Solvents with unique uses in water-based coatings

Water-based coatings are more and more widely used, but even pure water-based coatings contain solvents.

Some are used as film-forming additives, and some improve the drying speed of the coating. Some improve the viscosity and storage properties of the coating, some adjust the compatibility of the system, some improve the workability, and even affect the coating performance, etc. This shows that the role of solvents in water-based coatings is very important and indispensable.

The following is a brief description of several solvents based on years of application experience Unique use!

Ethanol (alcohol)

is the most common one. We often use it to wipe the surface of materials. It is water-based. It is also very useful in coating formulas.

Ethanol is very hydrophilic and has no problem with compatibility. In addition, its boiling point Low and fast evaporation rate, it is especially suitable for systems with high surface drying requirements. For example, adding ethanol to a single-component silver paint system is beneficial to surface drying and has good construction surface effects. The two-component self-drying system dries very slowly, and adding ethanol can also improve surface dryness and sagging properties.

Propylene glycol methyl ether (PM)

It has a higher boiling point than ethanol and is generally hydrophilic. It is also helpful for the surface drying speed of the system and does not affect the water-based one-component and two-component products. light��, it does not help much in film-forming properties. It mainly improves solubility and improves volatilization gradient. It is usually used in water-based epoxy systems to improve the solubility of epoxy and is good for plasticSilver powder The arrangement of silver powder in paint also helps .

Dipropylene glycol butyl ether (DPNB)

As a commonly used film-forming additive for water-based coatings, its role is very great. First of all, let’s not talk about improving film-forming properties. DPNB is not very hydrophilic and can easily break emulsions in some water-based emulsions, so you need to pay special attention when using it. One of the major effects of DPNB is that it can improve the viscosity of water-based paint systems, especially multi-solvent systems. Thickeners have no effect at all. DPNB combined with neutralizers can greatly increase the viscosity of paints and have good storage properties. It will sag and bloom. DPNB can also improve the defoaming properties of water-based coatings. It is helpful for defoaming whether in production or construction. I won’t go into the defoaming principle. Let’s try it!

Propylene carbonate (PC)

It is not widely used in the coating industry. It has relatively good hydrophilicity and has many advantages in water-based coatings. First of all, it can be used as a film-forming additive in water-based coatings and has good film-forming properties. Secondly, it is cheap, non-toxic and odorless. It can replace DPM and other film-forming additives, reducing formula costs and the smell of water-based coatings. Third, it has a strong ability to absorb carbon dioxide, so it is very effective when used to dilute water-based isocyanate curing agents. The solvent does not contain hydroxyl groups and has no problem with storage. In a two-component system, it is effective in improving prickly heat and bubbles.

A few simple solvents can play a big role in water-based paint. After use, , can solve many problems of water-based coatings, thereby also improving its R&D and application capabilities.