ECS 2011: WACKER Introduces New Silicone Intermediate and Cost-Efficient Coating Resins for Modern Industrial Coatings
Munich, March 29, 2011 – Innovations for industrial coatings are among the products presented by the Munich-based WACKER Group at the European Coatings Show (ECS) in Nuremberg, Germany, from March 29 to 31. In line with its motto “Our in Expertise,” WACKER is unveiling SILRES® IC 368, a new, liquid, solventless silicone resin intermediate for highly weatherable coatings. A further innovation is VINNOL® H 30/48 M, a purely ester-soluble surface coating resin which is a versatile and cost-efficient binder for heat-sealed closure systems, such as pharmaceutical and food packaging. Solid polyvinyl acetate resins and pyrogenic silica round out WACKER’s range for industrial coatings.
A surface coating is usually composed of several layers. The first is the primer, which is followed by the fillers and then the pigmenting layer. Finally, the topcoat is applied. The last of these is particularly important because, being the uppermost layer, it is responsible for the entire coating structure’s mechanical and chemical resistance as well as for the coating’s color and gloss. Sunlight, oxygen, rain, airborne pollutants and temperature changes can, over time, exact a severe toll on the topcoat, however, causing it to not only become unsightly, but to also lose its protective function.
At the ECS, WACKER is presenting a solventless silicone resin intermediate which significantly boosts the protection and durability of coatings. The new silicone resin, recently launched as SILRES® IC 368, is formulated such that an addition of just 15 percent increases the UV resistance and weatherability of the organic binder in the coating system, without impairing its mechanical properties. Lab and open-air weathering tests show that SILRES® IC 368 confers much better gloss retention, superior weatherability and a longer service life. What’s more, the coating system demonstrates better heat resistance.
SILRES® IC 368 is liquid, has a low viscosity and can be processed without organic solvents. When this intermediate is cooked with the same proportion of alkyd and silicone resin, the resultant viscosity is one third of the value obtained with solid silicone resins. This means that SILRES® IC 368 is extremely useful for combination resins that have an extremely high solids content, yet sufficiently low viscosity, e.g. for low-solvent, high-solids topcoats.
The new intermediate is highly versatile. It is suitable for modifying alkyd resins, hydroxy-functional acrylic resins and hydroxy-functional polyesters that are commonly used for the industrial coating of wood and metal (including coil coating). The new silicone resin also raises the bar in terms of efficiency. The same amount of SILRES® IC 368 enables binder manufacturers to achieve a much greater effect than was previously possible with silicone intermediates.
VINNOL® Surface-Coating Resins: Versatile and Cost-Effective
WACKER’s VINNOL® line contains a wide range of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate copolymers, both with and without functional groups – this opens up a wide range of applications. WACKER’s focus at the ECS will be on VINNOL® H 30/48 M, a surface coating resin that contains carboxyl groups. It is notable for its excellent solubility in pure esters, where it yields a clear, colorless solution, without the use of any ketones. Not only does this open up all kinds of applications possibilities, but the lower raw-material costs generate cost savings. The product can be heat-sealed at low temperatures because it has a higher content of vinyl acetate in the polymer backbone. For this reason, VINNOL® H 30/48 M is perfect for packaging heat-sensitive pharmaceuticals and foods, such as cheese and yogurt.
A further new development for heat-sealable coatings is VINNOL® H 15/45 M special: this new resin coating offers outstanding performance thanks to much-improved thermal stability and increased water resistance. It is therefore ideal for use in countries with hot climates, or, for example, as a reactant in baking finishes.
Excellent adhesion to aluminum, high chemical resistance and low heat-activation temperature render the two new VINNOL® grades ideal binders for heat-sealed closure systems used primarily in pharmaceutical and food packaging.
As all VINNOL® grades can be combined with each other, the coating or printing ink can be customized to application requirements, e.g. for the formulation of inkjet, gravure and screen printing inks, and for heat-sealable coatings for metallic or metalized substrates. Further applications include polymer coatings and wood varnishes.
Other Highlights for the Industrial Coatings Sector:
VINNAPAS® Solid Resins: Polyvinyl Acetate for Coatings Applications
VINNAPAS® solid resins can be used to modify NC coatings or to formulate primers for metalizing packaging. Coatings and impregnations based on VINNAPAS® solid resins are highly resistant to oil and grease and show reduced water-vapor permeability, together with good aging properties and high abrasion resistance. Due to their outstanding transparency, they are ideal for the many applications where natural resins are traditionally used. The product range includes homopolymers and copolymers in various viscosities and delivery forms.
HDK® Pyrogenic Silicas – Complete Control over the Flow of Liquid and Powder Coating Materials
WACKER’s pyrogenic silicas (brand name: HDK®) are suitable for controlling viscosity of coating materials and printing inks, as well as for controlling the flow behavior of powders. In the formulation of low-solvent coatings (high solids), such as for automotive paints and solventless and water-based systems, HDK® offers dependable adjustment of coating thickness and leveling. What’s more, the product improves the systems’ shelf life by effectively preventing pigment and filler sedimentation. In clear coats, HDK® pyrogenic silica ensures high transparency.
Visit WACKER at the European Coatings Show 2011; you’ll find us in Hall 9, Booth 417.