Low-VOC or Waterborne Paint? Here’s the Latest News Part III
What to do and what not to do when formulating alternatives to National Rule products starts with not attempting to make waterborne behave like solvent-based paint. Waterborne paints increase productivity because of the one and a half coat technology. Wet on wet allows shops to spray on the first coat and then come back with the second or half coat immediately. The most difficult part is that change is a very tough pill to swallow. The equipment necessary is for waterborne is different than what is used for solvent based paints. With waterborne paints comes training and different equipment so the change includes a monetary investment.
Low-VOC solvent basecoats have a handful of problems too. While trying to be compliant with the 3-5 limit, there are fewer solvents available to manipulate the paints properties, so in some cases the quality, finish or color can suffer. In addition, solvent-based paint has a reputation to dry too fast which creates problems with the paint setting up too quickly or worse, dry spray during application in hot environments.
Some paint manufacturers will use resins in combination with the solvents to control the way its low-VOC paints behave. Resin is introduced into the application binder, the base maker, after the creation of the mixed color. The binder contains specific resins that are required by environmental conditions the painter is working in to create a paint that behaves like what the painter is accustomed to using. Getting there breaks away from the traditional paint but has worked.
Axalta, a paint manufacturer has introduced a UV lamp that works like a spray gun emitting UV light and making the primer ready to stand in 30 seconds. This new creation provides high-gloss, fast-drying clearcoats which is exactly what is wanted and needed in shops or mobile units.
