Waterborne basecoats of BASF Coatings
Waterborne basecoats of BASF Coatings
“In comparison with solventborne basecoats, most of the organic solvents content is replaced by water in the case of waterborne basecoats,”says Krüger, explaining the principle. The advantage of this coating system thus lies in considerably lower environmental pollution due to the reduction of solvent emissions and the fact that health and safety regulations can be complied with easier because combustible materials are no longer used. While water-based systems were used all over the world at a rate of 20 percent in 1997, the percentage has already risen to 35 percent today.
Waterborne basecoats are characterized not just only through improved color stability, but also by good adhesion properties and an improved appearance.“They fulfill the legal conditions beyond the requirements and have helped reduce the amount of solvents used in Germany alone by 100,000 metric tons in the 20 years of their history,” says Krüger.
BASF Coatings produces waterborne basecoats for its customers not just in Würzburg. Large batches are manufactured at the Schwarzheide site, which started operations in 1993.
