For over two decades, coatings formulators have had to comply with new VOC (volatile organic compound) regulations with limited options to meet these demands. New resin development has been costly, and still the perfect resin system hasn’t been achieved. AgriEsters (methyl soyate, palm and coconut esters) are a new, low-cost alternative that can help emulsify old solvent-based resins (bead acrylics, oil-based alkyds and polyterpenes), giving formulators new alternatives. These emulsions are fully sustainable, as they are primarily made from renewable resources. This new class of biobased emulsions has provided educational benefits that will help formulators regain that competitive edge.
The New Uses Committee of the United Soybean Board met in 1997 to review technical options for increasing the use of soybeans for industrial applications. Industry professionals from over 10 markets, including lubrication, inks, coatings, fuel additives and cleaners, attended the meeting. The results yielded the discovery that methyl soyate had many properties that the above-mentioned markets could all pursue as a raw material base. The obvious categories were lubrication (metal cutting fluids, crank case oil), cleaners (paint strippers, degreasers) and fuels (bio diesel being the most notable), and were clear path winners. Coatings and inks were questionable because methyl soyate doesn’t evaporate (essentially zero VOCs), and the negative was the potential to leave greasy films (like vegetable oil).