ofpolyurethaneproductswhichprovideveryhighmechanicalstrengthversussatisfac-
toryflexibility,whichweknowas ‘robustness’ and is intrinsic to thischemistry, speak
louder, asdoes the fact that theyenable formulations tocoveramuchbroader range
of properties than other chemistries do. Accordingly, the protective, maritime and
automotivecoatingsegments, forexample,whereperformancerules,arethe leading
usersof this typeof resin,”explainsVieira.
Onekey factor favoring thegrowth indemand for polyurethane resins is themarket
trend towards seekingeco-friendlyproducts that deliver high yields andhighperfor-
mance,whichpropertiesarepresent in these resins.
Over thepast few years, governments andbusinesses have attachedgreater impor-
tance to theenvironmental concernsof conscious consumers,who seek topreserve
theenvironment,aswell ashumanandanimalhealth,and thathas reducedpollution.
“Advances in technology mean friendlier chemicals, such as waterborne polymer
synthesis usedas replacement for solvents to reduceemissions to theenvironment.
Polyurethane-basedaqueouspolymerdispersionsstandoutforenablingcombinations
of monomers which deliver a variety of properties and features to customers in a
varietyof industrial segments, suchasautomotivecoatingsand furnituremanufactu-
rers.Lubrizolhaspioneeredthedevelopmentofproductswiththisapproach,andhas
providedthemarketwithalternatives intheformofwater-basedpolyurethaneresins,
therebyminimizingenvironmental impacts,”saysLuisArnoldoCartheryJunior,business
manageratLubrizol PerformanceCoatingsLatinAmerica.
InorganicPigments -PigmentswithHighStrengthandHidingPower
Brazilianmanufacturers useawide varietyof inorganicpigments, especially ironoxi-
de and titanium dioxide pigments, due to their superior hiding power and chemical
strength,andalsobecausetheyprovidea rathercompellingcost-benefit ratioandare
easy touse.
Ironoxideand titaniumdioxideare the inorganicpigmentsmostused in theBrazilian
market.“Ironoxidepigmentsprovideagoodcost-benefitratio,whiletitaniumdioxide
delivers excellent performanceas awhitepigment, especially inhidingpower,” says
SergioRubio,ofquantiQ’stechnicalsupport,marketingandnewbusinessdepartment.
Forthemostpart, inorganicpigmentsareeasytodisperseandprovidegoodweathering-
-resistanceandgoodhidingpower. On theother hand,when it comes to saturation,
varietyof shades and color strengh, theydon’t performaswell asorganicpigments.
“Inmostcases,easydispersion,highhidingpowerandoutstandingchemical strength
are themainadvantagesof using inorganicpigments,” saysCristineLopesCamargo,
coatingssalesand technicalmanageratColormix.
Inorganicpigments generally aremore stableand lessprone todegradationbyheat
andweathering,whilebeingsuppliedmore intensivelyandwithmorecreativity.
Manufacturersof inorganicpigmentsarealso increasinglyawareoftheneedtoprovide
thepaint and coatings industrywithproducts that areup to international standards
for the control of heavy-metal-freematerialsor toxicologicallyunfitproductsused in
manufacturingprocesses.“There’snomoreroomfordevelopingorevenmanufactur-
ingproducts thatarenot in linewithsustainability requirementsornot incompliance
