Interior Coatings

Additives for interior coatings, such as CoatOSil* coatings additives, are used in a wide variety of industries and applications, including water and solvent-borne coatings, high solids, powder and UV/EB cure coatings, as well as inks.

Typical benefits of products such as CoatOSil include:

• Enhanced flow & leveling (eliminate defects)
• Improved slip (reduce coefficient of friction)
• Increased mar resistance
• Control of foam and enhanced air release
• Improved substrate wetting
• Increased gloss
• Anti-blocking (release)

Included in this portfolio are three main types of additives: silicone-polyether block copolymers, trisiloxanes and reactive silicone additives.

Silicone-polyether block copolymers

Most CoatOSil additives fall into this category. They have a pendant (grafted) architecture or a linear (ABA) structure. By varying m, x, y and z, a tremendous variety of properties can be achieved. These CoatOSil silicone polyethers can be very effective at low concentrations on a variety of coatings. The silicone part of the molecule provides low surface tension and high surface activity. The effect of a silicone-polyether in general depends on the type and amount of polyether it contains:

• A molecule with significant silicone content will increase slip and mar resistance. If the silicone content is very high then the additive will typically act as a defoamer and provide anti-blocking and release benefits.

• A silicone with high polyethylene oxide content will be compatible with waterborne coatings, and can even be water soluble. Such additives are used to help wetting, flow and leveling of waterborne coatings, allowing the coating to be "overcoatable" while providing gloss retention.

• If the polyether consists of polypropylene oxide, then the copolymer will typically be compatible with solvent-borne and high solids coatings and inks for use as a flow and leveling (anti-cratering) agent for such formulations.

Trisiloxanes

CoatOSil trisiloxanes have a distinct set of properties. These molecules are often called ‘superspreaders,’ because they are excellent wetting and spreading agents, performing particularly well when used in waterborne coatings and inks.

Reactive Silicone Additives

While most CoatOSil silicone additives act in a non-chemical manner, reactive silicone additives are exceptions due to their high surface activity. These CoatOSil additives react chemically with the resin and thus permanently modify the coating. In these products, the terminal group is an epoxy or an acrylic.