We all know that climate change is a reality. DSM, the global science-based company active in health, nutrition and materials, sees sustainability not only as an opportunity but as a long-term business focus. Over the last five years, DSM developed a resin portfolio for powder coatings, named Uralac EasyCure. This product range has a lower carbon footprint and can be cured much faster or at lower temperatures than traditional powder coatings – with the appearance and properties of traditional powder coatings. Recently DSM launched the Uralac EasyCure low bake/ fast cure matte Architectural1 HAA system, Uralac EasyCure P 3223 & P 3228. These new resins can offer substantial commercial advantages for example for heavy machinery and architectural component manufacturers.
Full range including super durable
“We developed the first Uralac EasyCure polyester resins to answer the market need for low bake/fast cure resins,” said Marten Houweling, global product manager at DSM’s Powder Coating Resins unit.
“Then we continued developing different outdoor durable levels and matte solutions. The new Uralac EasyCure P 3223 & P 3228 dry blend polyesters offer a unique combination of coating benefits delivering good appearance, long term outdoor durability, non-blooming, high gloss consistency and reliable storage stability.”
Up to 50 percent faster curing times
The new resins are good news for metal coating producers whose customers include heavy machinery manufacturers. One of the common bottlenecks in heavy machinery production is the curing process after components have been coated or painted.
In the past, a larger oven or more ovens were the only solutions to these bottlenecks when powder coatings were used, but these solutions are expensive and are often even unworkable due to lack of space in the factory.
Now, heavy machinery manufacturers can keep the same ovens. They just need to change their type of powder coating. With the fast cure aspect of these new resins, they can reduce their curing times, typically from 12-10 minutes to just 6-5 minutes. Which implies a higher production output.
Up to 30 percent gas usage savings
Alternatively, the heavy machine manufacturer can keep the same curing time and lower the oven temperature, which can save up to 30 percent on gas usage and energy costs. Typical curing at 180/200ºC for 12 minutes can now be switched to curing at 160ºC for 12 minutes.
Ideal for more than just heavy machinery
Using a powder coating based on the Uralac EasyCure resins also allows a wider range of parts to be processed. In the case of parts of a similar type, for example with very thin or very thick substrates, the lower peak temperature needed for powder coatings of this kind significantly reduces the risk of discolouration. Lower cure temperatures also open up new applications for the powder coating process. Metal substrates which, for functional reasons, cannot be exposed to high temperatures or complete assemblies which also have restrictions on their peak temperature can now be coated using these Uralac EasyCure systems.
New business opportunities for coating manufacturers
Powder coating manufacturers that offer products based on this new resins will have independent proof that they can help their customers either save money or increase productivity. “Even better, the new resins have a much lower carbon footprint when replacing solvent or water based systems – as calculated by the prescribed ISO guidelines - so it enables coating manufacturers to answer the growing demand for more eco-friendly solutions, as showed in figure 1.
The coating manufacturers who adopt the new low bake/faster cure resins today will be in prime position to capitalise on the future legislation tomorrow. There is already growing awareness of eco-issues and climate change in the coating market,” continued Houweling. “And this awareness has created a clear global market trend towards powder coatings that can cure at lower temperatures or faster.
DSM has, for decades, pioneered sustainable solutions in all its activities and has Life Cycle Analysis methodologies that enable accurate eco-performance comparisons of different products. This is one of the reasons DSM has been named by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index each year for the past 13 years as one of the global leaders in sustainable solutions.
Why does DSM focus so much on sustainability?
“We believe that achieving sustainability means simultaneously pursuing economic performance, environmental footprint and social responsibility, in other words, creating value on the three dimensions of People, Planet and Profit simultaneously,” said Houweling. “This is the ‘Triple P’ philosophy and we intend to follow it for many years since it leads to innovative and sustainable products such as Uralac EasyCure.”
Contact: Marten Houweling, Global Product Manager, DSM Coating Resins.
© Chemical Today Magazine
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