Consumers’ increased environmental awareness
and more stringent regulations are driving formulators to seek innovative green
solutions for water-based architectural and industrial coatings. To support
coatings manufacturers in satisfying the consumer demand for products that
offer both outstanding performance and environmental soundness, global
specialty chemicals supplier Cognis has recently launched DSX 3100, a new nonionic associative thickener suitable for all types of paints.
DSX 3100 is a Newtonian
polyurethane
thickener that is free from VOCs and alkylphenol
ethoxylates (APEs). It does not contain heavy metals (such as organic tin
compounds) or solvents and is odor-free. Utilizing advanced technology, it acts as an excellent
high-shear viscosity builder, which allows for reduction of KU builders such as
cellulose ethers and provides one-coat coverage capability. The new thickener
offers excellent gloss, sag resistance and leveling, as well as outstanding
color acceptance, making it suitable for all types of architectural and
industrial paints, from premium flat and eggshell finishes to
semi-gloss and gloss coatings. Its high efficiency in ICI viscosity (typically
20% up to 50% higher efficiency in formulations tested) provides the
opportunity to reduce the total thickener content and makes it a preferred
choice for paint formulations where scrub or water resistance are
important.
DSX 3100 enables paint manufacturers to develop architectural paints
that can cover a surface with just one coat, with reduced spatter. It also
helps improve scrub resistance, and contains no ingredients requiring the product
to carry hazard labels that would make it difficult to market as green. It is easy to handle during
production, and can be incorporated into coating formulations without high
shear mixing.
