Michael Krayer, BASF Senior Scientist & Global Technology Manager for Dispersions & Resins North America, and Sean William Bullis, BASF Formulation Chemist II for Architectural Coatings, received the 2024 American Coatings Award for the most outstanding conference paper on April 30 during the Plenary Session of the American Coatings Conference in Indianapolis, Ind. For their paper titled, “Novel Bimodal High Solid Polymer Dispersions for Architectural Coatings,” Krayer and Bullis were presented with a sculpture and accompanying $2,500 cash award.

In their paper, the authors note how performance of water-based architectural paint has consistently improved over the past few decades; but that latex polymer dispersions used in water-based coatings are typically limited to 45-50% polymer solids. They explain that this is due to the close packing limit of the dispersed polymer particles and a sharp increase in viscosity at solid contents much beyond 50%. This restricts the formulation options for water-based coatings, including achievable volume solids, rheology profile, and wet and dry film thickness. Krayer and Bullis also note that conventional latex dispersions necessitate the transportation and storage of large quantities of water, and that higher solid polymer dispersions could help reduce freight costs and/or enhance storage tank capacities.

The research in their paper presents advancements in creating novel bi-modal latex dispersions that allow for over 60% polymer solid content. In their findings they set forth new formulation possibilities for architectural coatings accessible with bi-modal high solid dispersions to achieve higher film build and maximize hiding performance. This in turn would ultimately result in an improved painting experience and greater consumer satisfaction.

For the past eight years, Krayer has been developing emulsion polymers at BASF for both interior and exterior architectural applications. His current work revolves around exploring technologies to enhance the functionality of coatings — going beyond their conventional role of surface decoration and protection. Krayer obtained his Ph.D. in Chemistry in 2011 and an MBA in 2014, both from North Carolina State University, and has held various positions in R&D and New Business Development at BASF.

In his six years with BASF, Bullis's focus has been on interior and exterior architectural coatings formulation, supporting BASF scientists with the development of emulsion polymers. He is highly motivated by working on new, innovative projects that allow him to think outside the scope of traditional coatings formulation. Bullis earned a B.S. in Biology from East Carolina University and was an Environmental Analyst before joining BASF.

For more information about the American Coatings Show & Conference, please visit https://american-coatings- show.com/conference/. 

The American Coatings Show and Conference is hosted by AC Media, in collaboration with the American Coatings Association and Vincentz Network. The biennial trade show and technical conference is dedicated to serving as a global business platform and educational forum for the paint and coatings industry, offering a complete spectrum of current and future trends and technologies.