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www.paintshow.com.br 10 Março 2013 PAINT & PINTURA
Automation also streamlines and adds
precision to manufacturing processes,
while always keeping up quality levels.
This is why companies have been in-
vesting more, seeking equipment that
provide better price-quality ratios.
And when it comes down to making
the purchase, reliability really counts.
So companies consider not only the
purchase price, but also the cost of
maintaining the equipment over its
lifespan, which has become a key crite-
rion for making a strategic decision to
invest in production.
Rheology Modifiers - Much
Higher-Quality Paints
Performance, quality and end product
applicability are the main points of
difference that rheology modifiers
impart to paints and coatings, as well
as improved bonding and leveling and
less spattering.
There is a wide range of rheology
modifiers for the paint industry today
addressing different performance re-
quirements and featuring outstanding
spread, bonding and leveling proper-
ties, good washability and improved
end product applicability.
Rheology modifiers also make up a
growth market segment because they
have been gaining more and more
importance in paint formulations
to meet new market requirements
focused on quality, sustainability, cost
reduction, high performance, low VOC
emissions, APEO-free systems, easy
use, etc.
Rheology modifiers have changed a lot
over the years to become indispensable
additives that improve several paint
properties both in the can and during
application. “At first, there were cellu-
lose-based rheology modifiers, which
were broadly used in the past to be
then replaced over the years, although
some companies still use them because
they are better suited for PVA paints
and work very well in putties and tex-
tured coatings, providing them with
excellent looks, while new cellulose-
-based modifiers have a smaller fiber
content, thereby improving washabili-
ty,” says Mauro Meda Junior, technical
coordinator at Khemeia-Manchester.
Then came acrylic-based rheology
modifiers, which are more popular
nowadays due to their wide variety of
applications and the ability to modify
the rheology of paints according to
market requirements and even improve
them in various respects, while adding
flexibility to product development
processes.
Along with acrylic came urethane
rheology modifiers for further im-
provement in both paint application
and finishes. “Urethane systems are
also more costly, but they do provide
more advantages than acrylic and
cellulose-based modifiers. They are
extensively used in premium paints,
although some standard paints are
also formulated with them thanks
to some of their features, especially
enhanced performance, as they deliver
great leveling and finish, improved
bonding to the substrate, high water
resistance, high alkali resistance and
better washability. Due to process
and technology improvements, we can
now produce them at more affordable
costs, and since they are little used in
Brazil, we see a large market yet to be
tapped,” Meda Junior says.
Investments - Ashland
Confirms Investments in
Brazil
New technical support structure and
waterborne paint application labora-
tory now available to all customers for
assistance and support.
Ashland Specialty Ingredients (ASI)
has been investing in its customer
support and R&D operations spread
over the world. In 2012, the ASI bu-
siness completed its integration with
ISP (International Specialty Products)
and confirmed investments in Brazil
to create a technical support structu-
re for customers in several segments.
“As part of this investment plan, our
waterborne paint application labo-
ratory has been completed. The new
laboratory is designed as a copy of our
existing waterborne paint applica-
tion laboratories in the United States
and Europe,” says Alexandre Castro
Monteiro, Coatings Sales Manager at
Ashland Specialty Ingredients.
The Brazilian laboratory has state-of-
-the-art equipment to assess water-
borne paint properties, including
a rheometer for conducting more
thorough rheological profile analyses.
“The laboratory is also designed to run
application tests on pads, and then on
a masonry wall for simulating and va-
lidating the end performance of tested
products. In addition to the new labo-
ratory that has been built up and the
equipment that has been purchased, a
person of technical expertise has been
engaged to coordinate local tasks in
close contact with the US head office,”
Monteiro announces, adding that the
laboratory will be available to all of
Ashland’s customers in the Mercosur
countries and Chile.
Paint Industry - Diamond
Jubilee
Montana celebrates its 60 years of in-
novation and solutions to protect and
finish wood surfaces.
Established in February 23, 1953,
Montana Química, a company engaged
in the development of innovative te-
chnologies and products to effectively
protect and finish wood surfaces, is at-
taining 60 years of existence in 2013.
The company was originally founded