Novel silicone-free star surfactants for wb DTM coatings with broad design space for optimized wetting/foam behavior

 
Optimizing water-borne coatings to meet the performance level of solventborne systems is an ongoing challenge in the coatings industry. This conversion in formulation is driven in various market segments with emphasis on direct-to-metal applications (DTM) and industrial topcoats in both 1K and 2K systems. The level of protection a water-borne coating can provide depends - next to other factors as e.g. coating thickness - crucially on the wetting characteristics of the applied coating to the substrate. We report on a new class of surfactants, which are based on a novel oligomeric silicone-free chemistry with star-type branching and also include a high content of bio-based raw materials. This concept demonstrates a broad versatility by combining excellent wetting characteristics with favorable low foam stabilization or even defoaming properties. Finished film resistance properties, as well as application and production speeds of a coating can be positively affected. This study compares the performance of the new star surfactants to relevant benchmarks for wetting behavior, corrosion resistance and foam stabilization.