Optimisation of High Performance Waterborne Coatings

The coatings industry is in a period of rapid change as environmental and social pressures drive ever tougher legislation limiting the quantity of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can be used in paints. Organic solvent based paints are being replaced by environmentally acceptable alternatives, most importantly, waterborne coatings. The technology required is radically different as the polymeric binder must be produced as a stable dispersion in the aqueous phase rather than in solution. The resulting problems with rheology, film formation and pigment distribution have been extensively researched by the major resin and paint producers but have proven difficult to overcome.

The project follows a previous Brite-Euram project (G1R3), ‘High Performance Waterborne Coatings' and aims to make the results of the project directly accessible to SMEs. In addition, advanced models will be prepared to allow the direct prediction of water (vapour) transmission rates, optical properties and open time of waterborne coatings from the previously developed models. This will allow the SMEs to formulate waterborne coatings to optimise properties for high performance industrial and domestic applications where solvent based coatings will predominate. These coatings will comply with VOC regulations, satisfy market demand for low odour systems and improve the working environment by reducing exposure to organic solvents.

Reports will be available to sponsors in the near future. The project, which was carried out in partnership with CORI Project Manager, and Enterprise Ireland was funded by the EU under a CRAFT scheme with contributions from industrial sponsors.

Further Information

If you are interested in this, or any other project, please contact Richard Holman.