scale method for producing silane-modified binders for automotive finishes. The advantage of these binders is that silane groups increase crosslinking density, making it possible to create automotive finishes that are flexible yet harder, leading to improved scratch resistance.

The basic concept behind the new technology was already known: modifying classic binders with silanes noticeably improves the binder properties. This also applies to the polyurethane binders typically used for automotive finishes. Up to now, however, production of silane-modified polyurethane binders has been so complex and expensive that these products have only been made on a small scale for applications such as high-performance adhesives. For more general uses and for large-scale applications such as automotive finishes, however, there simply has not been enough available. The new technology from Evonik stands to change all of that.

The breakthrough came when Evonik developed its own manufacturing process for the silyl isocyanate IPMS, or (3-isocyanatopropyl) trimethoxysilane. It is the critical building block for producing silane-modified binders. Evonik has been producing IPMS in a new facility in Marl (Germany) since mid-2013. Dr. Ulrich Küsthardt, head of the Coatings & Additives Business Unit at Evonik, points out, “With the new facility, Evonik creates its access to IPMS and to a new group of customized, silane-modified binders.”

By using IPMS and selecting the right additional raw materials, Evonik can adapt coating binders to the needs of its customers.

One of the first applications for the new IPMS binders is the thin clear coating – only about 40 micrometers thick – that serves as the glossy top layer of an automotive finish. In addition to improved scratch resistance, the new systems are just as resistant to chemicals and the elements as traditional two-component polyurethane coatings. Plus, silane-modified binders are completely compatible with two-component polyurethane coatings and significantly improve their properties. For car manufacturers, that means being able to use their usual production lines for applying coatings that contain the innovative binder. Selected automakers have already taken the first steps toward approving clear finishes that have been modified in this way.

Dr. Hans Görlitzer, however, who works in the Coatings and Additives Business Unit at Evonik as Head of Business Development in the Crosslinkers Business Line, believes the new technology has even more potential. “We aim to open up access to silane-modified binders for other applications too.” As examples, he cites coatings for wood, plastics, metal, and high-tech adhesives. The key criterion here is that the silane-crosslinked clearcoats cure quickly enough at room temperature.

Huber’s Calcium Carbonate for Post-Consumer Content Applications

Huber Engineered Materials, a division of J.M. Huber Corporation, launched ReCal™ Platinum calcium carbonate for use as a component in building materials to generate various green building credits and in other demanding applications where certified post-consumer content is required.

ReCal Platinum is 50 percent by weight post-consumer content (third-party verified), with the remaining 50 percent post-industrial content (third-party verification pending) produced by a proprietary re-milling process (patent pending). It is a light gray color milled to a consistent median particle size and topcut. Two ReCal Platinum calcium carbonate products are offered, ReCal™ Platinum 8 and ReCal™ Platinum 20, which are milled to an 8- or 20-micron median particle size, respectively.

Post-consumer application possibilities are numerous. They include building materials used for various green building credits, which include the LEED^®Program, National Green Building Standard™ Rating System and NSF/ANSI 140 and 332.

“ReCal Platinum is a win-win for Huber and the customer, as we both want to be at the forefront of environmental stewardship and sustainability,” said Lane Shaw, Technology and Business Development Director of Huber’s Ground Calcium Carbonate business. “Many of our customers are looking to achieve LEED credits and green-related certifications, and we’re able to successfully recycle calcium carbonate to offer a post-consumer product.”

A recent pilot program conducted between a paint operation and a carpet company has proven that the ReCal Platinum grades can be used successfully to create new consumer products. Calcium carbonate was recovered from the painting operation and taken to Huber’s Quincy, IL, calcium carbonate operation for re-milling, then sent to the carpet company for recycled carpet backing applications.

“We’re excited and pleased with the results we’ve seen from ReCal Platinum thus far, as we are just scratching the surface of what we think this product can achieve from both a performance and applications standpoint,” said Shaw.

King Industries Introduces Several New Products

The ACS exhibition and technical conference are very important to King Industries – to present and promote new products and to stay connected with the coatings market trends and technical challenges. King also finds it a great forum to see customers and discuss mutual business and projects, and to meet with co-suppliers.

Environmental concerns, higher-value formulations and profitability are the main drivers for end users, and push suppliers to constantly define new projects and heavily invest in R&D and technical support. King’s strategy is to listen to its customers to understand their needs and work on technical projects with them to come up with the right additives for them.

In the areas of low VOC; low-temperature cure; tin and mercury replacement; waterborne coatings; and high solids, chromate-free systems, King Industries has made significant strides in developing new catalysts, resin modifiers, rheology modifiers and corrosion inhibitors under the trade names NACURE^®, K-FLEX^®, K-KAT^®, K-Stay^®, Disparlon^®and Nacorr^®.

King introduced several new products at the ACS.

Catalysts

·Nacure XC-293 for amino resin coatings to improve the adhesion to both aluminum and galvanized steel.
·Nacure XC-300 for amino resin coatings using chromate-free basic pigments.
·Nacure XC-305 for low-temperature-cure amino resin coatings.
·K-Kat XK-614 and XK-635 as tin alternatives for urethane coatings, waterborne, solventborne and blocked isocyanates.

Resin Modifiers

· K-Flex XM-337 for lower-VOC thin films with high hardness and impact resistance.
· K-Flex XM-366 for lower-VOC thin films with flexibility and hardness.

Rheology Modifiers

· Disparlon AQH-800, easy to use to develop thixotropy for waterborne coatings.
· Disparlon 6300 for the lowest activation temperature in the market for marine and heavy-duty applications.

Corrosion Inhibitors

· Nacorr 1389, highly effective and easy to use inhibitor with universal applications, both waterborne and solventborne.

Sustainable Solutions from LANXESS

LANXESS presented material protection products as well as organic and inorganic pigments that fulfill even the most exact requirements. The spotlight was on premium products for the coloration and preservation of coatings, paints, plasters and mortars.

“Our extensive and high-performance product portfolio actively reflects the megatrend of urbanization. American manufacturers of paints, coatings and coating materials – which represent a very important customer segment – can count on our products when it comes to sustainability, too,” remarked Dr. Hans-Peter Baldus, who is responsible for the pigment business of the LANXESS Inorganic Pigments (IPG) business unit in the United States.

The Inorganic Chemicals business unit presented ecologically safe iron and chrome oxides from the Bayferrox and Colortherm ranges for coloring coatings. The pigments are lightfast, weather-stable and very resistant to chemicals. The current range comprises more than 100 shades produced from the basic colors black, red, brown, green, yellow and orange. The production facilities for these pigments in Porto Feliz, Brazil, and Krefeld-Uerdingen, Germany, are SCS-certified. LANXESS IPG is thus the world’s only pigment producer to have received this certification. Scientific Certification Systems, Inc. is one of the leading companies for independent certification, and determines, for example, the proportion of recycled raw materials used in an industrial production process. “An evaluation of our processes revealed a recycling content of over 92 percent. This exceptional result makes a very good contribution to our sustainability strategy,” said Joerg Hellwig, Head of the Inorganic Pigments business unit at LANXESS. “As a next step, we are planning an audit of our facility at the Jinshan site in Shanghai, China.”

Pigments from SCS-certified production operations comply with LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and are thus safe for sustainable building. Already represented in over 40 countries, the LEED certification system evaluates and confirms the environmental, social and economic sustainability of buildings in their entirety. The evaluation parameters include energy efficiency, water conservation, CO₂reduction, eco-friendly indoor fixtures and fittings, and responsible use of all resources required. With this certification LANXESS IPG enables its customers to develop sustainable end products.

“The trend toward urbanization is driving the demand for environmentally friendly, sustainably produced iron oxide pigments. With our new facility in Ningbo, we are expanding our global production network to ensure we grow along with our customers,” explained Hellwig. A new plant with a production capacity of 25,000 metric tons per year is currently being built in the Ningbo chemical park on China’s east coast in which LANXESS will manufacture high-quality iron oxide red pigments. Here, the company will apply for the first time its optimized Penniman process in which improved water treatment and waste gas cleaning bring a high level of environmental sustainability. The plant, characterized by its particularly high energy efficiency, is designed to meet and exceed the latest environmental standards. “We are very proud of the fact that we are the first manufacturer of iron oxide pigments that is in a position to manufacture these bright, clean, yellow-shade red pigments in an environmentally friendly and consistent way,” added Hellwig. The new products from Ningbo will be marketed globally under the Bayferrox brand for use in the paints and coatings industries.

The Material Protection Products (MPP) business unit of LANXESS showcased high-performance fungicides and algicides that offer long-lasting antimicrobial protection for paints, varnishes and other building coatings. Preservatives from LANXESS help paints last longer during storage by preventing decomposition caused by microorganisms. In addition, other microbicides ensure that coatings provide lasting film protection after application by preventing algal and fungal attack on the film. Products from established brands Preventol, Sporgard, Veriguard and Biochek are on display. The film preservative Preventol A14-D – which is now EPA-registered in the United States – is being presented to the American market for the first time. The VOC-free formulation ensures that no molds or algae can grow on and damage dry coatings.

MPP is also focusing on formaldehyde- and VOC-free in-can preservatives for protecting water-based, eco-friendly coatings from microbial attack by bacteria, fungi and yeasts.

The Functional Chemicals (FCC) business unit is presenting pigment preparations based on organic and inorganic high-performance pigments from the Levanyl and Levanox ranges that make it possible to obtain brilliant hues with excellent lightfastness.

Due to their high weather resistance, special grades such as Levanox Yellow 6G-LF and Levanox Blue 4G-LF are ideal for outdoor use, for example. These inorganic dispersions are specially treated to prevent heavy pigment particles from forming a compact sediment if they settle. This means they can be completely homogenized again simply by stirring, even after prolonged storage.

Lawter’s High Bio-Renewable Alternatives

High bio-renewable alternatives to acrylic emulsions have been sought after in the aqueous printing ink industry during the last decades. Lawter exhibited a new rosin technology it has developed that provides a bio-based replacement for acrylics in packaging inks. These rosin dispersion products are marketed under the brand name SnowPack™ and can be used in combination with acrylics to increase the bio-renewable content. They were developed as a green alternative to the pure acrylic systems for the benefit of the ink and OPV formulator, printer and print buyer.

Michelman’s New Brand Identity

Michelman introduced its new brand identity at a press breakfast and conference at the ACS. According to Bob Poletti, Chief Marketing and Corporate Development Officer at Michelman, “Michelman is not the same company it was five or six years ago. In the economic downturn of 2008, when most companies were pulling back investment, we continued to push forward. We invested strategically in key areas of the world, and in core or complementary industry segments. We’ve added many talented associates who have helped position Michelman as thought leaders, and as a company who is able to think ahead to what will be the next solution. All of these investments and more have helped us reach the point where we can assure customers we will provide forward-thinking, proactive, environmentally friendly solutions.” The clean new brand mark symbolizes Michelman’s evolution, and acts as a signal to customers of Michelman’s commitment to forward-looking, agile solution development.

Michelman also introduced two new Ecronova polymer binders at the show. Ecrothan™ 2012 is a solvent-free polyurethane/polyacrylic hybrid system that provides very good abrasion and chemical resistance, as well as fast hardness development which produces good water resistance in floor coatings, parquet lacquers and industrial coatings. Ecrylic™ KS 447 is an APEO-free styrene/acrylic emulsion that produces very good corrosion protection in primer formulations, and shows excellent adhesion on various steel substrates.

These polymer binders represent the basis of many leading paints, coatings and lacquers. Environmentally friendly Ecronova formulations are used in applications ranging from architectural paints and coatings, to masonry and plaster, to wood and floor coatings and lacquers.

Momentive’s Patent-Pending Coating Modifier

According to Dan Weinmann, Global Segment Leader Epoxy Coatings and Civil Engineering at Momenitve, the ACS was an excellent show. “Show traffic has been very constant, and we’ve had quality contacts and content-rich discussions,” he noted. Weinmann also commented that the tone of the show was very optimistic. “Everybody has been in survival mode for the past few years,” he stated, noting that most people he spoke with were much more confident at this year’s event.

Momentive Performance Materials Inc. introduced a new patent-pending coating modifier that delivers an unexpected property set.New CoatOSil FLX™ coating modifier can improve coating flexibility while also maintaining or even enhancing corrosion resistance and gloss retention, helping to mitigate the embrittlement issues that often plague present silane-cured hybrid coating technologies. With this new technology, coating formulators may no longer have to sacrifice critical properties when seeking increased flexibility in a coating.

As an added benefit, the improved flexibility can produce a stronger, more protective coating, and the greater resistance to UV degradation allows the coating to look new longer. The technology can also help improve formulating latitude. Inherently low in viscosity, CoatOSil FLX is easy to mix into coating formulations; it can be incorporated into the grind paste or as a post-addition to the coating formulation with comparable efficacy. The coating modifier may be considered for low-VOC and HAPs coating systems.

Pigment Technology from New Brook International

New Brook International showcased several new pigment technologies. Brufatec^®29070 is a high-performance, very strong and bright orange pigment. It assists the color formulator in filling the cadmium and molybdate orange color spaces that are changing due to REACH and other environmental regulations.

Brufasol^®AL-2301 is the latest in Bruchsaler Farbenfabrik’s line of bismuth vanadates (bv). Originally developed as a direct match for a specific project, this bv pigment shows improved color strength and is easy to disperse making it an ideal grade for both the ink and dispersion markets.

New Brook’s new metallic pigment, Super Gold 3000, has outstanding shine and coverage that is comparable to a gold leaf effect. This pigment fills a need in the market that is not currently addressed. It is an excellent choice for textile and other specialized inks.

Orion Specialty Carbon Black Provides Flexibility in Coating Design

Orion Engineered Carbons introduced Experimental Black XPB 412, a specialty carbon black that offers formulators more flexibility when creating new water- and solvent-based coatings. Designed for medium-color coating applications, Experimental Black XPB 412 has good coloristic properties and excellent dispersion behavior.

“We recommend the new product for all kinds of general industrial liquid coatings, both waterborne and solventborne,” said Thomas Papasso, Market Manager, Coatings, Orion Engineered Carbons. “It provides a balance between performance and cost, making it an ideal solution for companies producing products in this category.”

Experimental Black XPB 412 is the latest carbon black pigment from the new production line at the company’s Kalscheuren, Germany, plant. It benefits from a new after-treatment process Orion developed to increase the number of carboxylic groups on the surface of the carbon black pigment. The carboxyl groups enhance interaction with polar binders, and improve the dispersion process and stability of the carbon black pigment during coating production.

In waterborne coatings the outstanding dispersion behavior maximizes the efficiency of wetting agents used to improve coloristic properties. Used with a typical amount of wetting agent in water-borne coatings, Experimental Black XPB 412 with the new after-treatment process provides higher jetness than Orion SPECIAL BLACK 4, with neutral undertone rather than a brownish one. In solventborne coatings it imparts the same jetness and undertone as SPECIAL BLACK 4.

The company also presented COLOUR BLACK FW 255 carbon black pigment, the first launch of its new generation of specialty carbon blacks. Setting new benchmarks for high jetness, coloristic performance, and compatibility with both waterborne and solventborne systems, COLOUR BLACK FW 255 carbon black pigment enables formulators to maintain performance and coloristic properties while migrating to waterborne formulations. It is especially suited for automotive OEM and refinish systems.

Orion also exhibited Carbon Black XPB 545 for conductive and anti-static coatings. Introduced in 2013, XPB 545 meets or exceeds performance requirements for conductivity, dispersibility and cleanliness at lower concentrations than conventional conductive carbon blacks. It creates a coating film with deep jetness and high gloss.

Patcham Extremely Happy with ACS

Patcham USA was extremely happy with its participation at the ACS. The show was large and very well attended by visitors from the Americas and abroad. A vast majority of the visitors were decision makers, which made for more meaningful interaction.

The company showcased a number of innovative concepts and technologies. Some of the new additive technologies included:

Helping formulators use no-VOC solvents such as Parachlorobenzotrifluoride without sacrificing any properties in the finished coating.
High molar volume (HMV) polymer technology for the optimum dispersion of carbon black and difficult-to-disperse organic pigments.
Formulating highly loaded water-based pigment concentrates with Newtonian flow using Pat-Add DA 603

Visitors were attracted by the live demonstration of pigment concentrates made from Pat-Add DA 603 and the wide range of display articles showcasing the latest technologies in additives developed by Patcham.

Perstorp Continues to Invest in the Americas

Perstorp showcased a palette of essential building block raw materials and innovative specialty coating products. One product series displayed at the ACS was Capa™, Perstorp’s caprolactone technology. This includes Capa polyols, which are important performance enhancers for premium PU coatings and stoving enamels, as well as for PU elastomer, such as TPU. Capa for PUDs is also growing quickly and is being particularly successful in leather and textile applications. 80% of Perstorp’s R&D expenditure goes into finding more sustainable solutions.

Perstorp’s ongoing commitment to the Americas includes future manufacturing investments in the region, and extensive global support for American customers. There has been constant reinvestment in plants and equipment in Ohio, and the company has recently expanded its sales resources and customer service capabilities across the region. This provides a competitive platform from which the company is now looking to capitalize on with further investments in the Ohio plants planned.

“Having been a manufacturer for nearly 40 years in the Americas, Perstorp is well aware of the energy competitiveness of the region, and that is a strong factor in favor of new manufacturing investments” said David Wolf, Perstorp’s Region Head Americas.

Perstorp’s commitment to the Americas region is aimed at strengthening its position within key regional products, and its competitiveness in helping globally active American customers to grow their businesses wherever they are located.

100% Bio-Based Succinic Acid from Reverdia

As a first-time exhibitor at the ACS, Reverdia was happy and surprised at the level of interest in bio-succinic acid. The company highlighted the benefits of Biosuccinium, a 100% bio-based succinic acid that offers a more sustainable alternative to conventional raw materials such as fossil-based succinic acid, adipic acid or terephthalic acid.

Today, succinic acid is not yet a commonly used monomer in the resins and coatings industry. Nevertheless, various studies have already demonstrated the technical feasibility in a multitude of applications, with equal or even improved performance when compared to the typical fossil-based benchmark. Examples include improved hardness and flexibility of powder coatings, shorter drying times in alkyds and better chemical resistance in polyurethane-based systems.

As the operator of the world’s first dedicated large-scale plant for the commercial production of succinic acid from renewable resources, Reverdia offers producers of resins, coatings, adhesive and sealant products an opportunity to reduce environmental impact, become less dependent on fossil resources, and differentiate their products on the basis of an improved sustainability profile.

Biosuccinium is manufactured by means of a novel and proprietary biotechnology process, a yeast-based fermentation process that is unique in delivering consistent product quality. It is also environmentally sensitive, uses non-fossil raw materials, sequesters carbon dioxide (CO₂), is energy efficient, and does not produce unnecessary by-products.

According to Marcel Lubben, President of Reverdia, the introduction of Biosuccinium meets the need to reduce the environmental impact. “As we move from a fossil-fuel-based economy to a more sustainable bio-based one, manufacturers are looking for alternative solutions. Biosuccinium provides a sustainable alternative to fossil-based raw materials used for resins, coatings, adhesives and sealants,” he said. “Biosuccinium presents a wide range of new market opportunities. We have successfully identified opportunities for using Biosuccinium as raw material for alkyd, polyester, polyurethane and composite resins. In addition, chemical derivatives of succinic acid, which are in part bio-based, provide alternative sustainable solutions to the chemicals industry. These are in various stages of development and include Dimethyl succinate (DMS), branded Provichem^®2511 Eco provided by Proviron, Biosuccinium-based polyester polyols, Plasticizers based on Biosuccinium, Quinacridone and DPP pigments,” he added.

Sun Chemical and DIC Come Together at ACS

Sun Chemical and its parent company, DIC, came together as one company at the ACS to display its product families of pigments and resins for a full range of coatings applications in the automotive, architectural and industrial industries.

The booth showcased Sun Chemical’s portfolio of effect, high-performance and classical pigments and preparations, including its newest product lines - Sunfast^®Elastomer Black pigments, SunMica^®Exterior XC pearlescent pigments and Benda-Lutz^®metallic pigments.

DIC was on hand to show how combining Sun Chemical’s pigments capabilities with its high-functionality resins and additives, including DIC GMA acrylics for powder coatings, CERANATE^®polysiloxane-acrylic hybrids, and DIC SAR (silicone acrylic resins), can provide all the key ingredients needed for superior coatings products.

“Our customers are looking for solutions that will help differentiate them from their competitors and grow their business,” said Michael Venturini, Global Marketing Manager for Coatings, Sun Chemical Performance Pigments. “During the American Coatings Show, we will show our customers how they can produce some of the most enticing coatings by combining Sun Chemical’s pigments and preparations with DIC’s industry-leading resins. These are the key ingredients needed for superior products for automotive, architectural and other applications, and we can offer them together as one company.”

Coatings formulators looking for low-gloss black pigments with improved jetness for waterborne, solventborne and powder coatings can now impart physical toughness, chemical resistance and water resistance onto most applications with Sun Chemical’s new Sunfast^®Elastomer Blackpigment. Made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled rubber, the product utilizes a fine-particle-size black elastomer pigment that creates an attractive low-sheen coating with excellent flow and leveling in thin, smooth finishes. Ideal for coatings on plastic, wood, coil and powder coatings, the new offering is well-suited for use on consumer electronics, automotive interiors, flooring, cabinets, furniture, direct to metal finishes, and sound-proofing coatings.

DIC showcased its range of acrylic resins for general industry coatings, including the SAR Series resins, which combine excellent adhesion and weather stability to a wide range of ferrious, non-ferrious and plastic substrates. The DIC SAR Series of resins ambient cure via a isocyanate-free moisture-cure mechanism for excellent adhesion to polycarbonate, ABS and other plastic substrates used for consumer electronics, wheel covers and auto interiors. Their excellent weathering properties and chemical resistance make SAR resins an important choice for exterior architectural and maintenance coatings.

Sun Chemical also launched its new SunMica Exterior XC product line, a series of 13 pearlescent special-effect pigments specifically geared for exterior coatings applications, especially powder coatings. Available in all major colors, including six particle size distributions of pearlescent white, SunMica Exterior XC consists of thin natural mineral mica flakes coated with optical layers of titanium dioxide and/or iron dioxide that have been specially treated to have exceptional outdoor durability. SunMICA Exterior XC pigments add depth, shimmer and sparkle, providing unlimited styling possibilities.

DICglycidyl methacrylate acrylic (GMA) resin technologyfor powder coatings can be used with SunMica Exterior XC and Benda-Lutz Metallic pigments to produce exceptional weatherability and gloss retention for a wide range of end uses.

Sun Chemical also showcased a array of metallic pigments under the Benda-Lutz^®brand name, including Benda-Lutz MAXAL^®grades for a bold metallic look. These aluminum pigments have maximum surface reflectivity, high brilliance and strong color travel of polished silver dollar flakes. For high chemical resistance, Sun Chemical offers its EC encapsulation technology. Benda-Lutz MAXAL ECencapsulated pastes add enhanced gassing stability in waterborne paint and provide superior resistance to alkali and acid staining without impacting the optical properties of the base aluminum flake for a wide variety of applications including the coating of automotive parts and accessories, and outdoor architectural coatings in powder and liquid paints.

When MAXAL EC is used together with DIC’s CERANATE^®polysiloxane-acrylic hybrid resins, coatings formulators produce an exceptionally durable, stain-resistant and self-cleaning coating. DIC CERANTE waterborne resins can be ambient cured with the DIC WATERSOL curing agent to produce clear or pigmented finishes with the same weatherstability of fluoropolymer chemistries. In addition, CERANTE coatings are self-cleaning and highly stain resistant, making them ideal for high-volume, low-maintenance applications ranging from outdoor living spaces to aluminum cladding and commercial buildings.

Vencorex’s Isocyanate Solutions

Vencorex presented a wide range of isocyanates and solutions that facilitate the development of more environmentally friendly technologies. “Although Vencorex is a company with a new name, it has a long history of being one of the top polyurethane suppliers in the world. We are excited to be at the ACS and to show our current and future customers the innovations and new technologies we have developed. Exhibitions such as this show are still one of the most important communication channels to promote our products” said Shane Steelman Marketing and Sales Director North America for Vencorex.

WACKER’s Extensive Range of Products

WACKER presented its extensive range of coatings, coating additives, binders and wood stain products. This broad selection of silicone and polymer-based chemistries offer the formulator customized solutions and performance-enhancing benefits that help bring added market-value. Below is a list of just some of the products exhibited at the show.

Architectural Coatings and Binders

VINNAPAS^®EF8300 is the latest development in VAE binders for high-performance coatings. Available in the Americas region as a binder for architectural coatings, VINNAPAS EF8300 combines high performance, such as good block resistance, wet adhesion and scrub resistance with lower environmental effect, and is ideal for flat through gloss finishes. It has a performance comparable to pure acrylics and exceeds that of vinyl acrylics and blend systems. It thus provides an acrylate-free option to replace traditional binders in high-end coatings, allowing the paint formulator to meet today’s VOC regulations.

The product meets foreseeable environmental regulations because it is produced without the use of APEOs and allows the formulation of architectural coatings that are low VOC (<5 g/L), very low residual monomer (<200 ppm) and low formaldehyde without the addition of coalescing solvents. It is therefore GS-11-compliant and meets any foreseeable environmental regulations, such as CARB, OTC, LATCO and SCAQMD.

VINNAPAS EF8001, with availability in the Americas region, is a versatile interior-coatings binder for low-odor and low-VOC paints. A premier binder for flat and mid-sheen paints, it combines superior low-odor and low-VOC capability with excellent performance and cost-in-use-benefits. It enables formulations of low-odor and low-VOC paints (<5 g/L), since it has very low residual-monomer content (<200 ppm) and does not need organic solvents or coalescing agents. Its odor profile is noticeably subdued; especially compared to standard vinyl acrylic technology. Furthermore, it is produced without the use of APEOs and features low formaldehyde. It is GS-11-compliant and meets applicable environmental regulations, including proposed reductions in VOCs.

SILRES^®BS 45 binder is used in the formulation of masonry coatings where water repellency is desired. A water-dilutable solventless emulsion of silicone resin, SILRES BS 45 is used in the production of silicone resin emulsion paints and plasters where it is employed as the main binder. Properly formulated, products incorporated with this product are characterized by high permeability to water vapor and C0₂, slow water absorption and decreased dirt pick-up in a breathable exterior coating. Additional benefits include imparting a mineral appearance to the substrate and extended longevity. Furthermore, an excellent beading effect is achieved when both SILRES BS 45 and SILRES BS 1306 are incorporated together into the formulation.

SILRES BS 1306 is a solventless, water-thinnable emulsion of a polysiloxane modified with functional silicone resin. It is an additive used in the manufacture of breathable, aqueous masonry coatings and aqueous primers to enhance water repellency, water resistance and water-vapor permeability with visible beading effect. It also improves the processability and antiblock characteristics of the aqueous coatings and is low VOC (<0.5 g/L). When used in combination with SILRES BS 45, an excellent beading effect is achieved.

SILRES BS 310 is a solventless, water-thinnable emulsion of a polysiloxane modified with functional silicone resin that promotes open time and wetting with excellent leveling properties in aqueous coatings. SILRESBS 310 is used in an undiluted form as an additive for aqueous indoor paints and coatings to effectively improve workability of the formulation. Low in VOC (<0.5 g/L), it is very compatible with indoor paints; it is especially effective in reducing lap marks and improving hydrophobicity in high humidity areas such kitchens and baths.

SILRES BS 1360 is a nonionic, solvent-free, water-dilutable emulsion of a reactive polysiloxane used in the manufacture of aqueous primers, thus increasing hydrophobicity in paints and deck stains and enhancing water repellency, water resistance and water-vapor permeability. SILRES BS 1360 is a low VOC (<0.5 g/L) additive that produces excellent water beading effect and is used in the manufacture of interior paints, silicone resin emulsion paints and plasters, and highly filled emulsion coatings.

Wood Stain

SILRES WH 80 A is a water-reducible, solvent-free emulsion of a siloxane that can be used to increase beading and water repellency of cellulosic substrates. The modification of water-reducible organic polymers, such as alkyds or acrylic latex formulations with SILRES WH 80 A silicone wood hybrid, increases water repellency and beading after exposure to UV radiation. Thus it imparts excellent short- and long-term beading effect in wood stain formulations. It is low VOC before and after curing according to EPA Method 24 and is UV stable, resistant to cracking, peeling and blistering. Additionally, wood stain coating formulations using SILRES WH 80 A retain color and gloss after weathering and exposure to the elements.

Caulk, Sealant and Mastic

VINNAPAS EF575, available for North American markets, is an aqueous surfactant stabilized vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer dispersion with a glass transition temperature (T_g) of 0 °C developed as a versatile binder used in a variety of applications including caulks, sealants and mastics. It demonstrates excellent flexibility and good adhesion to metals such as aluminum, galvanized and stainless steel. Manufactured without the use of APEOs, defoamers or formaldehyde donors, it can be formulated with typical pigments, fillers, thickeners and other binder chemistries. As an additional benefit, VINNAPAS EF575 can be formulated to pass numerous industry standards including ASTM C 834 and ASTM C 920.

HDK^®fumed silica has been produced by WACKER for more than four decades. Known for its exceptional purity and consistent quality, WACKER’s HDK fumed silica provides rheology control for coatings materials and printing inks. It is also widely used to control the flow of powder coatings. WACKER’s comprehensive range of hydrophobic and hydrophilic HDK grades improves the performance and stability of formulations, thus imparting superior flow control, sag resistance and anti-settling properties in a variety of coatings.

HDK H18 is a hydrophobic fumed silica widely used as a thickening and thixotropic agent in many types of industrial and commercial paints and coatings. It is useful for composites, adhesives and sealants as well. Developed specifically for use in polar systems such as epoxy resins and polyurethanes, it is characterized by a high specific surface area, and has a specific coating which renders it highly hydrophobic. HDK H 18 is ideal for use in high solids, solventless epoxy, polyurethanes and vinyl ester coatings for improved performance, stability and improved handling characteristics.

Industrial and Marine Coatings

SILRES HP 2000is an binder/curing agent combining excellent adhesion strength and chemical resistance with outstanding corrosion-protection in epoxy coatings, making it ideal for marine and harsh environment applications.

SILRES HP 1250 is used as a binder to increase UV resistance and corrosion resistance of coating formulations. Coatings manufactured using this product can be applied directly to zinc-rich coatings, bare steel or aluminum substrates.

SILRES MP 50 E is an excellent general-purpose silicone resin emulsion used in water-based heat-resistant coatings such as oven and stove paints, exhaust systems and household appliances and cookware regularly subjected to high temperatures.

X-Rite’s New Solutions for Color Management

X-Rite Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary Pantone LLC, demonstrated new solutions for the measurement and management of color for the coatings industry. Representatives demonstrated hardware and software solutions that range from the newly introduced Ci6x Series handheld spectrophotometers to the Ci4200 Series countertop spectrophotometers.

The company’s Ci6x Series of spherical spectrophotometers provides tighter controls of incoming materials, in-process samples and finished coatings, along with generating audit trails to ensure productivity for facilities with multiple sites. The Ci6x Series yields simultaneous specular included/specular excluded measurement in less than two seconds to determine if color variance is caused by appearance.

The Ci4200 is an easy-to-use, spherical spectrophotometer that manufacturers can harness quickly to reduce instances of non-conforming product, improve speed to market and enhance their positions within supply chains. With its attractive price point, the instrument is particularly well suited for companies that want to improve on existing color measurement programs that currently rely on non-spectral devices or only visual inspection pass/fail methods.

In addition, the company showcased solutions for retail paint and industrial coatings applications that include the following.

Retail Paint Applications

CAPSURE™ – A handy spectrocolorimeter that serves as an effective tool for paint manufacturers and retail paint stores to encourage customer excitement and simplify paint selection.
RM400 – The RM400 is a simple-to-use, lightweight spectrophotometer with one-button operation that allows the user to take spectral measurements while tethered to a PC.
Ci4100 – The Ci4100 is an easy-to-use, compact countertop solution for retail paint matching that provides a higher degree of formulation accuracy. The reliable and accurate Ci4100 spherical spectrophotometer improves speed and accuracy of paint formulation, provides easy sample targeting and stands up to demanding retail environments.
Ci61 – A high-performance portable spherical spectrophotometer that saves time and money at the worksite or customer counter.

Industrial Paint Applications

RM200QC – A pocket-sized spectrocolorimeter that can be used to compare the colors of lab samples or painted surfaces in the field with reference standards, then create reports that can be shared with supply chain partners.
Color iMatch – A color-matching system that provides quick, accurate color analysis and color formulation for coatings.
Color iQC – A quality control software that removes the guesswork from evaluating colors to simplify processes and increase efficiency while ensuring accurate color control.

There was so much more to see and learn about at this year’s event. The next American Coatings Show and Conference will take place in Indianapolis, IN, April 11-14, 2016.