Objective
Identification that titanium dioxide is utilised as efficiently as possible in all the paints studied
Identification that components and additives at the formulation stage can have a significant effect on the hiding power of a paint.
Identification that there is currently no routine non-subjective way to measure the wet hiding power with sufficient accuracy
Measurement of the effects of components and additives at the formulation stage on the hiding power of a paint.
This project has the overall objective of enabling small and medium size European paint manufacturers to compete more effectively with the multinational firms that dominate the market. Paint manufacturing is a highly competitive business where the price differential of a few ECU/litre may decide whether or not a company secures an order. One outstanding opportunity for reducing manufacturing costs is in the more efficient use of the paint pigment titanium dioxide. The excellent technical properties of this pigment means that it is very widely used. It is however one of the most expensive components and can account for more than 50% of the total raw material costs of a white paint. Titanium dioxide is used in paints to produce "hiding power" thus a single coat of white paint with good hiding power can be applied over a red surface to yield a white surface without the slightest trace of red showing through. Paint manufacturers aim to obtain the maximum hiding power using the minimum amount of titanium. In other words they are trying to achieve efficient utilisation of the pigment. Previous research has shown that some paintmakers are more successful than others in using titanium dioxide efficiently and it is not uncommon to find products on the market where the utilisation efficiency is only 80% of what could be achieved. In this project, a core group of SME paint manufacturers aims to assess the efficiency of utilisation of titanium dioxide in 6 of their paints and then reformulate them as required in order to attain the best possible utilisation. This is a high risk-high reward goal which will require them to develop new measurement techniques and to carry a fundamental investigation into the relationship between paint formulation and hiding power. The successful completion of the project will enable the core group to use the expertise they have gained to reformulate other paints they produce The average cost saving for each SME could amount to about 88 K ECU/ annum which compares with their average one-offcontribution to the project of 55 K ECU. There would also be industrial safety, social and environmental advantages since successful project completion would result in a move away from solvent borne paints in favour of their more environmentally friendly water borne equivalents.
Fields of science
Not validated
Not validated
Topic(s)
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CRS - Cooperative research contractsCoordinator
19300 Apropyrgos
Greece