Cabot Introduces Expanded Range of Treated Fumed Silica-Based Rheology Modifiers

Cabot Corporation introduced its expanded range of treated fumed silica-based rheology modifiers designed for discerning industrial and automotive coatings customers. These products offer the right level of balance between rheology control and film appearance, and eliminate tradeoffs between the two performance characteristics. Examples of Cabot’s expanded portfolio include the new CAB-O-SIL^® TS-5022 treated fumed silica and under-development TPX-1481 treated fumed silica that enable excellent film appearance. Cabot also promoted its line of specialty carbon black products, including its EMPEROR® high-color pigments offering excellent jetness and electrical conductivity for both water- and solvent-based coatings applications. Cabot’s EMPEROR products are designed for automotive basecoats and deep black masstone applications, and feature proprietary surface treatment technology that breaks the tradeoff between color performance and dispersibility.

Ivana Jovanovic, Vice President and Regional Business Director EMEA, said, “ECS is a key event for our business in the EMEA region focusing on our target market segments of coatings, adhesives and sealants. It is a great opportunity to promote our brand, introduce new products, collaborate with our customers and distributors, and generate new leads for our business. This year it was a great success. The Cabot team has done an outstanding job in design and set up of the boot and articulation of key messages, which attracted large number of visitors, both existing and new customers, leading to strengthening existing relationships and creating new business opportunities.”

Cathay Industries Introduces New Yellow Iron Oxides

New CATHAYCOAT™ pigments were the highlight at Cathay Industries' booth. The manufacturer of synthetic iron oxide pigments presented its Yellows YA22HR and YS23HR, offering increased heat resistance.

“This year's European Coatings Show has exceeded our expectations. We are very pleased with the positive feedback we received from both existing and potential customers,” stated Axel Schneider, CEO Cathay Industries Europe. He continued, “Our proven products as well as our innovations generated great interest.”

CATHAYCOAT Yellow YA22HR and CATHAYCOAT Yellow YS23HR withstand temperatures well over 200 °C. Compared to traditionally used zinc ferrites, Cathay's new products are characterized by clean and bright color shades. Thanks to its micronized characteristic, CATHAYCOAT Yellow YA22HR offers even higher levels of brilliance and optimal dispersibility in the users' systems. The pigments are mainly utilized in coil and powder coatings as well as in a variety of plastics applications.

ECS visitors also had the opportunity to learn about products from Hoover Color. For the first time, Cathay's new division was exhibiting alongside its new parent company. The presentation included semitransparent raw and burnt umbers as well as transparent EnvironOxides® as products for a “green” approach.

Clariant Unveils First Renewable, Label- and VOC/SVOC-Free Neutralizer for Waterborne Paints

Clariant offered journalists a unique “speed networking” event at the ECS. Press members rotated between three different stations, spending approximately 10 minutes at each location, learning from company experts and asking questions about Clariant’s latest innovations.

One such innovation - the launch of the industry’s first renewable-based, VOC/SVOC-free and hazard label-free neutralizing agent: Genamin Gluco 50 - breaks new ground for the indoor paint and coatings segment. VOC/SVOC-free means the VOC/SVOC content is below the measurable threshold of 0.1% according to ISO 11890-2 and 16000-9. The new sugar-based additive innovation supports formulators in meeting consumer demand for low odor, healthier, and easy-to-apply indoor paints and lacquers. Its introduction is also significant for ecolabel-certified paints, where a reduction in additives can help to keep a formulation within low VOC/SVOC limits.

Genamin Gluco 50 combines an outstanding sustainable profile with performance-boosting properties that set it apart from existing neutralizing options for waterborne coatings. In contrast to standard neutralizers, such as ammonia or caustic soda, Genamin Gluco 50 does more than adjust the pH value of a formulation to around 8-10 to create a stable paint system with minor interactions between the paint. It also enhances the performance and quality profile of the waterborne coating.

Genamin Gluco 50 acts as a 3-in-1 additive, being neutralizer, compatibilizer and stabilizer in one additive. The product achieves additional functionalities and proven advantages for the formulation, such as improving storage stability and pigment compatibility, and reducing flash-rust formation. In certain aspects, its performance is proven to be superior to that of alternative multifunctional additives such as aminomethyl propanol (AMP).

 “Super-Transparent” Pigment Preparations

Clariant also unveiled Hostatint™ A 100-ST, a range of super-transparent preparations based on nonhalogenated pigments to support the eye-catching metallic and mineral effects, as well as new shades for surface and contour enhancements so desired for today’s lifestyle products. The new range features nine ready-to-use, highly transparent pigment preparations that offer the entire color circle to solvent-based paint systems. Very fine pigment particles, excellent dispersion and long-term stabilization are the prerequisites to enhance effects with color intensity similar to dyes but with very high light and weather fastness, and no migration or bleeding.

In addition to its performance benefits, Hostatint A 100-ST helps the coatings industry to open up manufacturers’ creativity options. For electronics OEMs, the halogen-free pigment molecules support the formulation of bright green color shades that meet industry restrictions on halogen content.

Industrial coatings with the super transparency of Hostatint A 100-ST can be used to add a quality appeal to applications by emphasizing the visibility of a substrate such as glass, wood or metal. Super transparent colored coatings, virtually invisible over a black substrate, are also particularly effective in highlighting black/color contrast.

Hostatint A 100-ST pigment preparations are easy and safe to use. They have low viscosity, are widely compatible with solvent-based paint systems, and a very high flashpoint results in safer storage, transportation and handling. The stability of the colorants contributes to a long shelf life.

Bernhard Stengel-Rutkowski, Senior Global Technical Marketing Manager at Clariant, commented, “From cellphones to bikes and cars, metallic and mineral effect shades are becoming increasingly important for industrial applications. There’s also growing interest in using high transparency to enhance glass or wood surface properties. As a full range of pigment preparations, new Hostatint A 100-ST enables the fast and flexible formulation of a wide range of color shades for transparent applications. In addition, they are providing a cost-efficient way for manufacturers to address new coating trends in the market segments.”

Colorants for UV-Cured Wood Coatings

Clariant also introduced a complete color range of high-performance, easy-to-use colorants for UV-cured wood coatings. The new Hostatint UV pigment preparation range supports the trend for colored UV systems and the industry focus on improving sustainability and product performance.

UV curing is gaining in popularity as coatings producers recognize its advantages in creating coatings with enhanced scratch, chemical and abrasion resistance, using less energy and resources. The technology offers opportunities for fast curing at low temperatures, increasing line speed to improve productivity, thus offering environmental and surface performance benefits.

Clariant’s new Hostatint UV liquid pigment preparations go the next step in supporting easy formulation of low-VOC, high-performance coatings. The ready-to-use tinters are suitable for both interior and exterior coatings and cover the full color spectrum in opaque and transparent applications for dual and 100% UV systems.

Prof. Dr. Georg Meichsner, Esslingen University of Applied Sciences, Germany, said, “UV curing is very important in today’s trend to reduce solvent emissions. The curing of colored coatings without any major restrictions will be a key success factor.” Dr. Thomas Metz, Head of Global Competence Center Coatings at Clariant, added, “Clariant’s Hostatint UV range offers an easy solution to meet the growing trend for colored UV systems. The full color spectrum is covered with high-performance, ready-to-use pigment preparations that add further value to the increased productivity, lower costs and surface performance improvements of UV cured wood coatings.”

Other New Products

The following products also made their debut at ECS.

• New stabilizers that will pioneer easy application for biocide-free mineral paints: Dispersogen^® SPS and Dispersogen SPG, awarded an EcoTain label for sustainability excellence.
• New Exolit^® fire protection ingredients for intumescent coatings that also prolong shelf life.
• AddWorks^® IBC 251: a “tribo enhancing” additive for electrostatic powder coatings, providing an all-in-one solution for cost-effective formulations.
• Hostavin^® TB-03: a synergistic UV absorber/light stabilizer for solvent- and water-based coatings.
• Licocare^® RBW: a new family of waxes based on renewable feedstocks.