Sustainability has become a critical aspect of the coating resins industry. Market players have been developing their products taking environmental factors into consideration. The rise in demand from consumers and regulators for sustainable solutions has enforced many companies to change their approach and devise ways to incorporate sustainable materials into their products. Sustainable coating resins promote healthy living by protecting people from potentially hazardous substances such as VOCs. In addition, they counter climate change by limiting the amount of energy used for manufacturing products and lessen waste with the help of renewable materials. Manufacturers have also been using sustainable coating resins for building materials that have high strength and minimum weight. According to the research firm Allied Market Research, the global coatings resins market will reach $52.90 billion by 2025. Following are some of the companies that have been focused on sustainability and effective utilization of coating resins.
Coating Doors with Plant-Based Resin
Royal DSM and Weekamp Deuren have collaborated to develop sustainable doors with the help of plant-based resins and recycled wood. DSM’s plant-based resin technology, Decovery, has been used with Weekamp’s concept of 100%-recycled exterior doors. Generally, waterborne paints have been used for the protection of exterior doors. Though these paints are a great improvement over solvent-based coatings, they contain fossil-based raw materials. Decovery replaces these fossil-based raw materials with renewable materials without compromising performance and quality.
Weekamp had been looking for coating solutions that would support its goal of developing 100%-green or sustainable wood. The company believes that innovation and collaboration play a crucial role in supporting its vision of sustainability. So, it joined hands with PPG Wood Finishes and DSM to develop an acrylic plant-based coating for protection of exterior doors from external weather conditions such as sunlight, dust and rain in a sustainable way. PPG Wood Finishes utilized Decovery effectively to develop a sprayable plant-based paint for Weekamp’s wooden exterior doors. Moreover, it used the plant-based resin technology for its waterborne and air-cleaning ultra-matte wall paints.
This example shows that the objective of achieving sustainability can be realized through collaboration and utilizing the unique technologies of each company.
Polyurethane Resin-Based Compounds
Polyurethane resins can offer a large variety of properties regarding processing time, viscosity, colors and elasticity. Lackwerke Peters has launched transparent and crystal-clear ELPECAST casting compounds for the protection of LED technology and other lighting electronics. These compounds are made up of polyurethane resins and offer outstanding temperature stability, exceptional weather resistance and excellent UV light stability. They belong to the Wepuran VT 3402 KK series. These solutions can be used for various applications including underwater, sunlight exposure, flame resistance or emergency lighting.
Lackwerke Peters is committed to sustainable development and ensuring public safety, and has targeted optimum final properties of the compounds and minimum processing hazards. None of its ELPECAST Wepuran compounds contain any hazardous compounds that have been restricted by RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU. It has eliminated mercury, cadmium, lead, polybrominated biphenyl, hexavalent chromium and others. Moreover, casting compounds belonging to the series do not contain toxic and skull-labeled isophorone diisocyanate hardeners. The concern regarding environment and safety have been addressed with a new product launch.
Weight Savings and High Strength for Yachts
Coating resins have found their application in various industries, including the marine industry, where these resins are beneficial for reducing weight while maintaining strength. European boat manufacturer, Galeon, has selected Crestapol urethane acrylate resin from Scott Bader. This resin has been used with carbon fiber reinforcements for building the new 640 FLY yacht. Crestapol 1261 urethane acrylate resin has been used with a mixture of unidirectional and multiaxial carbon fiber made from Metyx composites. The engineering and mixture have enabled the boat manufacturer to reduce the weight of the entire structure and increase the stiffness. In addition, it has eliminated the requirement of support pillars at the end of the boat. Before implementation of this resin, the company used carbon fiber material for construction of its yachts.
Scott Bader outlined that its Crestapol 1261 urethane acrylate resin would be an ideal choice for the marine industry, owing to its offerings such as high strength. The additional benefit of using the resin is its compatibility with polyester gelcoats. Galeon can apply gelcoat throughout the yachts. Moreover, the resins can be manufactured in the same way as polyester or vinyl ester resins, without any requirement of raised temperature cure and autoclave.