Low-VOC Binder/Resin System

Technology is required to enable the reduction of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in binders/resins while maintaining or enhancing existing product properties. The solution could be a complete new low-VOC resin/binder system or an alternative technology or process that can be added to enhance existing resins/binders. Potential solutions could include the addition of a compound or additive that reduces VOC demand, a new cross linking system for polymers to enhance molecular network formation, or another technical solution that eliminates the existing issues with the low VOC resins currently available, that is, poor appearance and high viscosity during drying (as typically encountered in a water-borne approach) or slow drying and high application viscosity (as typically encountered in high-solids paints).

Background

Upcoming changes in legislation mandate reduction of VOCs present in paints. As an integral component of paint, the binders/resins therefore need to be low-VOC. However, traditional methods of reducing VOCs impact the end properties of the paint, either affecting the appearance if water-borne technology is used (latex paint), or increasing the drying time when high solids technology is used. Technologies are therefore sought to either replace the whole system or improve the current system using either water-borne or high-solid techniques without negatively affecting other paint properties.

Any proposed solution:

• The solution must be a one-component system
• It must dry under ambient atmospheric conditions at 5–30°C
• Non-toxic; ideally environmentally friendly
• Stable on-the-shelf until applied; shelf life of 2 years

Possible Solution Areas

One approach would be to decrease the drying time of an oxygen-based system by reducing the amount of oxygen required or by increasing oxygen that is available for drying in the paint coat.

Other approaches would be a non-oxygen based system or a hybrid approach.

Using triggered release of encapsulated materials that enable a change in the oxygen availability or transmission rate, or that increase the rate of crosslinking, would also be of interest.

This organization has looked at the drying mechanism in view of increasing the oxygen penetration via changes in the surface tension or by lowering glass transition temperature (Tg). A polymer with a lower Tg, another surface tension, or a higher solubility parameter for oxygen that might allow for deeper oxygen penetration would be of interest.

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