Comment
New coatings from small companies
It was significant in these troubled times for coatings manufacturers that all the large multi-nationals were absent from the Surface World 2001exhibition held at the NEC, Birmingham, in October last. However, several small UK companies took the opportunity to show a number of new products, and not all of them just for niche markets.
Firwood Paints of Bolton (Tel +44 (0) 1204 525231; Fax +44 (0) 1204 362522)launched two new products. Both were very low VOC (,50 grammes per litre) air drying high gloss finishes and are available in the full BS RAL and NCS gloss colour ranges from stock. For EPA registered paint users Firwood offers an extensive portfolio of compliant coatings including high solids solvent-borne paints and waterborne coatings.
Martex Paints of Birmingham (Tel +44 (0) 121 706 0369; Fax +44 (0) 121 706 0369) were emphasising how current and future legislation can be met by using powder and/or water based coatings. They demonstrated that powder and water can be mixed to obtain both aesthetic designer coatings and/or corrosion prevention. A new powder development from Martex was Artpow, a wood grain effect which produces a system requiring only one stoving, no paper prints or extra equipment and is claimed to make it the most economical powder coating system on the market today for wood grain effects. Also on show was Anoprime, an environmentally friendly waterborne primer containing non-toxic anti-corrosive pigments specially formulated for use under powder coating. It has outstanding performance on ferrous and non-ferrous metals, not to mention the improvement in adhesion when used over a galvanised substrate.
Another UK independent paint company giving emphasis to powder coatings at the exhibition was Stokes Paints of Sheffield (Tel +44 (0) 114 258 9595; Fax:114 250 9836). The main feature on its stand was an extended colour range of up to 190 RAL shades of full gloss polyester powder coatings, which are also TGIC-free. Stokes was also promoting a range of powder specials including texturing additives, textured clears, non-marking top coats, and a range of other special effect finishes.
An interesting development in anti-fouling paints comes from HMG Paints(formerly H Marcel-Guest) of Manchester, another independent UK coatings manufacturer – although it was not exhibiting at Surface World 2001.Its aptly named Slippy Bottom is an innovative eco-friendly anti-fouling paint that mimics the extremely slippery surface texture of fish, shedding marine and weed growth as a boat moves through water. Whereas conventional self-polishing and hard anti-fouling coatings work by releasing potentially toxic biocides into the sea, this product creates a catalytic reaction with water, developing a smooth 'micro-film' over the treated area. It can be applied to all hull constructions and every type of craft.
A "soft touch" coating for plastic
As one would expect, most new developments in coatings still come from the multi-national companies. A company with a difference in this field is Schloetter. Although its core business remains in the production of electroplating chemicals, where it is a leader in plating products for printed circuit boards and connectors, it has in recent years carved out a useful niche in the speciality paint/lacquer market, such as in coatings for the glass industry.
More recently Schloetter has been looking at overcoming the adhesion problems inherent with the application of organic coatings to plastic base materials. It has now come up with a coating, Durosoft 3084-/B1056, which it says now exceeds expectations on ABS and polycarbonates. It is solvent based and can be applied using conventional spray equipment with a flash-off time of 5 to 10 minutes and curing at 80oC for 30 mins.
The Durosoft finish is now used on a number of high wear/impact applications,including on Rolls Royce and Mercedes interior door handle surrounds (a black matt soft effect) which are very susceptible to finger nail and ring damage. Durasoft's black matt opaque leather-like feel has also been used on Psion hand held computers. Tooth brushes (a semi-translucent slightly tinted satin finish)have been given an extremely attractive and durable coating with a desirable soft grip. Schloetter says that probably the most trying application for Durasoft coating damage (and it is said to have passed the test) is on mobile phones, where it has given a leather-like coating with a sensuous feel.
A profile of the Chinese paint industry
Information Research Ltd (IRL) has recently published an updated edition of its report “A Profile of the Chinese Paint Industry”, previously published in l996, some details of which were given in the news pages of our Volume 30, No.6.
The Chinese paint market reached approximately 2.45 million tonnes in the year 2000, a significant increase of 27.5 per cent over the previous year. Indigenous production of 2.34 million tonnes was supplemented by a small amount of imports, mainly from Taiwan, South Korea and Singapore. Paint consumption per capita was 1.92 kilograms. This is just half of the world average and compares to over 17 kilograms per capita in Japan.
The decorative sector of the Chinese paint market remains dominant with nearly 50 per cent of the market. Some 75–80 per cent of architectural paints are for interior use and these are mostly low grade paints.
Technology acquisition from overseas is a very important way of modernising and improving the paint industry, which in China has in the past suffered from over-capacity and outdated equipment and management. There are two basic methods of importing the latest technology: by the direct involvement of foreign firms or by licensing. While several foreign paint companies have set up wholly owned subsidiaries in China, the preferred entry route is through the establishment of joint ventures. These exist for both coating raw materials (predominantly resins and pigments) and finished paints. Multi-national paint producers with joint ventures in China include ICI (together with Swire Pacific of Hong Kong), Akzo Nobel, Kansai Paint, Nippon Paint, BASF and Herberts (now DuPont Performance Coatings).
Foreign investment in China is encouraging production and sales of high technology systems such as waterborne coatings, powder coatings and radiation curable coatings. High grade synthetic resin paints now account for over 70 per cent of the Chinese market, with low grade paints made from oil-based resins,natural resins, novolaks and bitumens accounting for the remaining 30 per cent.
More details from IRL on Tel +44(0) 20 8832 7830.
John Bean
