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ALKYD DISPERSIONS: The Preferred Technology for The Future

Alkyd resins have been the mainstay of the coatings industry for many years. Both cost-wise and performance-wise, alkyds have proven themselves over a wide swath of demands, from agricultural/construction equipment to general industrial metal and even architectural finishes.

With the advent of VOC restrictions beginning in the late seventies, it was repeatedly predicted that alkyds would be eliminated as a coating technology. Developments of high solids alkyds and water reducible alkyds staved off this predicted demise but recent VOC regulations―especially in the California market―appeared to be the final clarion call. However, recent innovations by resin companies are again meeting the challenge. New alkyd dispersions just coming into the market are able to meet these new lower VOC requirements.

Alkyd dispersions are the next step in water-borne technology. Alkyd dispersions are particles of acrylic-alkyd copolymer resin dispersed in water. Co-solvent typically used in water reducible resins may or may not be present. The dispersion nominally results in a sub-micron particle size. The dispersions usually are surfactant free, hence, a dispersion instead of an emulsion. Although the morphology of these dispersions is not well understood, it is believed that a core/shell type structure exists. This structure is postulated in order to explain the outstanding hydrolysis resistance of these products. Acrylics are well known to have good hydrolysis resistance whereas alkyds/polyesters are known to have poor hydrolysis resistance. Alkyd dispersions mimic the core/shell technology which is ubiquitous in acrylic emulsions.

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