Historically, the majority of coatings were solvent based, but with growing emphasis on reduction of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such systems are under significant pressure. Where an application still demands the performance of a solvent-based coating, reduction of VOCs while maintaining critical application properties, such as viscosity, has become increasingly important.
The modern coatings formulator now faces the significant challenge of minimizing solvent while achieving an aesthetically acceptable, defect-free film at minimal cost. A common approach is to increase solids content, but the resulting effect is typically an increase in product viscosity, which may lead to difficulty during coating application.