First uses of WB alkyds from LIFE-WB biopaint in wood coatings

 
High MWt short oil alkyd polyols are a new binder technology for WB wood coatings, developed, optimized and validated within the EU-funded LIFE-WB BioPaint project. They make it possible to formulate paints and varnishes characterized by a high biorenewable content, low VOC, a quality comparable to that of solventborne products and, crucially, a lower carbon footprint (CFP) than any comparable coating technology. The use of such novel emulsion resins is demonstrated in a variety of clear and pigmented paints for interior use, alone or in combination with acrylic emulsions and polyurethane dispersions, as 1K or 2K products and even in WB UV coatings. We will describe their performance and compare it to that of existing WB products and of SB coatings aimed at similar applications. Both promising improvements and potential shortfalls will be highlighted. These innovative resins might be not well suited to the formulation of very low gloss and "natural look", flat coatings. However, for wood applications, in particular, the new coatings present higher gloss, fuller look, better substrate and pigment wetting with brighter whites than any current WB equivalent, to which they are superior also in CFO and bio-renewable material content. The look and performance of some of these products should make it possible to replace more easily some current SB with WB coatings, with even greater reduction in VOC emissions and CFP