New Product Announcement: Soluble Polymer Resin Binder
Munich-based chemical manufacturer Wacker Group plans to unveil a new polymer resin binder with enhanced solubility for solvent-borne coatings, printing inks, high-solids, and UV-curing systems later this month. The Vinnol L-6868 binder is also reportedly suitable for use to formulate wood, paper and film coatings.
According to the release, the new polymer resin has the lowest viscosity within Wacker’s Vinnol family, compatible with a wide range of UV monomers and reactive diluents.
The company reports that the development of the product started with the existing polymer resin grade Vinnol H 40/43, a copolymer of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate that has no functional groups. However, Wacker said that several customers expressed that the properties were improved even further.
As a result, Wacker modified its molecular composition, minimizing the copolymerized vinyl chloride content to 44% and maximized the vinyl acetate content to 56%. This renders Vinnol L-6868 highly soluble in ketones as well as in esters, acrylic monomers, UV monomers and glycol esters.
Additionally, the lowering of the vinyl chloride content, which provides toughness and hardness in the polymer as well as chemical resistance of the coating, improves the processing properties of formulations.
Raise the curtain for our new polymer resin VINNOL® L-6868! Soluble in a wide variety of solvents, it can be used in coatings, printing inks, high-solids, and UV-curing systems. Details at #ECS 2023 in Hall 1, Booth 1-206. Read our #pressrelease https://t.co/eKUPH2Njud #ECS2023 pic.twitter.com/EWUWpiliPy
— Wacker Chemie (@wackerchemie) February 23, 2023
The combination of modified polymer composition and very low molecular weight has the effect of substantially lowering the viscosity of the polymer resin. The viscosity in a 20% methyl ethyl ketone solution at 20 degrees Celsius is 7 mPa-s, compared to the previous product’s 25 mPa-s.
“Due to its very low molecular weight, Vinnol L-6868 represents the optimal solution for formulators addressing challenges relating to flow, intercoat adhesion, and flexibility in UV-curing systems,” writes Wacker.
“Applications for the new binder include printing inks, plastic coatings, wood coatings, paper and film coatings. Vinnol L-6868 can also be used to formulate coatings for food-contact packaging.”
The product is expected to be presented at the European Coatings Show in Nuremberg, Germany, from March 28 to March 30.