AEROSIL® fumed silica for high-solid coatings

Increased environmental awareness and the resulting legal provisions are forcing the coatings industry to reduce the emission of solvents (VOC / volatile organic compounds). This goes for the suppliers of raw materials as well as for paint manufacturers and processors. There are various concepts in the coatings industry for the development of environmentally-friendly coating systems:

• water-based coatings
• high solids coatings
• powder cotings
• UV-curing sytems

These different environmentally-friendly systems may be combined to provide excellent results. An example of this is to be found in the range of automotive repair paints: water-thinnable base coats used together with high solids clear coats. The solvent content of high solids is reduced primarily by the use of binders with a low molecular weight. The VOC content can also be favourably influenced by the choice of suitable solvents, pigments and additives, and also by the method of application.

Hydrophilic AEROSIL® and surface groups of hydrophobic grades of AEROSIL®