In order to address the VOC elimination issue, paint manufacturers have formulated coating systems that contain zero VOCs and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) for the zero-VOC market. Among these coatings are acrylic latex water-based paints designed for architectural interior applications. Although formulators are working hard to meet the performance requirements of the protective coatings market, usually the zero-VOC latex acrylics do not perform as expected as an anticorrosive coating for exterior applications.
There are two main approaches to this challenge. First, is to choose the acrylic latex system that is engineered to form a film without coalescent solvents; second, is to find all additives that are zero VOC. These materials should also improve blocking resistance and hardness to impart better weather durability and dirt pick-up resistance for an optimized formulation.
A zero-VOC acrylic topcoat designed for protective coating application has been formulated with no VOCs or HAPs. It is based on a new, innovative latex that has very small particle size and can form a film at low temperature without coalescent solvents. Utilizing all unique, zero-VOC additives, the new development offers high gloss, fast cure, excellent corrosion resistance, weathering durability, early moisture resistance, freeze-thaw resistance and dirt pick-up resistance that is comparable to a high-VOC commercial acrylic.