High-solids paints production

By depolymerizing PET waste with a polyol and subsequently condensing the oligomeric product with a polycarboxylic acid or anhydride, polyester resins are produced which have wide industrial applications. Depending on the polyol and polycarboxylic acid or anhydride used, saturated resins, alkyd resins, or unsaturated resins are obtained. PET wastes have been used for the production of alkyd resins in water thinnable paints. The materials obtained from the reaction of PET with a mixture of fatty acids high in linoleic acid content and trimethylolethane have been used in the preparation of water-dispersible coatings. Products of the depolymerization of PET with trimethylolpropane and pentaerythritol are used in the manufacture of high-solids paints. In the first step, PET is depolymerized with trimethylopropane and pentaerythritol at temperatures of 230-240°C. The final paint compositions contain 30-50% of PET depolymerization products.12... 

Thus, numerous low-emission paints have been developed, including high-solids paints, waterborne paints, aqueous dispersions for industrial use, powder coatings, and radiation-curing coatings. At the forefront in adopting these environmentally friendly products is heavy industry, in particular the automobile and household appliance industries. Medium-sized and smaller businesses will profit from this experience, adapting it for their own needs. 

Polyester resins possess premium performance properties such as exterior durability, gloss, flexibility hardness, color stability, and versatility of cure. Polyesters are used in product finishes for household appliances, food and beverage containers, aircraft and equipment, automotive primers and bake coats, metal furniture, and fixtures. For example, water-soluble saturated polyesters are used in industrial baking paints, and in combination with melamine resin. Polyesters can be formulated in high solids and waterborne formulations to meet the requirements for the low VOC coatings being mandated by the EPA. 

In aqueous dispersion media, the preparation of high solids dispersions that are stabilized electrostatically is often fui d by the gel-hke nature of the product. This is a consequence of the interactions between the double layers surrounding each particle. No comparable increase is evident in the viscosity of sterically stabilized dispersions at high solids content. Of course, in certain applications, such as in paints, the rheological properties exhibited by electrostatically stabilized dispersions at high solids may be a decided advantage rather than a drawback. 

The effect of the resin, whatever its type, is to decrease the drying time of the paint, since the resins are hard in their normal states and only require solvent evaporation for drying. It should be noted that the addition of resin means that solvent (white spirit, turpentine or possibly aromatic hydrocarbons) will now be required to reduce the viscosity of the paint, though the low molecular weights of the oils, resins and oleoresinous products allow medium-high solids at application viscosity. 

Solvent reduced products. These contain solvents in lower concentrations compared to conventional products and hence have a higher content of solids. The main groups of solvent reduced paints are medium solid contents (solids 55-65 %) and high solid contents (solids 60-80 %). 

Research projects carried out at A F clearly indicate that effective plasticisers for PVC and other resins and binders and additives for alkyd based decorative paints can be based on those raw materials which are the least undisputed from an environmental point of view i.e. renewable resources. These products are not only renewable based but also durable. Provided a positive life cycle analysis, after further R D work plasticisers and high-solid or water borne alkyd paints based on renewables therefore can make an important contribution to a sustainable chemical industry. 

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