Formulating VOC-Compliant Coatings with Exempt Solvents
Manufacturers of coatings, ink and adhesives have come under increasing pressure to eliminate HAPs and VOCs from formulations. Some of the latest regulations to affect coatings manufacturers include the Architectural and Industrial-Maintenance (AIM) rule,1 Automotive refinish rule,2 Wood Furniture CTG and NESHAP,3 and National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS).4
Since many common solvents are both HAPs and VOCs, these rules have forced many producers to switch to low-solvent technologies such as high-solids, waterborne, powder and low-energy-curable systems. These technologies have their own inherent limitations that can make them more costly and less convenient to use than the traditional lower-solids formulations.