coating Archives - Chemical Dynamics, LLC: Paint & Coatings Consultants

Green Resin Technology – The Other Approach

Green Resin Technology Explained

In April 2015, Chemical Dynamics published an article in Prospector on green resin technology using bio-based resin building blocks in the synthesis of polymers for coatings. Another highly desirable approach to green technology is the incorporation of resins utilizing building blocks derived from recyclable materials.

Sales for resins/polyols using recycled or bio-based polyols are expected to grow twice as fast as the overall polyol market in the next four years[1]. Driving forces for the use of recycled materials in the manufacture of resins can be reduced health hazard[2] (figure 2), as well as environmental and economic factors. Other attributes include reducing the carbon footprint[3] (Figure 1), increasing sustainability, and conservation of natural resources. Green products are also growing in favor with multiple government and private agencies.

Typical recyclable material sources may include polyethylene terephthalate (PET), designated rPET for recycled PET, recovered cooking oils and recycled polyurethane foam. PET is typically used as containers for soft drinks and water, whereas polyurethane foams are used as carpet underlay and in mattresses. In the U.S. alone, there were 6.5 billion pounds of unrecycled PET-based containers in 2013.

EPA Guidelines

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Comprehensive Procurement Guideline Program (CPG) defines recycled material as such that the EPA deems equivalent to virgin material. RCRA Section 6002 also requires purchasing agencies to establish procurement programs for designated items that meet CPG. Scientific Certification Services (SCS) recognizes products made either in whole or in part from recycled waste material in place of virgin materials. Through its certification process, SCShelps products qualify for credits within the LEED rating system. LEED is a certified U.S. Green Building Council program. Recycled content is certified by the U.S. Green Building Council’s GreenCircle for total recycled content based on pre and post consumer recycled content in products.

To read the rest of the article by Ron Lewarchik, President of Chemical Dynamics, please click here.

Paint Raw Material Evaluation for Global firm

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SITUATION:

A global company with multibillion dollar sales required an independent paint raw material evaluation from a paint expert of the performance and application potential of a new fluoropolymer resin that they had developed.

ACTION/RESULT:

Due to the resident coating expertise in fluoropolymer coatings, the supplier contracted Chemical Dynamics to provide an independent evaluation of this new resin chemistry. Chemical Dynamics completed the evaluation and identified multiple new applications for the fluoropolymer resin chemistry.

Hydrophobic Pigments to Avoid Flooding & Floating

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Dispersing and Wetting Hydrophobic Pigments and Fillers in Water Based Paints to avoid Pigment Flooding and Floating

A critical part of any coatings formulation is ensuring that the coating will be free of inherent defects, including pigment flooding and floating. Waterborne formulations represent some unique challenges due to multiple factors, including the high surface tension and polarity of water that does not contribute to the wetting of most pigment and filler particles. In this article, I’ll define some important considerations in formulating waterborne paints to avoid pigment flooding and floating.

Flooding, Floating, Surface Tension, Bernard Cells, Flocculation and Agglomeration

Floating describes a mottled, splotchy appearance on the surface of a paint film. It is most apparent in coatings colored with two or more pigments and is a result of the horizontal separation of different pigments. Flooding is the phenomena observed when the surface color of an applied film is uniform but is darker or lighter than it should be. This is attributed to a vertical separation of different pigments in the film.

Vertical Separation of Pigment - Horizontal Separation of Pigment — Vertical Separation Horizontal Separation

Surface Tension results when the force that occurs in a liquid at the interface differs from the forces within the liquid. Thus, surface tension is caused from the surface molecules having a higher free energy than those molecules in the bulk of the liquid.

Surface tension differential can cause a convection current resulting in a regular hexagonal surface pattern called Benard Cells. A hexagonal Benard Cell pattern results in smaller, more mobile pigment particles (smaller, less dense) being deposited on the perimeter and the less mobile particles (larger, more dense) remaining away from the perimeter.

Figure 2 – Rub-up of Flocculated Blue Pigment

Flocculation is the recombination of dispersed pigment particles that were not properly stabilized in the pigment dispersion. Flocculation is undesirable at it detracts from hiding and color development. Flocculation is reversible by applying a low degree of shear. In figure 2, the phthalocyanine (EU) blue pigment is flocculated. Upon rubbing with a finger, the deeper blue color returns.

Stabilized pigment dispersion -- Flocculated pigment dispersion — Stabilized pigment dispersion — Flocculated pigment dispersion

Pigment agglomeration is defined as pigment particles that are clumped together without sufficient vehicle or wetting agents present between pigment particles. When agglomeration occurs, extensive shear and attrition forces are usually necessary to reinstate a stabilized pigment dispersion.

To read the full article about Remedial Actions to Overcome Floating and Flooding in Waterborne Paints, click here.

Paint and Coating Failure Analysis

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CHALLENGE: A national steel company that supplies coated product to the building industry received multiple complaints that the 20 year warranted coated product they supplied showed severe dirt staining once put into service on commercial and industrial buildings.

ACTION: Chemical Dynamics as an expert paint consultant in paint failure analysis was called upon to inspect several representative building sites where samples were taken, tested and paint and coating failure analysis were conducted.

RESULT: Chemical Dynamics was able to demonstrate that the unexposed coating rapidly degraded when exposed to accelerated weathering resulting in increased susceptibility to dirt staining and loss of hardness. As a result of our analysis and testing the paint company accepted responsibility for the failures saving our client several hundred thousand dollars in claims.

New Wood Coating Reduces Cost

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Problem:

A leading manufacturer of coatings for forestry applications requested assistance to reduce cost and improve performance by reformulating two of their product lines to form a new wood coating.

Action:

Chemical Dynamics reformulated the product lines by replacing a portion of some pigments with lower cost substitutes that provided lower cost and improved performance.

Result:

Launching a new wood coating that reduces cost by 10% while providing equivalent opacity and improved depth of color

Martin Rea Fuel Filler Tube Repair

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Problem:

Martinrea International, a leading supplier of automotive fuel handling components and hoses to the automotive industry, was seeking a water born conductive, environmentally compliant paint finish for application on fuel filler tubes. At the time they contacted Chemical Dynamics, no such product existed.

Action:

Chemical Dynamics, in close cooperation with Martinrea, developed an innovative, patented product called Infinicoat.

Result:

Infinicoat meets rigorous automotive specifications and is currently used on several domestic and international automobiles. Infinicoat was also a PACE automotive new product finalist in 2011.

Scratch Repair for Herschel Wright

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Challenge:

Herschel Wright, owner of Hi-Tech Industries (the leading supplier of quality care products for automotive restoration professionals), did not have scratch repair technology to repair small paint scratches.

Action:

In a matter of a few weeks, Chemical Dynamics developed a clear coatings product that can be applied with an artist’s brush that eliminates scratches. After application the area where the finish is repaired is indistinguishable from the surrounding car finish.

Result:

This product is now sold globally to professionals in the auto restoration market.

Automotive Paint for Aggressive Environments

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Some portions of the automobile must be coated with paint that offers a variety of unique long life performance attributes including resistance to harsh chemicals such as fuels, oils and hydraulic fluid, and also offer resistance to stone chipping, road salts and moisture in a variety of forms. Lastly, such coatings must also be conductive so the build-up of static electricity does not cause volatile materials to ignite.

Since there was no such coating on the market, especially a water born coating, Chemical Dynamics developed and patented this coating for use on fuel filler tubes, fuel lines and other components of cars requiring these properties. This technology named Infinicoat was one of a handful of PACE Award finalists among several hundred contestants in recognition of the value and innovation that this product brought to the automotive industry. Infinicoat is currently used on multiple domestic model cars.