Summary
• Phase II of the Volatile Organic Compounds in Paints, Varnishes & Vehicle Refinishing Products Regulations 2005 comes into force on January 1, 2010.
• Maintaining application characteristics is top of the list for keeping customers happy.
• High solids/low solvent technology is one way for coatings manufacturers to meet changing demands.
In 2004, the adoption of European Directive 2004/42/EC led to the development of the Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Paints, Varnishes & Vehicle Refinishing Products Regulations 2005.
This UK legislation classified 12 different categories for the different types of coatings applied to buildings. New labelling requirements were introduced and separate VOC limits were defined for both solvent-borne and water-borne formulations within each category.
Phase I of the legislation, implemented on January 1, 2007, introduced an initial tier of VOC reductions. Phase II will be implemented on January 1, 2010, and has presented rather more difficult hurdles to overcome. From that date onwards, all coatings manufactured must meet more stringent VOC limits. To achieve compliance, Sadolin is developing and perfecting a range of new technologies that will enable us to reduce the VOC levels in all our woodstains and varnishes without compromising their performance.
One route our scientists have taken is to develop complex water-borne formulations that offer the best of all worlds. Because they are water-borne, they are quick-drying, low odour and pleasant to work with, but because they incorporate acrylic resins as well as conventional alkyd resins they have superior adhesion and excellent durability and flexibility. Where water-borne products such as Sadolin Superdec and Quickdrying Woodstain are concerned, their performance surpasses that of many traditional solvent-borne alternatives.
This water-borne technology can deliver exceptional results, but it doesn’t have all the answers for every type of finish. Nor does it have all the answers for all customers. Maintaining (or improving) the performance of each new 2010-compliant formulation is crucial but it isn’t our only objective. We also want to make sure our coatings fully meet the needs of end users, particularly our professional decorator/contractor customers as far as application characteristics are concerned. We know that many decorators prefer to use solvent-borne products and are simply not prepared to switch to coatings that don’t have the same in-can appearance, consistency, flow and brush out properties.
For these reasons and more, Sadolin has also adopted the high solids/low solvent technology route to developing innovative new high performance products and reformulating some of its most popular, traditionally formulated woodcare products. By using new low viscosity alkyd resins we are able to reduce dramatically the solvent levels in our formulations but still deliver the high performance for which Sadolin is renowned. Because these coatings are still essentially solvent-borne they have the same application characteristics as traditional formulations with far higher solvent content.
An excellent example of what our scientists have already achieved through high solids/low solvent technology is Sadolin Ultra. This translucent exterior woodstain system contains a low viscosity alkyd resin. It flows off the brush well and its application characteristics are the same as any traditional solvent-borne clear woodstain. The low molecular weight of the alkyd resin allows the woodstain to penetrate deep into the substrate for maximum adhesion and also provides superior flexibility and resistance to cracking – crucial for exterior woodwork permanently exposed to the elements. As a result, new Ultra extends the maintenance cycle for exterior joinery and can provide up to seven years’ translucent decoration and protection.
As the Ultra range demonstrates, customers can only benefit from the gradual transition to 2010-compliant formulations.
