Shin-Etsu Chemical develops industry's first water-based fast-curing silicone resin

Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. has developed the industry's first emulsifier-free silicone resin, the water-based fast-curing silicone resin KRW-6000 Series.

Silicone resins are used in applications such as paints and coatings because of their excellent weather and heat resistance. In recent years, expectations for water-based silicone resins have continued to increase.

Traditional water-based silicone resins use emulsifiers. Water-based products with added emulsifiers tend to have poorer film-forming properties compared to organic solvent-based silicone resins. Additionally, there is the issue of the time required for drying and curing. The KRW-6000 series does not use emulsifiers, so it has excellent film-forming properties and can be quickly cured by heating.

The main features of this newly developed silicone resin series are as follows:

-Since no emulsifier is used, an excellent waterproof film is formed. Additionally, when cured, it becomes a pure inorganic silicone film that provides excellent long-term durability and weather resistance. Therefore, it is suitable as a base for weather-resistant coatings and various additives.

-The resin is water-based and contains no organic solvents. The only substance produced during the curing reaction is water, helping to produce VOC-free products. Additionally, water evaporates to form a non-sticky film that is easy to handle.

-In addition to performing the curing process at room temperature, curing can be accelerated by heating to 80-150°C for a few minutes. Compared with traditional organic solvent-based silicone resins, curing temperature is lower and the time is shorter, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

-It can form a high-hardness film with a maximum hardness of 4H. Types with more flexible coatings are also available.