Objective
A great deal of work had been done on the subject in the Brite- Euram project (PL-4191/BREU-CT91-0434) from Aug. 1991-Aug. 1995. The research programme gave rise to the establishment of guidelines to formulate latex paints with overall good application properties producing pore free dry films with good gloss and good quality pigment dispersion.
This project aimed to make the results of the project directly accessible to SMEs. In addition, advanced models were 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 still 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.
SMEs took benefit from increased awareness of theory and practice of formulation of high performance waterborne coatings through the high level of support and access to expert training, facilities and advice. The project was particularly relevant to all the SME participants as their products are currently mainly solvent based.
The SMEs controlled the direction of the project and were involved in model paint formulation, some film characterisation and reformulation of existing paint systems to assess improvements in properties.
SMEs from three member states were involved. The consortium formed a solid group, stimulated by the active participation of each and every partner in the workprogram and supported by the RTD performers who had worked successfully together before.
The coatings industry is in a period of rapid change as environmental and social pressures drive ever tougher legislation limiting the quantit* of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can be used in paints. Organic solvent based paints are being replaced by environmentally aeeeptable 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. Even today, waterborne coatings have inferior performance properties to the solvent based coatings they are designed to replace. Poor barrier properties and gloss are the result of incomplete latex particle coalescence, poor rheology and pigment flocculation Open time (the time during which a paint film remains liquid enough to be workable) is dependent on more fundamental properties such as the viscoelasticity and hydrophilicity of the latex and the evaporation rate of water and cosolvent Over 85% of European paint manufacturers are SMEs and the, account for 29% of total paint sales. However, they are disadvantaged due to lack of research facilities and know how to adapt solvent based to waterborne (latex) coatings without unacceptably degrading performance and account for only 9% of the sales of waterborne coatings. It is crucial that SMEs are supplied with resources to become more competitive in the changing market. This proposal follows Brite Euram project (contract No BREU CT91 0434), 'High Performance Waterborne Coatings' and aims to make the results of the project directly accessible to SMEs giving effect to the E.U. recommendations. 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 still 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. The risk that the above film properties cannot be accurately extrapolated from the existing models for film formation and pigment flocculation is mitigated by available theory which should resolve the problems with additional analytical measurements. The current models allow prediction of degree of film formation and pigment flocculation in latex coatings from basic properties of the constituents and the ambient conditions during application. To be used directly the models must be enhanced and new models devised to calculate performance properties such as water (vapour) transmission, gloss, open time and mechanical properties. For the SME participants, sales of waterborne coatings are typically 3% of total sales today. Successful completion of the project would allow this to increase by an order of magnitude in the next 5 years, equivalent to over IMECU for the smallest SME participant. Some of this will be at the expense of current solvent based systems, but it is expected that half would be new markets.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry volatile organic compounds
- engineering and technology materials engineering coating and films
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Coordinator
M40 7RU Manchester
United Kingdom
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