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industrial finishing: WATERBORNE WOOD FINISHES

The New World

of Waterborne Finishing

WATER-BASED COATINGS are made up of various chem-
ical components dispersed in water. The binder is usually
an acrylic or polyurethane resin. Since the solvent content
is much lower than with standard coatings, their impact
on the environment and on human health is decidedly
less harmful.
The waterborne wood coatings market is worth approx-
imately US$ 2.2 billion, says a report by ResearchAndMar-
kets.com. Indeed, manufacturers have been very busy in
research and development to meet the demand for water-
borne products that are now so advanced, they have the
same or better results and are almost indistinguishable from
traditional products.
The market for waterborne wood coatings is currently Sayerlack’s Clear Basecoat AU0420/00 ensures high build, sandability and fast
exhibiting continuous growth, the report says. Catalyzed drying and is suited for furniture-makers and electrostatic application.
by growing urbanization in emerging economies across
the Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Eastern Europe, there
has been a significant rise in the demand. Increasing vary and different solvents can be added depending on
urbanization has triggered a rise in the residential, the use.
commercial, and industrial infrastructure, creating demand Waterborne wood coatings are non-flammable, almost
for wooden products in these regions. Moreover, rising odorless, contain fewer solvents than their oil-based cousins,
production of wooden artefacts and decorative items clean up easily with water, dry quickly, and are non-yel-
catalyzed by the growth of the global decor industry has lowing. Because they dry so quickly, applicators will find
also been driving demand. there is not a lot of dust adhering to the finish.
Waterborne wood coatings offer numerous advantages One-pack water-based products, especially for interiors,
compared to the alternatives, including robustness, stain have no pot life problems as with traditional solvent-based
resistance, corrosion resistance, and flexibility. Other factors polyurethane products. They are practical because they
driving the demand for waterborne wood coatings include are ready to use, and the product can be recovered and
government regulations to reduce VOCs (volatile organic reused, provided it is kept in its original tin and carefully
compounds) emissions, product innovation, and increasing closed. Water-based products are available in different
wood use. formulations and gloss levels, and can be used for finishing
Looking forward, the report says the waterborne wood wood, glass, iron, and even plastics.
coatings market value is projected to reach US$ 2.9 billion At Sayerlack, a division of Sherwin-Williams, its
by 2024, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate of Hydroplus water-based coatings are designed to reduce
approximately five percent. the absorption of moisture and solar radiation. The com-
Wood coatings are generally traditionally created by pany says its transparent and pigmented Hydroplus
combining various layers of shellac, drying oil, lacquer, or thixotropic topcoats have good elasticity, vertical hold,
varnish, where every layer is followed by sanding, says distension and resistance to tin sedimentation.
ResearchAndMarkets.com. On the contrary, waterborne Durability has always been a major criterion for success
wood coatings are made from a wide range of resins which when evaluating wood coatings for exteriors. With
include ingredients such as acrylic, polyester, polyurethane, Hydroplus, Sayerlack says, a high degree of elasticity is
fluoropolymer, waterborne powder. Water is added to these maintained over time. This allows the paint film to follow
coatings to enable the resin to disperse easily. the movements of the wood without being damaged.
The coatings are applied on the wood surface to protect In order to withstand the sun, clear products in the
and enhance its appearance. The high water content makes Hydroplus series have been formulated with UV absorbers
them easy to apply and environmentally friendly. The con- to prevent the UV radiation from striking the wood directly
sistency and the composition of the waterborne coatings and accelerating wood degradation.

22 CAnADIAn FInISHInG & COATInGS MAnuFACTuRInG SEPTEMbER/OCTObER 2020