Designing water-based and high-performing green painting alkyds was not an easy task to do for paint designers. The harmful solvents in oil-based alkyd formulations were the most critical component of the old product’s successful applicability. Coatings systems failure is imminent when the very basic act of applying paint is not done correctly. To solve this, designers introduce an emulsification process in water-soluble alkyd paints, making paint dispersion possible without the help of solvents.
Manufacturers further added VOC-free colorants to these formulations, making the new chemistry achieve the same performance and durability as before, but this time more appropriate for green painting applications.
In turning alkyd paints into water-borne green painting solutions, the primary problem encountered by paint designers is the technical limitation of engineering materials with water, which is not a problem in harmful oil-based formulations. To solve this, they have come up with hybrid solutions, which use alkyd resins in water suspensions.
Hybrids emit little noxious fumes and are easily cleaned with water. They are being used as primers suitable for exterior and interior green painting applications. They also come in a range of glossiness and tints, making them a good option for enhancing the look of surfaces.
The hybrids perform well technically — achieving good surface penetration, application and curing. They are also capable of withstanding damage like oil-based formulations.
