The European Coatings Show and Congress were held in mid-March in Nürnberg, Germany. The Show featured 962 exhibitors from 42 countries in seven exhibition halls and 26,000 trade visitors from more than 100 nations. Europe’s biggest coatings congress attracted more than 650 participants from 37 countries. This year’s Show and Congress clearly showed that sustainability is a major innovation driver for the coatings industry. There is a big demand for coatings that help to reduce energy consumption, and for raw materials that lower VOC levels and are renewable or bio-based.

The exhibitors presented a whole spectrum of innovations on the market, from new raw materials for coatings, printing inks and adhesives; laboratory and production equipment; to the latest technologies for testing and measurement. I had the opportunity to sit down with several industry suppliers, and the following is just a sampling of the technology available at the Show.

Clariant Presents EcoTain® Life Cycle

Clariant introduced the EcoTain life cycle and labeling system to clearly identify its products that offer sustainability at every step. The EcoTain life cycle and label developed by Clariant is driven by the commitment to protect human, environmental and ecological health without compromising on performance and efficiency. Coating additives that carry the EcoTain label fulfill a broad range of requirements that safeguard the health of the people who produce them as well as those that use them.

EcoTain products for coatings are developed primarily for waterborne architectural paints and cover every step of the customer value chain. They include emulsifiers for emulsion polymerization (Emulsogen®), dispersing agents and humectants for pigment pastes (Dispersogen® and Polyglykol) and wetting agents (Genapol®) for paint formulations.

Examples of the specific life cycle phase benefits of EcoTain products fulfilling the four-step criteria include:

• Sustainable Design
  Friendly, non-hazardous composition is a primary requirement for EcoTain products and involves the use of safe ingredients and renewable feedstocks wherever possible. The latter condition is fulfilled by EcoTain products Dispersogen MT200 and Polyglykol 300. APEOs – alkylphenol ethoxylates – have long been an issue in the industry, as they are very persistent and do not degrade easily in nature. EcoTain additives are APEO-free.
• Responsible Process
  Efficient production is part of a responsible process, and EcoTain additives ensure resource efficiency by generating the highest yield possible – often in excess of 85 percent. Ensuring that little waste is generated during the process contributes to an environmentally neutral load, while safety and quality certification testifies to overall optimized processes.
• Safe and Efficient Use
  Safer, easier and more efficient handling is a significant advantage during product formulation and application. This ranges from improved human toxicity profiles, through low odor characteristics, to features such as handling at lower temperatures, improved solubility in water or efficient dispersing at low concentrates. The wetting agent Genapol ED 3060, for example, complies with Blue Angel and Ecoflower criteria and provides a higher tinting strength while at the same time reducing the amount of defoaming agents in the paint formulation.
• Eco-Integration
  The environmental profile of a product defines how rapidly and easily it degrades as well as the impact it has on the environment. EcoTain additives are biodegradable and contain very low or no VOCs. The majority of EcoTain products for coatings have low levels of VOCs at less than 1 percent, while some, such as Dispersogen ECS and Dispersogen PL 30 contain less than 0.1 percent VOCs.

Clariant also presented new renewable-based Ceridust® waxes at the ECS. These micronized wax innovations for wood coatings, powder coatings and printing inks are based on renewable raw materials. New Ceridust 8090 TP made its market debut before ECS visitors. The revolutionary additive for wood coatings creates a protected and smooth, soft-touch surface with the pleasant feel of untreated wood. The micronized wax increases coefficient of friction in combination with outstanding scratch resistance performance, particularly in water-based formulations.

Presented for the first time in Europe, Ceridust 7820 TP is ideal for use in high-gloss applications, offering a high-performance degassing effect in various powder coating systems and achieving high-quality surfaces. At high wax concentration, Ceridust 7820 TP shows almost no matting. In addition, when used at a 2 percent dosage level, it virtually eliminates pinholes without reducing the gloss level.

New Ceridust 8330TP is a partly renewable polymer wax for printing inks. It offers an ideal combination of flexible yet tough polymeric characteristics, rendering it a powerful rub-resistance additive for all ink systems, and can be used with both liquid and pasty inks. Ceridust 8330 TP has been tested and approved on the largest-scale printing machinery.

Momentive Validates Sustainability

Momentive Specialty Chemicals Inc. presented a paper on using Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) to validate the sustainability of new polyester powder coating binders for low thermal cure and super durability. LCA is a methodology for analyzing the environmental performance of potential new products and was used in the development of Albecor™ 6190 polyester powder coating, Momentive’s newest energy-saving powder coating resin.

In response to market demand for advanced and environmentally suitable technologies, the company designed its Albecor line of powder coating resins expressly for sustainably manufactured products. In 2011, in collaboration with the university Politecnico di Torino, Italy, the company used LCA to study low-temperature-cure (LTC) powder resins. It was found that using the Albecor LTC system significantly decreased the energy consumed during application. The next step was to conduct a new LCA to calculate the impact of a new product with extended durability - super-durable Albecor 6190 polyester powder coating - in combination with the previously identified benefits of LTC coatings.

“It’s very gratifying to have successfully validated the energy savings our Albecor LTC line can deliver,” said Donato Di Lorenzo, Marketing & Business Development Manager, Powder Resins. “We’re also very excited about our newest product in this line, Albecor 6190 polyester powder coating, which exhibits extreme outdoor durability, very good mechanical properties, and excellent flow, while being blooming free and conveying good coating storage stability. It cures in 15 minutes at 160 °C (object temperature).”

Momentive also discussed a novel way to produce resins for two-component polyurethane waterborne topcoats in a one-step process using its own Cardura brand of glycidyl ester. This method is faster and more energy efficient than the traditional polymerization process.

Conventional acrylic polyols for waterborne polyurethane topcoats are prepared via a solution polymerization process, followed by solvent removal. The resins are then dispersed in water. This lengthy process requires high energy levels to distill the solvent. It also favors side-reactions that impair the performance of the resultant coatings.

Cardura glycidyl ester has been found to enable the preparation of high-quality acrylic resins in a simple, one-step process. Coatings with a solvent level of about 14 percent, utilizing either Cardura E10P monomer or the new Cardura E9 monomer (under development), have been evaluated.

Cardura monomer-based polyester reactive diluents have also been successfully tested to eliminate the need for any solvent during acrylic polymerization. This opens another new and effective route to 2K polyurethane waterborne topcoats.

LANXESS Presents Pigments and Protection

Lanxess’ Functional Chemicals business unit focused on its pigment preparations at the ECS. These products are based on organic and inorganic high-performance Levanyl and Levanox pigments, which allow brilliant and pure hues with excellent lightfastness and weather stability. “We are experiencing growing demand for products suitable for outdoor use. At the same time, there is ever-increasing interest in environmental safety. We are confident that the differentiating performance of our water-based Levanyl and Levanox grades will be instrumental in supporting the growth objectives of our customers,” said Patrik Brodhag, Marketing Manager for Specialty Colorants.

Lanxess also showcased its versatile Disflamoll and Levagard phosphorus-based, halogen-free flame retardants. The special properties of these transparent flame retardants also enable them to be widely used in coatings as VOC-free solvents, viscosity depressants, dispersion and wetting agents, or antifoams. In addition, combinations of these liquid products with the powdered flame retardant Uniplex FRX 44-94 results in a relevant reduction in the total content of flame retardants.

The company’s Material Protection Products (MPP) business unit exhibited biocidal active ingredients and biocidal formulations for a range of coatings applications, including formulations for water-based wood coatings, emulsion paints, lacquers and plasters.

MPP recently started using a new formulation method for algaecides in the paint segment. The new method has an advantageous effect on algicidal formulations. Several tests showed that it reduced leaching of the active ingredient from paints in rain by over 50 percent compared to conventional algaecides. By improving leaching behavior, the method can either extend the lifetime of facade coatings or reduce the amount of active ingredient required.

A big focus at the LANXESS booth was the expansion of its global production network for inorganic pigments with the building a new plant in China. Designed to meet the latest environmental standards, the plant will initially have an annual capacity of 25,000 metric tons. The company is investing a total of €55 million in the project, creating 150 new jobs in the process. Construction will begin in the second quarter of 2013. Production is scheduled to start in the first quarter of 2015.

The trend towards urbanization has triggered rising global demand for premium, sustainably produced pigments. LANXESS will manufacture its iron oxide red pigments at the new plant using a further advanced and highly sustainable Penniman process. “With our innovative production process, we are raising the bar for the production of iron oxide pigments, particularly in terms of water treatment, waste gas cleaning and energy consumption,” said Jörg Hellwig, Head of the Inorganic Pigments business unit.

Dow Offers Sustainable Solutions

New innovations in EVOQUETM Pre-Composite Polymer technology offer improved paint film properties to formulators, including exceptional chalk resistance, gloss and color retention, and efflorescence resistance. Dow Coating Materials (DCM) showcased a new family of pure acrylic binders that help to optimally space TiO2 and extenders in the creation of a homogenous paint film with exceptional exterior durability.

“The need for longer-lasting paints that can reduce the frequency of repainting exteriors is an industry-wide concern we can help customers address with EVOQUE technology,” said Marie Bleuzen, European Technical Manager, Architectural Coatings. “Our natural exposure data has confirmed the benefits that customers can see in their final paint film, from stain resistance and tannin blocking to a lower tendency for chalking.”

The DCM team discussed the sustainability benefits of EVOQUE technology as outlined in a recent Life Cycle Assessment of waterborne paints for interior and exterior wall protection. Conducted by the business and validated by a third party, the LCA found that because pigment often contributes the most to the environmental impact of paint, reductions in pigment usually lead to the biggest gains in sustainability.

Compared to other binder technologies, EVOQUE Pre-Composite technology was shown to yield the lowest impact for all impact categories in the study, including human toxicity, primary energy usage and resource depletion. These results were shown to be driven mainly by the reduction in TiO2 facilitated by EVOQUE technology, with the improved durability of the resulting composite-based paint playing a role in lowering overall impact, as well.

DCM has also branded a suite of high-performance epoxy resins under its OUDRA™ Solution Series to meet the needs of next-generation oil and gas pipelines that are installed in harsh environments and/or operated at higher service temperatures. The specialty resins can be used to formulate fusion-bonded epoxy coatings that increase overall durability and enhance performance properties affected by temperature.

For coating pipe, fusion bonded epoxy (FBE) is the preferred material due to its excellent adhesion and corrosion protection; however, FBE coatings can be damaged during pipe handling, storage and installation. The OUDRA Solution Series offers enhanced FBE damage resistance through the use of OUDRATough™ HPC Solid Epoxy Resin. Designed for dual-layer FBE coatings, this specialty epoxy resin features self-assembling toughening technology that helps the formulated coating maintain key performance properties even at subzero temperatures. These performance properties include abrasion resistance overcoat flexibility, impact resistance and gouge resistance.

The OUDRA Solution Series also includes OUDRATherm™ HPC Solid Epoxy Resin. This specialty epoxy can be used to formulate FBE coatings with glass transition (Tg) temperatures exceeding 160 °C. This is notably higher than standard epoxy resins and facilitates FBE coatings suited to pipelines that service an increasing number of high-temperature wells.

Wacker Introduces Fire-Protection and Heat-Resistant Products

Wacker unveiled its new VINNAPAS® LL 3112 dispersion, a binder for intumescent coatings. These special fire protection coatings encase steel girders and swell (intumesce) in the event of a fire, thus delaying the melting or warping of the building’s supporting structure. The coating is usually applied one to four millimeter thick and, when subject to heat, foams to tens to hundreds of times its original thickness. Because of the extremely low thermal conductivity of the foam layer that is produced, the temperature in the interior of the coating increases only slowly, so that the steel girders are protected against the heat of the fire for a defined time and thus retain their strength for longer.

The new VINNAPAS LL 3112, based on vinyl acetate-ethylene-vinyl ester copolymers, shows particularly pronounced foaming and expansion, and long-term foam stability. At the same time, the adhesion and strength of the intumescent coatings are improved, so that the protective layer firmly adheres to the substrate and forms a heat barrier for a limited time. Without the binder, the foam layer would be too brittle and would have inadequate adhesion to the steel substrate, and thus would not be able to function as an insulating layer. Depending on the formulation, the new VINNAPAS LL 3112 now allows highly fire-resistant coatings with fire resistance class F120 to be achieved (heat protection for up to 120 minutes). Moreover, the water-based binder is free of organic solvents or additives, such as plasticizers, and is manufactured without the use of APEO-containing materials.

Another product innovation at ECS was WACKER’s new binder component for heat-resistant coatings. SILRES® MPF 52E consists of an alkoxy-functional silicone resin emulsion that significantly improves the heat resistance of binders. Unlike existing paint systems, which are classified as dangerous chemicals because of their solvent content, this is a water-based emulsion that permits low-solvent or even solvent-free surface coating systems to be formulated. Manufacturers of heat-resistant coatings thus have available a climate-friendly binder system that is not classified as a hazardous substance.

SILRES MPF 52E can be used as either an additive or a binder. For modifying organic polymers, binders formulated with the new silicone resin emulsion achieve heat resistance up to 200 °C. When used as a binder in, for example, aluminum coatings, the coated material can even be processed at up to 500 °C. SILRES MPF 52E also imparts excellent hot-hardness to coatings, i.e. excellent scratch resistance and hardness at elevated temperatures.

BYK Focuses on Water

With its Show motto “The Essential Element”, BYK Additives & Instruments focused specifically on the theme of water. Aqueous coating systems today are among the most modern and best alternatives when it comes to environmental and human health protection. In most cases, they achieve the same performance as solventborne systems, are just as easy to process and are particularly economical.

Up until now,more than 40 percent of BYK’s additives have already been developed for aqueous liquid coatings and printing inks. The trend toward increasingly greener systems is continuing, and BYK is facing this challenge with its “Greenability”concept: Over 50 percent of R&D activities within the company are currently specifically aimed at developing additives to help formulate more environmentally friendly products.

As another new technology, nanotechnology was also a focus at the ECS. For example, the latest member of the NANOBYK® family, NANOBYK‑3620, showcased how glossy, aqueous, pigmented and non-pigmented topcoats can be protected from scratching and abrasion.

Ashland Introduces Efficient Product to European Market

Ashland introduced its new Natrosol PerformaxTM HEC, which delivers process flexibility and quality control to paint manufacturers. The technology triggers rapid and complete dispersion in any water-based medium, even under low shear conditions. This allows manufacturers to add HEC in dry form at any point of the manufacturing process, eliminating extra process steps such as the preparation of pre-slurries or dissolutions of HEC, saving operational costs. The result is a faster, more efficient, less costly production process.

“Our innovative Natrosol Performax HEC offers paint makers much more flexibility in their production process. It improves grinding and reduces energy, thus optimizing the process,” said Griffin Gappert, New Product Leader, Coatings Specialties, Ashland Specialty Ingredients.

Ashland also featured its complete portfolio of coatings additives, including Aquaflow™ nonionic synthetic associates thickeners, JaypolTM dispersants and FungitrolTM biocides. The company also presented six papers on new technology developments at the Congress.

CPS Introduces New Colorant Lines

CPS Color has upgraded its portfolio of architectural and industrial colorants with three new product lines.

With the new Temacolor EP range, it has become possible to dispense colorants for thick-film epoxy floor coatings and to automate and reproduce colors. The new colorant range consists of 12 solvent-free colorants that form the basis for thousands of color shades. Paint manufacturers are able to deliver any desired quantity just in time, preventing shortages.The careful choice of pigments and using an epoxy resin as carrier minimizes the floating and flooding during the drying stage. Tests in numerous epoxy floor coatings and epoxy resin products have demonstrated Temacolor EP’s excellent compatibility with minimal effects on properties such as gloss and drying.

The new Novapint D solar-reflective colorants have been specially developed to offer a wide choice of colors for water-based facade paints and plasters. An innovative black colorant replaces the traditional carbon – or oxide black colorant. Combined with conventional colorants with good intrinsic solar-reflective properties, it makes up the new Novapint D solar-reflective technology. It minimizes heat build-up in architectural and decorative paint applications such as facades, roofs, window frames and Exterior Insulation Finishing Systems (EIFS). Novapint D solar-reflective colorants consist of pigments that achieve a high Total Solar Reflectance (TSR) value and absorb much less heat than conventional colorants. Paint formulators are able to develop coatings for their customers that reduce energy costs, thermal stress and pollution.

The second new member of the industrial Temacolor family is a low-VOC and aromatic-free line of colorants for solvent-based industrial coatings. Temacolor TL has a VOC content of less than 350 g/L and complies with the latest regulations. Despite the omission of aromatic solvents, the technology maintains its shade and strength. High-performance pigments provide excellent resistance to weather, chemicals and heat. The vast selection of colorants covers the entire color space.

Huntsman Sparks Interest with Flame-Retardant Prepolymer for Polyurea

Huntsman Polyurethanes revealed details of a new chemistry – SUPRASEC® 2154 prepolymer. SUPRASEC 2154 prepolymer is a new development that makes it far easier to embed fire-retardant properties in hot-spray polyurea systems. Historically, it’s been difficult for formulators to add flame-retardant properties to polyurea without compromising overall coating performance. The risk of overloading the polyetheramine or ‘B’ side of the system has always been too great.

Used on the isocyanate or ‘A’ side of polyurea, SUPRASEC 2154 prepolymer has built-in flame-retardant features. This means formulators can put extra fire protection additives into the amine half of a system more freely – helping them achieve the desired results without creating an imbalance or impacting on other essential coating properties.

Huntsman Polyurethanes is aiming SUPRASEC 2154 prepolymer at applications where passive fire prevention is required, such as coating concrete and steel structures in multi-story car parks.

Ian Rimmer, Commercial Manager, Coatings EAME at Huntsman Polyurethanes, said, “We began talking about this product back in November at the Polyurea Development Association Conference in Istanbul. The reaction was extremely positive, so we knew we’d be bringing the technology to ECS to unveil it to a wider audience. Development has been slow and steady, but that’s been intentional. There is clearly strong demand in this area, and from the outset we wanted to create a solution that was absolutely right and would deliver maximum benefit. We think we’ve done just that. Initial tests have gone well, and we are now into the scale-up phase – having some interesting conversations with existing customers about a wide range of application opportunities.”

Solvay Showcases Broad Product Portfolio for Architectural and Industrial Coatings

Solvay Novecare promoted its range of specialty polymers, monomers, additives and defoamers for the architectural and industrial coatings industry. Solvay recently acquired French chemicals group Rhodia, making it one of the largest global suppliers of surfactants and specialty monomers for latex coatings formulators. Additionally, Solvay now offers a comprehensive portfolio of defoamers, specialty dispersants, advanced wetting agents, and other functional additives for paint and coating formulating.

Featured innovations included:

• Rhodoline® OTE, a patented, VOC-free and APE-free additive for extended open time in waterborne coatings. Rhodoline OTE provides a two- to four-fold increase in open time, and additional benefits such as improved gloss, scrub resistance and elimination of wetting agents.
• Rhodoline FT-100, a freeze-thaw stability additive. Rhodoline FT-100 is a VOC-free, APE-free solution that stabilizes waterborne soft latex-based paints upon freezing during transportation, storage or application. It addresses the latex coagulation issues of low-VOC paints based on soft binder polymers and, whether added to the binder polymer or during paint formulation, Rhodoline FT-100 provides a finished paint that passes five cycles of freeze-thaw stability.
• Rhodoline 621 is a new, sustainable defoamer derived from renewable raw materials. It is APE-free, zero-VOC, silicone-free and BrfR-compliant for flat to semigloss waterborne paints and coatings.
• Rhodoline DF 540 is a new, sustainable defoamer specifically designed for in-process foam control for latex emulsions and adhesive systems. It is APE-free, zero-VOC and BrfR-compliant.
• Sipomer® Cops 3 is a new polymerizable stabilizer designed to drastically enhance scrub resistance in high-PVC paint formulations based on styrene/acrylic or vinyl/VeoVA binders.
• ABEX® DBR is a new emulsifier designed as a high-performance alternative to DPOS (sodium alkyl diphenyl oxide sulfonate) in styrene/butadiene binders.
• Rhodasurf® is a non-ionic portfolio that enables easy transition to APE-free chemistry.

Sun Chemical Introduces New Pigment Technology

Sun Chemical introduced a broad range of dispersions, high-performance, metallic and special-effect pigments that can meet sustainability needs, maintain high color strength, and give added durability in a variety of harsh conditions in the automotive, industrial, waterborne and architectural coatings markets.

Sun Chemical highlighted a family of metallic pigments for waterborne coatings comprised of a wide variety of chemical passivation and encapsulation technologies under the Benda-Lutz® brand name. An ideal fit for waterborne industrial coatings, Benda-LutzAQUARAL is a range of VOC-free, passivated aluminum dispersions that provide excellent opacity and metallic effect for environmentally friendly coatings. These chrome-free and binder-free preparations are easy to disperse and offer outstanding storage stability.

Automotive stylists will be interested in Benda-LutzMAXAL® SI grades for a bold metallic look. These aluminum pigments combine the maximum surface reflectivity, high brilliance and strong color travel of MAXAL with the gassing resistance and circulation stability of inorganic encapsulation. For chemical resistance, Sun offers its EC encapsulation technology through Benda-Lutz MAXAL ECpastes. For waterborne coatings with premium mirror-like effects, Benda-Lutz SPLENDALoffers four unique microscopically thin aluminum platelet suspensions produced via physical vapor deposition.

Sun Chemical also showcased its spectrum of Quindo products, including the unique, highly opaque Quindo® Red 202. Engineered for use in both solvent- and water-based coatings applications, Quindo Red 202 pigment is a chromatic blue shade Quinacridone and is ideal for solid, deep red coatings. It is particularly well suited for outdoor applications, and its low rheological characteristics make it an ideal pigment for high-solids coatings.

From brilliant orange shade Fastogen Super Red 209 to the highly chromatic Quindo Violet 55, Sun Chemical offers a wide color index range of Quinacridone pigments.

Sun also featured three new iron oxide pigment shades from the Sunsperse® ECO aqueous pigment dispersions range for waterborne emulsion architectural paints. The two durable red and one yellow iron oxide pigments provide more popular pastel shades for the deco market at a cost-effective price. The now 12-color range developed for the in-plant production of ready mixed colors are APEO-free, VOC-free and resin-free, and comply with the European regulation on the limitation of VOCs.

The Predisol® CAB pigment preparations provide maximum color intensity, cleaner hues and extreme transparency of the base pigment. The line includes a range of high-grade black pigments that provide for a very deep black color, excellent jetness and the jewel-like deep black look of luxury that customers in the automotive industry now favor. The Predisol CAB preparations are formulated with a balance of pigment and resin in order to achieve complete incorporation after just 30 to 45 minutes of high-speed stirring. This ease in dispersion allows for a streamlined production process overall, from stirring to cleaning the dispersing equipment.

BASF Unveils Innovative Raw Materials for Industrial Coatings

BASF presented its broad portfolio of raw materials for industrial coatings.The company has recently developed a new acrylic dispersion technology, Joncryl® PRO 1522, specifically for DTM coatings. It allows a single water-based coating to be applied to metal surfaces, providing enhanced resistance to water, humidity and corrosion.

BASF's Hydropalat® WE 3500 is a new polymeric wetting and levelling agent for water-based systems. Based on a new fluorinated acrylic copolymer, Hydropalat WE 3500 provides excellent surface levelling and substrate wetting by reducing the dynamic surface tension of the coating. Additionally, cratering, foam stabilization or impaired intercoat adhesion can be avoided.BASF also has a unique portfolio of pigments for lead-free formulations, including product brands such as Paliotol®, Sicopal® and Irgazin®, and resins for the formulation of low-VOC coatings.

Cu-phthalocyanine pigments represent one of the main classes of organic pigments used in the industrial coatings industry, but dispersing these pigments can prove challenging. BASF presented two new dispersing agents, Efka® PX 4350 and Efka® PX 4751, for Cu-phthalocyanine pigments in solvent-based and high-solids applications. The dispersing agents are highly efficient, reducing the need to use a pigment synergist.

Another BASF innovation is the new range of GlacierTM effect pigments for consumer electronics and household goods. These pigments are comprised of synthetic mica flakes coated with titanium dioxide. With features such as high color strength, increased opacity and exterior durability, the new Bismuth Vanadate pigment Sicopal® Yellow EH 1567 (L 1130) is designed to meet the needs of the industrial coatings market. It offers an ideal solution for customers wanting a lead-free formulation of especially bright and durable yellow shades.

Another new product in the market is the SolyfastTM catalyst for two-component polyurethane coating systems. The catalyst is initiated by UV light at room temperature and leads to shorter drying times – tin-free and providing a longer pot life. This innovation is particularly interesting for all kinds of industrial applications that can benefit from a more space- and energy-efficient coating process in the future.

Arkema Showcases its Diverse Range of Technologies

Arkema’s current product range covers a wide spectrum of resins and additives with highly diverse chemistries and technologies. This particular position enables Arkema to adapt to its customers’ specific requirements based on their location and their application markets, and to fulfill the requirements of environmentally sound, sustainable chemistry, developed from renewable raw materials (vegetable oils).

This product range makes up a unique portfolio of materials and technologies, including acrylic monomers, acrylic emulsions for water-based paints, polyester and alkyd resins for solvent-based paints, powder polyester resins, ultrahigh dry-content resins, PVDF fluorinated polymers for durable external coatings, rheology additives (dispersants and thickeners) from Coatex, rheology additives for solvent-based industrial coatings, and finally acrylate and methacrylate specialty resins from Sartomer.

Shepherd Color Expands the Durable Color Envelope

Shepherd Color has developed a new pigment chemistry that features excellent durability, high opacity and a bright clean yellow color. Niobium Tin Pyrochlore (NTP) Yellow 10C151 is an innovative inorganic pigment that expands the envelope of durable color. It is a bridge between the high-chromaticity of organic pigments with the durability and opacity of inorganic pigments. The NTP Yellow is a new class of Complex Inorganic Colored Pigment under the designation Pigment Yellow 227 and is covered by a number of patents around the world.

To complement the NTP Yellow, the company has also introduced an improvement of a current product line with a new offering in its Rutile Tin Zinc (RTZ) Orange pigment line. RTZ Orange 10C341 offers increased redness, higher heat stability and excellent weathering when compared to current market offerings.

The NTP Yellow and RTZ Orange expand the options available to color stylists, architects and designers for high-value systems where the highest performance is required. They also make excellent replacements for colors based on the lead chromate pigment color space and provide paint chemists and formulators with high-performance, environmentally friendly alternative colorants.

Dow Corning Features Resin and Additive Solutions

Dow Corning® brand resin and additive solutions for the coatings industry were featured at the Show. The company’s resins and additives can improve the resistance of decorative, maintenance and protective coatings to extreme temperatures, moisture, corrosion, electrical discharge and weathering.

Featured solutions included:

• Dow Corning 3055 Resin: Used to formulate polysiloxane hybrid coatings with improved chemical, thermal, UV, corrosion and moisture resistance compared to epoxy and two-component polyurethane (2K PU) systems.
• Dow Corning 52 Additive: An ultrahigh-molecular-weight silicone dispersion for slip, rub resistance, abrasion resistance and anti-blocking in waterborne paints, inks and coatings, including industrial wood coatings (acrylic- and PUD-based), overprint varnishes, and interior and exterior paints.
• Dow Corning901H Additive: This silane-basedadditive is used for hydrophobing and anti-efflorescence in waterborne decorative coatings.
• Dow Corning 3037 Intermediate: This silicone resinintermediate can be reacted with organic resins to improve weatherability, or with other silicone resins to reduce VOCs and improve flexibility.
• Dow Corning 3074 Intermediate: This silicone resin intermediate is used in combination with organic resins via cold-blends or pre-reaction to improve weatherability and heat resistance. Use with Dow Corning3055 Resin to reduce water absorption and boost corrosion resistance of silicone-organic hybrid coatings, or with phenyl-containing silicone resin as a reactive diluent for low-VOC, high-temperature coatings.
• Dow Corning US-CF 2403 Resin: A reactive alkoxy-siloxane resin used as a binder that provides heat resistance and improves the physical performance of coatings. Applications include the protection of metal, wood and glass.

ECKART Presents New Midnight Black Pigment

ECKART presented its new PVD product, METALURE Liquid Black, based on chromium oxide. It provides a captivating midnight black shade in combination with a fascinating reflective effect.The extremely high chemical resistance withstands any possible stresses. Moreover, METALURE Liquid Black is chemically inert and free of any chrome VI compounds. Applications include exterior coatings, automotive and accessories coatings, and interior and decorative coatings. METALURE Liquid Black is suited for water-based, solventborne and UV coatings.

ECKART also featured highly resistant gold, copper and champagne shades for powder coatings with an extension of its established STANDART® PCU portfolio. Until now, highly resistant gold, copper and champagne shades for powder coatings had to be made using pearlescent pigments, because that was the only way to achieve the necessary resistance. This meant compromising in the range of golden colors and on the functional properties. The innovative development from ECKART is a special coating process for new powder pigments. Not only do they exhibit warm gold, copper and champagne tones, but they also demonstrate excellent opacity and ideal resistance to both corrosion and chemicals. The new products are called PCU Rich Gold 4000, PCU Copper 4000 and PCU Aloxal 2000 (champagne shade).

Also featured at ECKART’s booth were ultrathin pigments for can coatings.With STAPA® CAN 0600, ECKART offers a new product development especially for the interior coatings of cans where specific requirements regarding stain, sulfur and acid resistance must be met. STAPA CAN 0600 consists of extremely fine pigments with a narrow particle size distribution. It is easy to disperse. STAPA CAN 0600 was elaborated for the use in conventional coatings systems and is available as pigment paste.

New Joint Venture Company Exhibits

Vencorex is a newly formed joint venture between PTT Global Chemical and the Perstorp Group. The company is the owner of key technologies and a major producer of aliphatic isocyanates (HDI, IPDI, Tolonate™ and Easaqua™) and aromatic isocyanate (Scuranate™ TDI) used in polyurethane coatings, adhesives, elastomers and inks. Vencorex presented a wide range of isocyanates and solutions to develop more environmentally friendly technologies, such as:

• Tolonate aliphatic polyisocyanate crosslinkers for high-performance polyurethane coatings and adhesives, which offer exceptional durability and non-yellowing properties upon ageing, with high-solids, low-VOC options.
• Easaqua self-emulsifiable polyisocyanates, used as crosslinkers of effective environmentally friendly waterborne polyurethane alternatives to conventional solvent-based coatings.
• HDI and IPDI isocyanate monomers, essential building blocks for polyurethane dispersions (PUD).
• Scuranate TDI aromatic isocyanate for CASE applications.

Evonik Introduces a New Series of Polyester Resins

Evonik presented a number of product innovations for the coatings industry, including a new series of polyester resins. DYNAPOL®Terra is a bio-based binder system for organic coil coatings made using regenerative raw materials. The new VP ITO makes a contribution to energy-efficient buildings and vehicles by providing thermal insulation that does not affect the optical transparency of windows. Another of its innovations, TEGOSIVIN®, is an efflorescence-control agent that makes concrete more resistant to frost and de-icing-salt exposure. A crosslinking activator for clear coatings has now been introduced to the TAICROS® family of crosslinkers. The next generation of TEGO® defoaming and deaerating agents was also presented at the Show, as were bio-based bonding agents. Last but not least, the DEGAROUTE® brand sees the addition of the next, environment-friendly road-marking solution. The new Dynasylan® SIVO® 140, an organic-inorganic bonding agent for water-based zinc-rich paint from the Functional Silanes Product Group, cures at temperatures as low as 10 °C and is nearly solvent-free.

Bühler Offers Sustainable, Efficient and Productive Solutions

The focus of Bühler’s booth was on two new machine solutions and a nanoscale additive for water-based coatings. The new Dispernator™ inline disperser enables mixing, homogenizing and predispersing of chemicals, paints, coatings and other suspensions. The key benefits are dust-free powder intake through vacuum and high flexibility in use, from efficient predispersing to the finished dispersion (in applications with a simple requirement profile). Significantly improved particle-size distributions can be achieved at the pregrinding stage through high recirculation rates and the use of grinding beads. Due to the new inline disperser, additional pregrinding is largely unnecessary, even with difficult products or poorer raw material quality. Temperature-sensitive materials benefit from the optimized temperature control that facilitates gentle processing.

The MicroMedia™ series has been optimized for a broader application range. The X add-on, such as MicroMedia X3, stands for the operationally safe use of micro grinding beads from 20 µm to 800 µm. MicroMedia’s impressive flow capacity with micro grinding beads also provides a considerable advantage when processing liquid inks, digital inks or coatings where bead sizes of 0.3 mm to 0.8 mm are typically used. Higher exchange rates during recirculation operation result in narrower particle size distributions. The use of smaller beads with the same recirculation rates provides higher energy efficiency during operation.

Oxylink™ performance additive for water-based coating systems contains tailored nanoparticles that produce a reinforcing effect via their interaction with polymers. The use of Oxylink sustainably improves many of the properties of water-based coating systems, such as solvent or humidity resistance. At the same time, productivity improves through improved blocking resistance and the shortening of drying times to further processing. Gloss, adhesion or mechanical properties of the final coating are not negatively influenced.

Huntsman Features Flame-Retardant Prepolymer

Huntsman Polyurethanes revealed details of a new chemistry –SUPRASEC® 2154 prepolymer. The prepolymer makes it far easier to embed fire-retardant properties in hot-spray polyurea systems. Historically, it’s been difficult for formulators to add flameretardant properties to polyurea without compromising overall coating performance. The risk of overloading the polyetheramines or ‘B’ side of the system has always been too great. Used on the isocyanate or ‘A’ side of polyurea, SUPRASEC 2154 prepolymer has built-in flame-retardant features. This means formulators can put extra fire protection additives into the amine half of a system more freely – helping them achieve the desired results without creating an imbalance or impacting on other essential coating properties.

 The next European Coatings SHOW takes place in the Exhibition Centre Nuremberg April 21-23, 2015.