Huntsman Advanced Materials GmbH (Switzerland), a division of Huntsman Corporation, launched a new portfolio of low temperature curing agents for heavy-duty industrial coatings applications.
Author: Alina Paduraru, Huntsman Advanced Materials GmbH, Basel – Switzerland, alina_paduraru@huntsman.com
Designed to improve curing speed between O°C and 10°C, the Ara® Cool range enables formulators to address needs for faster processing in cold or unpredictable weather across a variety of industries including oil & gas, marine, transportation and industrial maintenance.
The range of curing agent s brings performance benefits to a wide array of applications such as protective and decorative paints and anti-corrosion coatings, by providing excellent surface appearance and adhesion. With an extremely long pot life, the Ara® Cool products enable ease of applications while allowing end-users to save on time and overall project expenditure. In addition, the VOC levels of the range meet the challenging regulatory requirements for low temperature cure applications.
"With increased demand for effective coatings in extreme climates, the Ara® Cool portfolio has been designed to provide outstanding cure speeds, even in the coldest of conditions," comments Martin Gerlitz, marketing manager at Huntsman Advanced Materials. "The range provides our customers with competitive solutions to address the demand for higher performing coatings for harsh climates. This not only allows them to enter markets with adverse climates, but extends the application window in cold seasons and helps overcome issues presented by unpredictable weather".
The range increases productivity by extending application periods into the cooler seasons and avoiding breaks in the application schedule.
In addition, the VOC levels across the Ara® Cool portfolio are in line with regulatory requirements for low temperature cure applications, and are REACH compliant to meet new regulations being introduced next year.
Three initial products
• Ara® Cool 3077. This highly reactive, formulated amine provides a zero-VOC alternative to benzyl alcohol and solutions that contain SVHC. It is a low temperature curing agent, designed as a SVHC-free multipurpose hardener for coating and flooring applications.
It provides excellent reactivity at temperatures as low as 5°C. It can be used as an accelerating co-curative with many different curing agents and in various applications (Fig. 1).
Applications:
- Low emission floorings especially for low temperature cure
- Zero-VOC anti-corrosion primers (5-10°C cure)
- Co-accelerator for slow hardeners
Multipurpose hardener (Figs. 2 and 3)
Key features:
- SVHC-free
- No benzyl alcohol (low emission hardener)
- Excellent reactivity down to 5°C
- Good surface properties even at low temperature (low blushing)
- Relatively low viscosity (460 - 540 mPa.s)
• Ara® Cool1047 W 80 is a surface tolerant, Mannichbase type hardener without residual volatile amine, that provides excellent corrosion protection to critical substrates. This high solid hardener is designed for coatings applications that require fast hardness development at 5°C or less.
It offers excellent surface appearance and re-coatability even under humid and cold conditions, outstanding flexibility and adhesion on poorly pre-treated substrates. It allows for low VOC (high solid) formulations (Fig. 4).
Applications:
- Anti-corrosion coatings for critical substrates
- Marine and maintenance
A multitude of general protective and decorative paints (Figs. 5 and 6)
Key features:
- Excellent adhesion on critical (unblasted) substrates
- Very fast cure down to 0°C and even lower
- SVHC free
- Low VOC levels and good EHS-profile
• Ara® Cool1034 XW 90. This modified Mannich-base type is an ultra-high solid hardener for pre-treated steel surfaces with an improved pot life.
The SVHC-free Ara® Cool 1034 XW 90 has outstanding low temperature reactivity and is suitable for applications in general protective and decorative paints. It allows for very low VOC formulations with good EHS-profiles. No induction time is needed (
Fig. 7).
Applications:
- Anti-corrosion coatings on pre-treated (blasted) steel
- Marine, HDP and maintenance/repair
A multitude of general protective and decorative paints (Figs. 8 and 9)
Key features:
- Ultra high solid anti-corrosion hardener for cure down to 5°C
- Extremely long pot life versus outstanding low temperature reactivity
- SVHC-free
Conclusion
"The launch of the Ara® Cool range sees us take a clear step forward in achieving superior reactivity levels at low temperatures," explains Dr. Martin Gerlitz. "With outstanding cure speeds, even in the coldest of conditions, the portfolio meets the increased demand we are seeing for most efficient coatings for extreme climates. In addition to opening up new markets for our customers, the low VOC levels of Ara® Cool are futureproofed to meet new 2018 regulations, providing reassurance that the products meet the needs of the industry for years to come."
For further information: www.huntsman.com
PHOTO:
Fig. 1: Typical Ara® Cool 3077 characteristics.
Fig. 2: Ara® Cool 3077 cure speed comparison in combination with Araldite® GY 783.
Fig. 3: Ara® Cool 3077 pendulum hardness at different temperatures in combination with Araldite® GY 250.
Fig. 4: Typical Ara® Cool1047 W 80 characteristics.
Fig. 5: Ara® Cool1047 W 80 cure speed at different temperatures in combination with different resins.
Fig. 6: Ara® Cool1047 W 80 pendulum hardness at different temperatures in combination with Araldite® GZ 290 X 90.
Fig. 7: Typical Ara® Cool1034 XW 90 characteristics.
Fig. 8: Ara® Cool1034 XW 90 cure speed at different temperatures in combination with different resins.
Fig. 9: Ara® Cool1034 XW 90 pendulum hardness at 5°C in combination with Araldite® GZ 290 X 90.