This article examines the performance of a second-generation waterborne oil-modified urethane (WB OMU), comparing its properties to other systems.
Solventborne-oil-modified urethane resins are used to formulate coatings for wood and metal. These single-pack systems find great acceptance in the contractor and DIY market because of their ease of use and superior performance. However, they are high in VOCs, typically around 3.7 pounds per gallon.
Alternative technologies such as polyurethane dispersions and acrylic latexes or combinations of the two have been in the market place for years. These products meet the market criteria of a one-pack, easy-to-use, low-VOC system, but at a performance cost compared to their solventborne predecessors. These “lacquer-dry” technologies form thermoplastic films by the evaporation of water and co-solvent. In general, the acrylic lacquer-dry systems lack abrasion resistance and all the alternative technologies lack the chemical resistance of the more robust crosslinked solventborne systems.