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LOW-VOC COATINGS FOR AUTOMOBILE REFINISHING USING NOVEL POLYMER RESINS
Citation:
RAMSEY, G., P. M. BARFIELD, K. BULLOCK, AND W. T. PRESTON. LOW-VOC COATINGS FOR AUTOMOBILE REFINISHING USING NOVEL POLYMER RESINS. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-05/145, 2005.
Description:
Coating operations release a significant portion of the non-mobile source, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air. The U.S. EPA's Emissions Characterization and Prevention Branch has formulated novel low-VOC coatings for the automotive refinishing sector that reduce VOC levels by up to 34%, using hyperbranched polymers to reduce viscosity and therefore increase solids content. Coatings with 2% to 4% hyperbranched polymers have been formulated that perform was well as or better than comparable commercially available coatings with respect to film thickness, gloss, impact resistance, adhesion, flexibility and pencil hardness. Several single-stage coatings were also subjected to weathering tests, in which they performed as well as a comparable commercial coating.