The next generation solvent-based decorative paint-high performance, safe to use, low impact on the environment

摘要

The market size for solvent based decorative paints in Asia is around 1.5 million tons1. At the same time, solvent use in other regions is becoming heavily regulated, thus driving significant changes in decorative paint formulations. While solvent-based paints are commonly associated with long lasting performance, the main concerns raised about them relate to potential health risks, aquatic environmental toxicity and, more recently, air quality impacts of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's). With increasing safety awareness and the implementation of stricter paint VOCs regulations such as the European Union (EU) Paint Directive2, other considerations such as environmental protection and toxicology have moved to the foreground. But is moving to water based technologies always the right answer? Or can the right solvent selection mitigate risks for humans and the environment without compromising the finished product performance?This paper is intended to give insights on regulatory trends affecting the decorative coatings industry and will demonstrate how, by means of appropriate solvent selection, the concerns about solvent based paints can be addressed.