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| Paint&pintura | Junho2014
Silicas - Versatileand Sustainable
Playingprimarily the rolesof rheologymodi-
fier,matting agent andmodifying agent for
mechanical properties, silicashavebeen fol-
lowing a trend towards improving existing
technologies and developing performance
products in order to meet specific market
needs.
In addition, silicas have improved signifi-
cantly in performance in themost varied of
applications, especially in terms of sustain-
ability. In fact, increasingly improved and
innovative rawmaterialsnotonlyenable the
development of products that are not only
environmentally friendlier, but also bolster
their effect duringapplication.
Silicas can be used in all sorts of coatings,
including decorative paints, industrial coat-
ings,automotivecoatings(OEMandrefinish),
printing inks,wood coatings, andmaritime coatings. “They are com-
ponents that canmodify rheologyandpromote thixotropy inpaints,
improveadhesion, impart a soft-touchfinish, adjust glossormatting
to the required level, prevent sagging invertical applications, and in-
crease abrasion and corrosion resistance. Inpowder coatings, silicas
also favor flow and stabilization and, as result, make productsmore
durable,” saysCamilaPecerini, productmanager for LatinAmericaat
Evonik’s InorganicMaterials.
Therehavebeengreatstrides intheBrazilianmarket, inthatthereare
more andmore users of silica-basedmaterials, such as high-perfor-
mance functional silicas, an areawhere performance improvements
arewell known.“Thepaintson theBrazilianmarketare renowned for
creativity in formulation concepts, and awhole set of functionalities
isoften required fromonematerial, andnot just anymaterial isup to
that task. Therefore, silicas play a differentiated role, representing
a very versatile, comprehensive tool for formulators,” says Leandro
Rocha, ImerysR&Dmanager for SouthAmerica.
For themostpart, thedemand for syntheticsilicasgrows in response
to thepick-up in theworldeconomyand to theneed forperformance
materials. “Theupswing in theBrazilianmarket has been somewhat
timid compared other emerging economies in spite of the positive
impacts that the sporting events are having on our country,” says
Grace’s sales supervisor LauraDominciano.
Research and Development - Elementis Invests in
Application Laboratory inBrazil
ElementisBrazil is introducing itsnewapplications laboratory located
inPalmital, SãoPaulo, whichhas been set up according to the same
quality standards as the company’s other laboratories around the
globe. Currently, Elementis has laboratories in the United States,
Europe andAsia, and thenew application laboratory inBrazil is now
completely integratedwith them in terms of technologies available,
well-established internationalmethods, and all of the company’s ap-
plicationknow-how.
Thenew laboratorywasbuilt tobeasmall-scalecoatingsplant, using
the same equipment as customers do in the research and develop-
ment processof their own formulations. “Accordingly,wenowhave
the ability to reproduce any kindof coating inour facilities.Wehave
state-of-the-art performanceassessment equipment forwaterborne
decorative paints and industrial coatings in themost varied of seg-
ments. We can predict the rheological behavior of liquid samples
produced, andwehavea full rangeof testingequipment toevaluate
the end properties of applied coating films,” says Elementis’ Carlos
RamiroSanto, technical applicationmanager for LatinAmerica.
