A survey of ECS delegates reveals information about key coatings industry issues, including market focus, future technologies, R&D activities and sustainability.

Today we face a new regulatory environment as a result of the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety Act (CSA), which went into effect in June of 2016. With the new law in place how does this affect the development and use of UV-curable coatings, inks, etc.?

Soybean oil, or its derivatives, primarily replaces petrochemicals, which often results in improved performance, lower VOCs, and in many cases a reduced economic cost.

In recent years, the focus has been on the development of durable and sustainable coatings, looking for solutions that would support the transition from fossil to bio-based products with equivalent performance.

The introduction of energy-curable polyurethane dispersions (UV PUDs) to complement the traditional radiation curing technology profoundly changed the market landscape by bringing coating performance and sustainability to the next level of requirements.

Over the holiday season, I visited Sanibel Island on the west coast of Florida; a charming spot that prides itself on its very rustic life style. Bicycles are encouraged for transportation around the island, which does not have a single stop sign and has yet to see a McDonalds' franchise.

The unique hybrid chemistry of oxidizable phenolic urethanes combines the drying property of fast-drying oleoresinous vehicles, the chemical resistance of phenolics, and the toughness of urethanes.

In a recent article by Kristin Johansson in Paint & Coatings Industry magazine, she reviewed the market drivers in the coatings industry and commented that sustainability is now less overt and more embedded within companies. Undoubtedly this is true, however you may feel there is a 'but' coming up!

Decreasing carbon footprint may often times mean decreasing quality. With soy, however, companies have found the best of both worlds – enhanced performance and sustainable attributes.