DBE-IB avoids shrinkage cracks and cleans paint booths

Citation

(2002), "DBE-IB avoids shrinkage cracks and cleans paint booths", Pigment & Resin Technology, Vol. 31 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/prt.2002.12931dad.009

DBE-IB avoids shrinkage cracks and cleans paint booths

Keywords: Ecology, Environment, Coatings

DBE-IB is the latest product in the DBE (Dibasic Ester) product portfolio of environmentally -friendly, biodegradable solvents from DuPont. Outstanding characteristics claimed include a very low vapour pressure and water- solubility, as well as an extremely mild odour. Ideal applications for DBE-IB is said to be as a coalescent agent in water-based dispersion coatings or as an efficient and ecological cleaning agent for paint booths.

In water-based dispersion coatings and coating-systems, DBE-IB functions as a coalescent, or film-forming agent It claims to dissolves the coating's resins effectively and prevents precipitation in the water emulsion. According to DuPont, during the drying phase, the water vaporises first and the solvent and the coating resin remains. DBE-IB dries slowly due to its low vapour pressure, forming a smooth, high-quality surface without shrinkage cracks.

DBE-IB is also reported to be a highly effective cleaning agent. PPG Industries Inc., Pittsburgh (USA), for example, use a formulation of DBE-IB to disperse paint overspray and thus prevent the build-up of sticky paint solids in paint booths. Thanks to its high solvency power, DBE-IB reduces the volume of solvent required and creates a safer working environment through its high flashpoint and low risk potential.

A further advantage claimed is its low water solubility: DBE-IB can be separated from water completely, enabling treatment of the waste-water at standard sewage plants. DBE-IB is a mixture of the diisobutylesters of succinic, glutaric and adipic acid, which can also be found naturally (DBE) is the mixture of the methylesters). DBE-IB offers, in comparison to DBE (Plate 5):

Plate 5 The new solvent DBE-G3 from DuPont functions as a coalescent agent in water-based dispersion coatings, and creates a smooth, high-quality surface

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  even lower vapour pressure(1.3 Pa at 20°C)

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  lower solubility in water(< 0.5 per cent at 20°C)

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  higher flashpoint (133°C)

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  similar high solvency power

Its high flashpoint (133°C), coupled with the low toxicological risk potential, is stated to provide a higher degree of safety: DuPont informs us that DBE is not classified according to EU criteria and is therefore not considered a dangerous chemical. Its high solvency power often reduces the volume of solvent required (Plate 6).

DuPont also reports that because of its low vapour pressure, DBE-IB is considered a "non-VOC" (VOC = volatile organic compound) in the EU. For producers of paints and coatings this means that DBE-IB enables the development of VOC and solvent- free formulations. The European Directive 1999/13/EC defines substances as "VOC" or "solvent" when their vapour pressure is equal or higher than 0.01 kPa.

Plate 6 In paint booths DBE-IB serves as an efficient cleaning agent and allows easy waste water treatment

DBE can also be used in a broad variety of other applications, e.g. as a solver for paint strippers, foundry core binders, oilfield chemicals, agrochemicals and adhesives.

Details available from: DuPont de Nemours (Deutschland) GmbH, Tel: +49 6172 87 1304; Fax: +49 6172 87 1314; E-mail: ingo.ganz@deu.dupont.com