Pigmented Coating Material for Low VOC Multicoat Paint Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current multicoat paint systems face challenges in reducing VOC emissions while maintaining excellent leveling properties and overall appearance, especially with low clearcoat film thicknesses, which compromises optical quality and processing properties.

Innovation Solution

A solvent-based pigmented coating composition comprising acrylate, polyurethane, or polyester binders, blocked polyisocyanates or amino resins, pigments, and organic solvents like alkyl acetates or alkyl monoglycol ethers, with a solids content of at least 35%, allowing for high-solids content and low film thickness applications without compromising performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-generated harmful factors

If clearcoat film thickness is reduced to lower VOC emissions, then environmental safety is improved, but leveling properties and overall appearance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveVOC emissionsVSAvoidleveling properties
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the basecoat material by incorporating specific solvents (carboxylic acid esters with 7-11 carbon atoms and cyclic carboxylic acid esters) and adjusting the pigment volume concentration to 20-40%. These parameter changes enable the basecoat to provide sufficient leveling properties even when the clearcoat film thickness is reduced to 35-40 μm, thus resolving the contradiction between VOC reduction and leveling quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-generated harmful factors

If solids content of coating materials is increased to reduce VOC emissions, then environmental safety is improved, but processing properties and application performance worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveVOC emissionsVSAvoidprocessing properties
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent carefully balances the solids content parameter by controlling the pigment volume concentration within 20-40% and selecting specific solvent types and amounts. This parameter optimization allows the coating material to achieve high solids content (reducing VOC emissions) while maintaining adequate processing properties and application performance through the synergistic effect of the solvent system and pigment concentration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If clearcoat film thickness is reduced to 35-40 μm to save materials and reduce VOC, then VOC emissions and material consumption are reduced, but optical quality and overall appearance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclearcoat material consumptionVSAvoidoptical quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces the basecoat material with specifically formulated solvents and pigment volume concentration as an intermediary that enhances the optical quality of the entire paint system. This intermediary basecoat provides improved leveling and optical properties that compensate for the reduced clearcoat thickness, allowing the use of thinner clearcoat (35-40 μm) while maintaining or even improving the overall optical quality of the multicoat system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Object-generated harmful factors

If high-solids basecoat systems are used to reduce VOC emissions, then environmental safety is improved, but adhesion and overall performance may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveVOC emissionsVSAvoidadhesion
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the adhesion parameter by controlling the pigment volume concentration within 20-40% and selecting specific solvent types (carboxylic acid esters and cyclic carboxylic acid esters) that ensure proper wetting and bonding. These parameter adjustments allow high-solids basecoat systems to achieve both VOC reduction and maintained adhesion performance, preventing the compromise of reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10246609B2Pigmented coating material and process for producing a multi-coat paint system using the pigmented coating material
Publication Date: 2019.04.02 BASF COATINGS GMBH

AI summary

Described is a solvent-based pigmented coating composition comprising (A) at least one binder comprising at least one acrylate polymer, polyurethane polymer, or a polyester, (B) at least one crosslinking agent selected from the group of blocked polyisocyanates and amino resins, (C) at least one pigment, and (D) at least one organic solvent selected from the group of alkyl acetates or alkyl monoglycol ethers, wherein alkyl is n-pentyl or n-hexyl, and wherein the solids content of the coating composition is at least 35% by weight.