Polymer company Covestro is working with the Technical University of Cologne to investigate how to improve aqueous polymer dispersions.
The dispersions are used as liquid raw materials in paints and coatings, adhesives and other everyday products, the company says. The project, entitled ‘Applied Research on Disperse Colloidal Polymers’ is being funded over a period of three years for around €600,000.
Covestro makes polyurethane dispersions (PUDs), which consist primarily of water and a polyurethane finely dispersed in it. They are mostly used as film formers or binders in paints for the initial and refinishing of automobiles, in wood/ furniture paints and floor coatings, as well as in textile coatings and glass fiber coatings.
‘Paint and adhesive manufacturers all over the world are increasingly opting to replace solvent-based products with more sustainable aqueous systems such as polyurethane dispersions (PUDs), provided they have the same excellent properties,’ said Michael Friede, global head of the coatings, adhesives and specialties segment. ‘The goals of the project are the optimization of manufacturing processes, an improved understanding of structure-property relationships and the development of new applications for the dispersions,’ said Dr.Jan Weikard, PUD expert at Covestro.
This story uses material from Covestro, with editorial changes made by Materials Today. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of Elsevier.
