BASF unveils innovative raw materials for industrial coatings at the European Coatings Show

• BASF offers tailor-made solutions for a diverse industry

Between 19 and 21 March, BASF will be presenting its broad portfolio of state-of-the-art raw materials for industrial coatings at the European Coatings Show 2013 (ECS) in Nuremberg. At stand 523 and 525 in hall 7A, experts from BASF will provide insights into BASF's range of innovative pigments, pigment preparations, resins and additives.

The industrial coatings industry is one of the most diverse that BASF serves. It requires a broad range of curing technologies, chemistries, properties and coating processes. Coatings need to be suitable for different substrates including metal, plastic and composite substrates and are applied on agricultural machinery (ACE), wind blades, trains, pipe and protective coatings.  Therefore, industrial coatings need to offer a range of different properties including a balanced level of hardness and toughness, high chemical resistance, easy processing, low VOC and good appearance. BASF has the expertise to offer the tailored solutions needed for industrial coatings.

Innovative products for water-based coatings

Water-based coatings offer an array of benefits but they also pose an array of technical challenges. For example, water-based coatings applied directly to metal substrates, known as direct-to-metal (DTM), can be prone to failure, especially if exposed to low temperatures and/or high levels of humidity.

To solve this problem, BASF has recently developed a new acrylic dispersion technology, Joncryl^® PRO 1522, specifically for DTM coatings. It allows a single water-based coating to be applied to metal surfaces, providing enhanced resistance to water, humidity and corrosion.

BASF's Hydropalat^® WE 3500 is a new polymeric wetting and levelling agent for water-based systems. Based on a new fluorinated acrylic copolymer, Hydropalat^® WE 3500 provides excellent surface levelling and substrate wetting by reducing the dynamic surface tension of the coating. Additionally negative side effects like cratering, foam stabilization or impaired intercoat adhesion can be avoided.

BASF also has a unique portfolio of pigments for lead-free formulations, including product brands such as Paliotol^®, Sicopal^® and Irgazin^®, and resins for the formulation of low-VOC coatings.

Good-looking coatings

Cu-phthalocyanine pigments represent one of the main classes of organic pigments used in the industrial coatings industry, but dispersing these pigments can prove challenging. BASF now presents two new dispersing agents, Efka^® PX 4350 and Efka^® PX 4751, for Cu-phthalocyanine pigments in solvent-based and high-solids applications. Benefiting from BASF's latest technologies, which give a high level of control over the polymer structure, the dispersing agents are highly efficient, reducing the need to use a pigment synergist.

Another good-looking BASF innovation is the new range of Glacier^TM effect pigments for consumer electronics and household goods. Comprising synthetic mica flakes coated with titanium dioxide, the Glacier^TM range offers the whitest effect pigments currently on the market.

With features such as high color strength, increased opacity and exterior durability, the new Bismuth Vanadate pigment Sicopal® Yellow EH 1567 (L 1130) is designed to meet the needs of the industrial coatings market. It offers an ideal solution for customers wanting a lead-free formulation of especially bright and durable yellow shades.

Fast curing systems

Another novelty in the market is the Solyfast^TM catalyst for two-component polyurethane coating systems. The catalyst is initiated by UV light at room temperature and leads to shorter drying times – tin-free and providing a longer pot life. This innovation is particularly interesting for all kinds of industrial applications which can benefit from a more space- and energy-efficient coating process in the future.

About BASF

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Through science and innovation, we enable our customers in nearly every industry to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring nutrition and improving quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF posted sales of €78.7 billion in 2012 and had more than 113,000 employees as of the end of the year. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

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