It is commonly known that waterborne formulations still suffer from several issues, and it is not always possible to obtain the same performance as with solventborne systems. One of the typical challenges with waterborne systems is related to the behavior of rheology modifiers in the presence of surfactants as well as under extreme pH conditions. The common rheology modifiers can be divided roughly into two categories, associative and non-associative. The former is typically sensitive to the presence of surfactants, and this is often seen after the tinting of the base paint. In most cases, the viscosity of the paint reduces as a consequence of disturbance in the associative network due to the surfactant’s presence in the tinting paste.
Microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) is a multi-functional additive for coatings, adhesives and sealants, with a pronounced effect in improving rheology, stabilization and surface properties. MFC is suitable for a wide variety of polar organic and waterborne systems, enabling the control of viscosity and modification of thixotropy of various water and polar solvent-based systems. The high inertness, compatibility and stability of MFC allows the development of stable and robust formulations, even under demanding conditions. In addition, MFC offers solutions for formulators for improved anti-settling, anti-syneresis and anti-cracking of coatings formulations.