American Coatings Show 2012

Clariant showcases Innovation, Expertise and Commitment to US Market

Clariant exhibited a range of high-end products from its Pigments, Additives and Industrial & Consumer Specialties Business Units that provide innovative solutions to US customers. These solutions include Easily Dispersible (ED) pigments and new Hostatint® TS tinter colorants; Ceridust® and Licocene® waxes; Hostavin® dispersion light stabiliser and Exolit® AP flame retardant additives; and new Dispersogen® multifunctional agent for universal pigment dispersion. Clariant also featured its new product portfolio of Tinting System colourants, and dispensing- and mixing equipment and colour merchandising tools from newly acquired Italtinto SrL, an Italian Integrated tinting tystem provider.

Clariant Pigments’ line of ED pigments are organic materials that have been surface treated to allow for easier incorporation into the paint system with a dissolver and without an additional milling step. This unique technology saves processing time and energy costs that are not achievable with standard pigments. The ED portfolio of products includes three ranges of pigments: EDS pigments for solvent-based industrial paints, EDU pigments for water- and solvent-based industrial paints, and EDW pigments for water-based tinter to be used in the coloration of decorative paints.

When Clariant acquired Italtinto in April 2011, the company gained more than 40 years’ experience in tinting system technology. As a result Clariant Pigments now provides US customers with Point-of-Sale (POS) Tinting Systems designed to give customers a comprehensive solution to meet all their color needs.

At the Clariant booth, the company displayed colourant dispensing and mixing equipment from Italtinto: an IQ16 automatic colourant dispenser and a programmable TR7-fully automatic gyroscopic mixer. The IQ16 dispenser is accurate, fast and repeatable with stainless steel pistons that require virtually no calibration and has the ability to process all types of colorants, including state-of-the-art low-VOC tinter pastes. The TR7 gyroscopic mixer combines high performance mixing properties and ease of use to optimize mix times and significantly reduce air and foam in products. The TR7 runs quietly and needs little maintenance.

Clariant showed its new Hostatint TS colourant lines, products that raise the bar in low-VOC colorant technology with superior performance in outdoor paints. This allows customers to meet the latest colour trends in façade paint while complying with future regulations for low emission colorants.

The Clariant Additives business also featured Ceridust, Licocene and Licowax waxes, formulated for use in paints, coatings and inks to enhance such properties as sandability, smoothness, scratch-resistance, water-repellence and surface texture. Clariant Ceridust grades are micropowders and can be easily dispersed in paints with a minimal amount of energy. Licocene performance polymers are built upon the company’s proprietary metallocene polymerization process which produces highly effective additives for demanding applications such as powder coatings.

Arkema Coating Resins Introduces Celocor Opaque Polymer for Partial Replacement of TiO2

Arkema Coating Resins has introduced Celocor opaque polymer, a voided latex product that imparts hiding and functions as a partial replacement for titanium dioxide (TiO2).
Compared to competitive opacifiers with similar functionality, Celocor opaque polymer offers a more balanced approach to performance attributes such as tint strength, gloss development, burnish resistance and scrub resistance.
"We recognise that the cost and availability of TiO2 are among the most important issues that coatings formulators are facing today,” Eric Kaiser, Global Marketing Director for Arkema Coating Resins, explained. "Celocor opaque polymer gives paint developers more formulating options in their approach to TiO2 reduction.”
Celocor opaque polymer provides an effective way to reduce raw material costs and improve hiding in a wide range of products, including interior or exterior coatings from flat to semigloss.
Additionally, this product meets the standards of Arkema Coating Resins EnVia program and is designed to help formulators achieve their sustainability and regulatory goals in finished coating products. Celocor opaque polymer has low odour, contains no added APE surfactants or formaldehyde and is compatible with low VOC (0-50 g/l) formulations.
"Everything we do is based around the needs of the formulator,” Kaiser said. "In speaking with our customers, we found that they are very interested in having more options for TiO2 reduction while maintaining a good balance of performance attributes in their products. Our new Celocor opaque polymer meets that need.”

Arkema Inc. announces Sherwin-Williams Company as first trademark licensee for Kynar 500® FSF®

Arkema Inc has signed an amendment to its existing trademark licensee agreement with The Sherwin-Williams Company for Kynar 500® architectural coatings, making Sherwin-Williams the first Kynar 500® Fluorosurfactant Free (FSF®) trademark licensee in the world. Sherwin-Williams will market the Kynar 500® FSF® resin-based coating under the name Sher-Nar®
Fluorosurfactant Free coatings.

Since 1965, PVDF coatings based upon Kynar 500® PVDF resin have protected metal building components on buildings across the globe. They have been widely recognised as some of the world’s most durable metal coatings. Their extreme longevity and low maintenance have made them the first choices for architects and specifiers on each major continent. The field-proven Sher-Nar® Fluorosurfactant Free coatings are available in a range of color and finish options.

In recent years, perfluorinated surfactants, such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and higher related homologues, which have been commonly used in the manufacture of some fluoropolymers, have come under scrutiny by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These perfluorinated surfactants are subject to a U.S. EPA voluntary stewardship program that seeks reductions and eventual elimination of emissions and product content levels. Arkema is an active participant in this program.

Arkema Introduces New Binder Systems for Cool Roof Coatings

At the American Coatings Show, May 8-10, Arkema introduced new binder systems for use in cool roof coating applications. These systems are based on Kynar Aquatec® PVDF binders, developed with Kynar® Fluoropolymers of Arkema, Inc., and ENCOR®
flex polymers, developed by Arkema Coating Resins of Arkema, Inc.

"Cool roof coatings are technically challenging but represent a fast growing market,” said Eric Kaiser, marketing director for Arkema Coating Resins. "These new systems from Arkema offer formulators the performance and value they need to develop competitive solutions for their customers.”

Currently, three systems are available, allowing greater formulation flexibility across different applications:

• AC III Binder System – This system uses a Kynar Aquatec® FMA-12 PVDF based topcoat and ENCOR® Flex 187 all acrylic basecoat to provide Arkema’s highest possible level of performance and durability. It is designed primarily for the most demanding cool roof coating applications.

• AC II Binder System – Utilising a proprietary ENCOR® Flex 187 all-acrylic polymer. This base and topcoat system delivers excellent performance and meets ASTM D-6083, "Standard Specification for Liquid Applied Acrylic Coating Used in Roofing.”

• AC I Binder System – This ENCOR® Flex 3186 styrene acrylic system provides a good mix of performance and value for less demanding applications.

"With Kynar Aquatec® PVDF binders and ENCOR® flex latexes customers have a full range of choices for cool roof applications. Our Kynar Aquatec® system offers excellent durability and whiteness retention for energy savings over many years of service,” said Kevin Hanrahan, global business manager, Fluoropolymer – Architectural Coatings of Arkema, Inc.

CN9026 Oligomer Imparts Hardness and Yellowing Resistance to Coatings for Exterior Applications

Global speciality chemicals manufacturer Sartomer USA, LLC now offers CN9026, a highly functional aliphatic urethane acrylate that demonstrates outstanding weatherability in exterior hard coat applications compared to traditional urethane acrylates. This oligomer is well suited for coatings used on automotive finishes, auto accessories made of plastic or metal and window films for
automotive and structural applications. Its scratch resistance also makes it suitable for sensitive electronic devices and their component parts.

CN9026 is a clear liquid oligomer that has high hardness, high scratch resistance and excellent resistance to yellowing.

It offers lower crosslink density than other highly functional urethane acrylates and is, therefore, more flexible at higher coat weights. For example, testing showed that a 10µm coating was completely immune to 5,000hrs of QUV accelerated weathering
exposure, showing no signs of cracking. A similar thickness industry standard urethane
failed the same test after just 1000hrs.

Formulators can download additional technical documentation at www.sartomer.com/CN9026.

Coatex featured solutions for TiO2 optimisation

With more than 40 years’ expertise in rheological additives for aqueous formulations, Coatex is a leading technology / solution partner to the global coatings market. Recent innovations focus on key current issues that today’s Paint Formulators are challenged with, such as reduction of emissions (VOC), sustainable formulating and TiO2 optimisation.

"A key challenge faced by many paint formulators today is reducing TiO2 as a % of total formula,” stated Olivier
Guerret, Director of Strategy – Coatex Group. "Coatex offers a variety of solutions to assist the Coatings Market
with this key concern. Leveraging our history and expertise in the dispersion of minerals, we have seen many
successes while achieving the same or in many scenarios improving paint properties. Formulators need options –
We are here with the solutions to help them achieve their goals and bring added value to waterborne paints before,
during and after application.”

Coatex offers a dispersant for every situation:

ECODIS: a line of dispersing agents recommended when both outstanding shelf life and cost/performance ratio are required for medium to high PVC formulations.

COADIS: a range of dispersing agents designed to meet specific requirements of coatings such as gloss, corrosion- or scrub-resistance. COADISTM dispersing agents are recommended for a variety of pigments.

Coatex showcased its rheology additives

"For the waterborne coating market, Coatex provides a full range of products and technical solutions to ensure
customers the best performance in terms of color acceptance, storage stability, and water resistance,” says
Francois Court, Marketing Director – Coatex Group. "These dispersing agents and thickeners perform efficiently at
low levels and bring added value to waterborne paints throughout the manufacturing process, during storage and
application, and furthermore enhances the end performance of the coating.”

Coatex offers a robust line of solutions to meet the Coating Market’s unique needs:

COAPUR: a line of associative polyurethane thickeners which cover the full spectrum of rheology profiles, from newtonian to pseudoplastic, delivering exceptional flow & leveling behaviour. The COAPURTM XS series presents unmatched colour acceptance performance. COAPURTM thickeners are free of VOCs, APEO (alkyl phenol ethoxylate) surfactants, and heavy metals.

POLYPHOBE & RHEOTECH: ranges of associative acrylic thickeners to match a variety of requirements faced by the Paint & Coating formulator. In-can appearance, syneresis control, and outstanding thickening effectiveness are key properties of these thickeners.

VISCOATEX: range of acrylic thickeners, broadly used due to their robustness & versatility.

ECODIS: a line of dispersing agents recommended when both outstanding shelf life and cost/performance ratio are required for medium to high PVC formulations.

COADIS: a range of dispersing agents designed to meet specific requirements of coatings such as gloss, corrosion- or scrub-resistance. COADIS dispersing agents are recommended for a variety of pigments.

3M introduced new anionic fluorosurfactant for low-VOC paints and coatings

3M announced the commercial availability of a new anionic fluorosurfactant, 3M Fluorosurfactant FC-5120. This is the latest addition to the 3M Fluorosurfactant family of advanced wetting and levelling agents for paints and coatings. FC-5120 is an anionic fluorochemical surfactant belonging to a class of paint, ink and coating additives which provides low surface tensions in coating systems best served by fluorochemical surfactants.

FC-5120 is intended for use in low or no-VOC coatings, and is formulated using 3M’s advanced PFBS-based C4 chemistry platform. 3M has been a leader in fluorosurfactant chemistry for more than 60 years, and has been supplying C4 fluorosurfactant chemistry for more than 10 years.

3M is also currently developing another anionic fluorosurfactant to complement the 3M fluorosurfactant product line. This developmental product, 3M Fluorosurfactant L-21486, is available for sampling now, with larger scale quantities targeted for Fall 2012.

Production quantities of new 3M fluorosurfactant FC-5120 are available globally.

3M Expands US Paints and Coatings Laboratory

3M Energy and Advanced Materials Division (EAMD) announced the rededication of its newly-expanded U.S Paints and Coatings Laboratory. With a significant investment in new analytical equipment and additional technical personnel, the 3M EAMD Paints and Coatings lab is now even better equipped to provide outstanding customer service for a growing global market.

Intense competition and industry consolidation are fueling paints and coatings manufacturers’ desire to differentiate their products, through improved performance, greater sustainability and added functional benefits. This includes features such as easier cleaning, better hiding, easier application, and lower VOC levels.

The expanded capabilities of the 3M EAMD Paints and Coatings lab located in St. Paul, Minnesota, will enable improved levels of technical support and formulation assistance to customers around the world. For example, 3M research specialists use American Society for Testing and Materials’ test methodology to evaluate the performance of formulations that incorporate 3M products, including 3M™ Ceramic Microspheres, 3M™ Fluorosurfactants, 3M™ Glass Bubbles and 3M™ Stain Resistant Products. With the deep understanding these evaluations bring, 3M research specialists are able to make targeted product recommendations that may accelerate customers’ product development cycles. In addition, 3M is partnering with customers to develop a new generation of paints and coatings technologies, designed to meet emerging market needs.

On January 1, 2012, Dr. Terri Shefelbine assumed leadership of the 3M Paints and Coatings lab.
Dr Shefelbine has over ten years of experience at 3M in research and development of new technologies including nanocomposites and new polymerisation technology. Her work for the 3M EAMD Paints and Coatings lab will focus on glass bubbles, ceramic microspheres and fluorochemicals. Dr Shefelbine earned her BS in Chemical Engineering from Rice University in Houston, TX and her PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota.