Clariant：multifunctional industrial coatings for the North American market

Clariant has recently launched solutions for high-performance and growing sustainability requirements for different end users in North America (automotive, transportation, construction, consumer goods and household goods industries).

The latest products in Clariant's product portfolio can provide innovative performance in key areas, such as light stability and durability, fire resistance, water-based and low VOC coatings, and higher solid solvent-based coatings, which enables local manufacturers to meet new Industry needs and manufacture new products, and take full advantage of the opportunities of the global growing industrial coatings market.

Tyler Kilgannon, Clariant's North American sales director, said: "For cars or trucks, earthmoving equipment or steel structure engineering, industrial coatings need more than decorative effects. Their users need protective properties to extend the life cycle of industrial applications. And provide high performance in areas such as wear resistance and corrosion resistance. At the same time, reducing the impact on the environment has become a top priority. Our additives expand the manufacturer’s toolbox so that future coatings can really raise the standard to meet customer needs."

Extend the fire resistance time of steel structure

Steel is the most recycled material in North America. Due to its strength, durability, versatility and 100% recyclability, they are increasingly popular in commercial and industrial buildings and infrastructure. Clariant now provides manufacturers of intumescent fire-retardant steel coatings with the opportunity to further improve the sustainability and protection performance of their products.

Compared with traditional solutions, the new halogen-free flame retardant Exolit® AP 418 (TP) can help the fire resistance time of solvent-based intumescent coatings for steel structures be extended by 10%. Clariant's EcoTain® marked flame retardants have good environmental and health characteristics and do not produce VOC emissions in solvent-based coatings.

Clariant also introduced a new solution for water-based intumescent coatings to its North American customers to continuously improve the negative effects of cold weather exposure during transportation and storage. The halogen-free Exolit AP 435 prevents the paint from drying out quickly in the bucket or becoming unusable due to increased hardness, thereby extending shelf life, maintaining the fluidity of the paint and a longer life. The innovative technology with the EcoTain label supports the industry's increased use of water-based coatings and reduces the environmental impact of intumescent coatings.

Extend the life of protective coatings

When it comes to service life, this is a new opportunity to improve the durability of industrial coatings and better protect applications.

In the context of the positive developments announced by the U.S. auto manufacturing industry in 2019, Clariant supports manufacturers of paints and clear coatings for metal and plastic auto parts by providing solutions that extend the life of coatings. The synergistic and efficient light stabilizer solution AddWorks®LXR™313 helps to improve the durability of water-based and solvent-based transparent and colored coatings. Because it does not contain xylene, its advantages can be extended from automobiles to general industrial products. AddWorks LXR 313 enables coating formulators to develop new solutions for today's modern coating product portfolio that requires light and heat stability.

Global wax manufacturers provide PTFE waxes that comply with the upcoming PFOA ban

Based on the persistence of PFOA, the European Parliament decided to refer to Article 68 of REACH Annex XVII, prohibiting the use of PTFE substances with a concentration of PFOA greater than or equal to 25 parts per billion (g per thousand tons). The effective date is July 4, 2020, and the exemptions currently under discussion are only temporary.

To comply with this new REACH regulation, Clariant is expanding its product portfolio and launching its new Ceridust® 3942 F TP and Ceridust 3943 F TP to provide its customers with more options to produce PTFE wax solutions that meet REACH requirements Program. These new micronized PTFE modified polyethylene wax additives give powder coatings a fine and uniform texture structure and matte finish. The new solution shows excellent performance in terms of scratch resistance, stain resistance and anti-skid performance. For other coatings and ink products, the demand for PFOA REACH compatible PTFE wax can also be found. Clariant's new Ceridust 9203 F TP helps improve scratch resistance and metal trace resistance as well as anti-slip properties. Customers will appreciate the benefits of coated surfaces and the appearance and longevity of printed products.

Clariant additives provide a wide range of wax additives for the coating and ink industry. Its Ceridust micronized wax is used in coatings, printing inks and varnishes, and can be applied to different technical platforms, such as solvent-based, water-based, powder coatings and UV curing platforms.

In addition to supporting the industrial coatings market in the region, Clariant also provides a variety of high-performance solutions that can be extended to customize protective, functional, decorative and sustainable wood and architectural coatings based on the needs of the North American market.