Silicone emulsions as surface lubricating additives for water-borne wood coatings
The performance of silicone emulsions as lubricating additive for aqueous wood coatings is discussed in a paper.
Described is a high molecular weight silicone emulsion called “Dow Corning 52” additive.
Silicone emulsion delivers better abrasion protection
At 0.3% silicone emulsion, the degree of lowering of the dynamic coefficient of friction (CoF) was much lesser versus those observed with either of the wax emulsions. The 0.3% silicone emulsions yielded the lowest CoF, as well as weight reduction that was more than with 3.0% of an oxidised polyethylene wax, but lower than with 1.5% of the wax. Smaller weight losses were observed with 1.5% and 3.0% of the paraffin wax emulsions, even if the primary CoF were greater than for the silicone emulsion. The silicone emulsion delivers slightly better protection versus abrasion compared with five times the addition quantity of the polyethylene wax emulsion endorsed for protection. It also has better performance than a silicone polyether copolymer mixed at twice the active addition level.
Optimisation of ratios generates cost savings
The high molecular weight silicone emulsion featuring proprietary surfactant technology delivers surface lubricity for aqueous wood coatings at levels that cannot be attained with organic wax emulsions. The delivery form permits easy incorporation in a variety of coating types. At quantities as low as 0.1%, the emulsion has been proven to significantly raise surface lubricity and resistance to abrasive damage. For a certain coating system, optimisation of the comparative ratios could generate cost savings and impart the wanted combination of advantages like sandability, recoatability, water resistance, anti-blocking and abrasion resistance.
The study is published in: Pitture e Vernici – European Coatings, Jul-Aug 2016, 92 (4).
