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www.paintshow.com.br PAINT & PINTURA Dezembro 2011 9
When it comes for one-component alkyd
resins for decorative paints, low cost is the
main requirement. For more technically
demanding segments, such as protective
and furniture coatings, where alkyd resins
are mostly used in combination with curing
agents, such as isocyanates and melamine,
customers demand enhanced performance.
“As the country’s economy grows together
with the Brazilian people’s purchasing po-
wer, so does the demand for better quality
products (furniture, appliances, consumer
electronics). In this context, I see an oppor-
tunity to develop differentiated alkyd resins,”
says Cristiano Rampazzo, of Coim’s Technical
Assistance team for paint resins.
Oxygenated Solvents - A World Trend
With the development of oxygenated
solvents formulated with materials from
renewable sources, the market is evolving
to high-quality formulations increasingly
using new performance solvents that have
a clear impact on the ability of paints and
coatings to meet customer requirements.
The growing concern in the world market
for environmental and health-related issues
and the search for more sustainable raw
materials have boosted the oxygenated
solvents business over the past few years, as
have the results of the paint and coatings
industry on the back of the growth in the
construction and automotive industries,
among others.
Oxygenated solvents have gained more and
more ground in the paint industry, espe-
cially due to the increasing pace at which
they have been replacing hydrocarbon
solvents because they are less toxic and less
dangerous to handle. In addition, manu-
facturers are seeking to develop molecules
using more sustainable raw materials,
such as ethanol and glycerin, i.e. products
which do not originate in the petrochemi-
cal industry. “Brazil has been keeping pace
with the main world trends in oxygenated
solvents, replacing traditional solvents
with new formulations that address all key
variables, such as performance, environment and health
standards, safety standards and costs. The world market
in oxygenated solvents comprises products ranging from
simple commodities to real performance solvents,” says Jor-
ge Duval, Marketing Manager at Dow Brazil’s oxygenated
solvents business.
For the next several years, Brazil’s paint and coatings in-
dustry is expected to significantly improve its performance
thanks to the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games, as
well as governmental investments in infrastructure (pre-
-salt oil, ports, airports and highways). This will all boost
the country’s oxygenated solvents business as well. “In
the world scenario, the improvements introduced to these
products are directly related to regulatory requirements
created by international agencies concerning toxicology, as
well as environmental and sustainability issues. In Brazil,
the market is following the same trend. This is why there
is a growing demand for environmentally friendlier raw
materials, whether produced from renewable sources or by
less greenhouse gas-intensive processes (low VOC paints),