Arkema expands its sustainable offer at American Coatings Show 2024 

UV/EB coatings are low-VOC, solvent-free systems that provide high throughput and a smaller production footprint compared to traditional solvent-based and waterborne coatings. As global demand for more energy efficient technologies increase, UV/EB coatings can provide a 100% solids solution alternatives to high-energy and high-VOC applications such as coil coatings. Despite numerous advantages, formulating with UV/EB acrylate monomers and oligomers can introduce challenges such as shrinkage and brittleness due to fast curing and high cross link density. In order to achieve the ideal properties necessary for a coil coating application, it is important understand the basic performance requirements and the effect of oligomer/monomer backbone structures on the final properties and performance. In particular, different oligomers with varying functionalities and backbones will be evaluated using basic coil coatings application tests such as adhesion, T-bend, chemical resistance, etc., to determine which structures provide the best balance of properties.

For many years, aqueous hybrid dispersions of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and acrylic resins have been formulated into waterborne topcoats because of their exceptional weatherability and ability to meet stringent VOC requirements and sustainability targets. For applications requiring strong chemical resistance, hydroxy-functional PVDF-Acrylic dispersions are available, which allow formulators to build resistance properties with isocyanate crosslinking (“2K”). However, isocyanate not only presents respiratory hazards to paint applicators,  but it can cause micro-foaming in the resultant films due to CO2 generation from the reaction of isocyanate with water. Recently, new self-crosslinkable (“1K”) PVDF/acrylic hybrid latexes were successfully developed, which give comparable performance to 2K isocyanate-based systems. In addition, they can be formulated at <50 g/L VOC. The detailed properties, such as detergent resistance, chemical resistance, barrier properties before and after weathering, and target applications as architectural façade coatings and protective coatings will be presented.

Metal protection is a demanding end use application for water-based coatings.  Consumer preference for easy-to-use coating systems is driving growth in primerless direct-to-metal (DTM) coating systems.  At the same time, metal protection coatings, like almost all other coatings, are being asked to deliver higher performance with an improved sustainability profile. 
In this paper, the current state of market for water-based direct-to-metal (DTM) coatings will be discussed.  Coating end-use performance and the environmental profile of commercial DTM acrylic paints for metal will be reviewed.  Gaps in end-use performance and sustainability attributes vs market needs will be discussed with an emphasis on corrosion protection, multi-substrate adhesion, block resistance, and the removal of materials of concern, including PFAS, from water-based DTM acrylic coatings.  A novel technology development towards closing the performance gaps and sustainability needs of this market segment will be reviewed.

Not only do exterior architectural coatings enhance the appearance of a structure, but they also provide protection, intentionally isolating a substrate from environmental exposure. Traditional high Tg resins, once essential to durable exterior coatings, are being permanently phased out as regulatory requirements are shifting. Reduction of Volatile Organic Content (VOC), substitution of Materials of Concern with less hazardous chemicals, and incorporation of sustainable raw materials actively benefit the environment and human health. Adapting a coating to address stringent regulatory demands, while continuing to meet expected performance properties over a variety of substrates, presents a series of challenges. An effective exterior acrylic binder offers a single, practical approach in flat to semigloss coatings that need surfactant leach-, block-, grain crack-, and dirt pick-up resistance. By using novel materials and manipulating polymer design, an original acrylic has been developed for more sustainable exterior coating formulations with improved performance.

The increasing adoption of electric vehicles has generated a demand for enhanced performance in battery coatings. UV-curable solutions, which offer immediate drying, minimal energy usage, and easy application, are attracting the interest of automotive manufacturers as essential factors for improving industrial efficiency and enabling large-scale production. These sprayable, UV-cured, low-VOC, 100% solid dielectric coatings cure rapidly, providing dielectric protection similar to PET films but with a lower thickness and no risk of delamination. Arkema will be presenting advanced UV-curable acrylate resins and photoinitiators designed to meet the requirements of this application, including exceptional dielectric properties, adhesion, flexibility, and simplified assembly processes.

Discover an exclusive view of Arkema's innovation strategy to support our customers' and partners' sustainability goals and scope 3 emission reduction, with a focus on safer solutions. Examples include lower carbon footprint along the value chain, feedstocks with biobased or recycled origins for resource preservation, low VOC and lower energy-consumption technologies, and solutions for doing more with less. The resulting flagship innovations for the coatings industry help meet sustainability targets while enhancing product performance in UV-LED-EB, powder, waterborne and high solids applications.

Building managers pursuing more sustainable building envelope solutions are adopting strategies that enhance the longevity of a structure while ensuring minimal impact to the environment and protecting the well-being of building occupants. The degree of protection, the frequency of re-coats and the impact to the environment and building occupants, are related to the chemistry of the coating system. Water-borne coating systems are desired because of their ease of application and low concentration of volatile organic compounds (low-VOC), making this a “greener” solution for the environment and building occupants, but typically sacrifices long-term durability. Solvent-borne coatings systems provide durability and longer lifetimes but expose applicators and building inhabitants to unhealthy solvents. This presentation introduces 1K and 2K water-born Kynar Aquatec® PVDF coating solutions that reduce hazardous VOCs from the waste stream, allows for application in fully occupied buildings, delays the timeline for scheduled maintenance and coating re-application, ultimately extending the life-cycle of the building envelope.

Arkema is strongly committed to reduce its impact on climate and environment. Key initiatives include the launch of a bio-attributed acrylic chain through mass balance and ISCC+ certification to complete a network of global certified plants, enabling us to progressively introduce a range of bio-attributed high solids, waterborne, UV-LED-EB, and powder resins and additives. Replacing virgin fossil feedstocks is a crucial step to reduce CO2 emissions linked to a product. Alongside the segregated model, the mass balance approach allows industries to gradually shift towards more sustainable alternatives. Being part of a mass balance certified supply chain immediately reduces our own Scope 3 emissions as well as those from our customers while keeping the same high level of performance.

The drive towards safer industrial coating formulations triggered the development of a two-pronged approach to 2K resin systems for metal substrates. The non-isocyanate (NISO) approach provides sustainable advantages, and Arkema has made recent advances in lowering the coating VOC level while maintaining performance. Alternatively, development has also progressed in HAPS-free solvent systems. We will present case studies based on both of these proven robust solutions.

As a leader in the design and production of polyurethane thickeners, Arkema Rheology & Specialty Additives keeps on innovating and developing new solutions for the paint and coatings market. Coapur™ XS 12 is a pure Newtonian HEUR thickener with a unique contribution to high shear viscosities. It allows the adjustment of cone & plate viscosity with very limited impact on mid-shear and low shear viscosities, thus confering excellent film build and leveling.