- How do Orgasol® Powders improve abrasion resistance?
A dry lubricant effect is responsible for the superior performance of polyamide powders. In addition to this, Orgasol® Powders, with their round particle shapes, offer little grip for abrasive materials, wearing the surface of coatings and varnishes. Polyamides have a low coefficient of friction and are well known for their abrasion resistance.
- Do Orgasol® Powders migrate to the surface?
Orgasol® Powders are not known to migrate to the surface. The key to optimum abrasion resistance enhancement is to uniformly disperse Orgasol® Powders, so the coating is protected on the entire surface of application. The presence of Orgasol® Powders close to the surface will offer immediate protection from abrasion and will ensure future protection throughout the life of the coating. Furthermore, Orgasol® Powders; high melting points offer heat resistance and minimize waxy residue on coating surfaces. This makes re-coating easier.
- How do Orgasol® Powders reduce gloss?
Orgasol® Powders can be used as a flattening or matting agent, when added to formulations. The presence of Orgasol® Powders at or near the surface of the coating will create a light deflection. This is why the gloss reduction is dependent on the ratio between the Average Particle Size (APS) of Orgasol® Powders and the dry thickness of the coatings, and also the incorporation rate of Orgasol® Powders in the formulation. A close match between Orgasol® Powders' average particle size and the dry film thickness enables a very low gloss.
By choosing the right APS of Orgasol® Powders or, the right level of incorporation, it is possible to control the gloss level of the final coatings. The matting effect will be minimal at low levels. At high levels of incorporation, a smooth and satin finish can be achieved. For example, satin finishes for high quality woods (such as kitchen cabinets or office furniture) and “soft feel” finishes on plastic (for automotive parts).
- Can Orgasol® Powders be used to create a texturing effect?
Yes. Again both the “Average Particle Size (AP) of Orgasol® Powders/Films dry thickness” ratio and the incorporation rate of Orgasol® Powders in the formulation will determine the texturing effect. When the coating thickness is smaller than the powder APS, the larger particles produce a bumpy surface and the surface roughness increases as the concentration increases. The very tight particle size distribution ensures the uniformity and reproducibility of the textured effect. For more information please refer to the Orgasol® Powders brochure “Orgasol® as Texturing Agent for Industrial Coatings – Soft Feel Effect”.
- Can Orgasol® Powders improve metal marking/scuff resistance on low gloss coatings?
Yes. The addition of Orgasol® Powders significantly improves marking resistance, especially when the Average Particle Size (APS) of Orgasol® Powders is greater than the film thickness. The larger the APS of the polyamide powder, the more difficult it is to mark the coating surface with a rubber heel and the cleaner the surface after wiping with a sponge.
- Can you maintain full gloss when using Orgasol® Powders?
Yes. To maximize full gloss while using Orgasol® Powders, we recommend using the smallest Average Particle Size (APS). During one recent study, conducted on a high gloss epoxy system, we evaluated the level of Orgasol® Powders required to start lowering the gloss (the coating without Orgasol® Powders has a gloss of 95 and a thickness of about 50 microns). With 5 microns APS, it was not until a level of addition of 10% of Orgasol® Powders that the gloss started to go down. With 10 microns APS, the gloss remained unchanged until about 5% level of Orgasol® Powders addition. With bigger APS, anywhere from 20 to 60 microns, the gloss started to be affected at a 2 % level of Orgasol® Powders addition. These number are not absolute numbers for all systems. The amount of heat transfer during cure, the nature of the resin and its physio-chemical interactions with the Orgasol® Powders, all play a role in affecting these values, but this represents a good starting point for a formulation optimization.
- How is film clarity affected by the addition of Orgasol® Powders in clear coatings?
The effect on film clarity of clear coatings will be dependent on the choice of Orgasol® Powders used and the level of incorporation. In clear coatings, the addition of Orgasol® Powders, up to 15%, does not modify the clarity of the coatings.
- Is it possible to create a frosted effect with the Orgasol® Powders?
Yes. When Orgasol® Powders are used on clear substrate, such as glass, high loadings of Orgasol® Powders can create a frosted effect similar to a hydrofluoric acid (HF) treatment (without the hazards associated with the HF process).
- Do Orgasol® Powders impact the gloss retention/weatherability of coatings?
QUV studies have shown that the presence of Orgasol® Powders in a coating, at the typical levels of addition (0.5 to 15%), has no detrimental effect on the long-term durability. For more information please refer to the technical report “Weathering Data of Orgasol® based Coil-Coating Formulations”.
- Can Orgasol® Powders be used to control the slip/coefficient of friction of the coatings to which they are added?
Orgasol® Powders have a low coefficient of friction and can be used to lower the coefficient of friction of coatings. For example, when added to a polyurethane varnish on a rubber gasket, they can minimize the coefficient of friction of rubber on glass, such as car windows wearing off the rubber window seals. For more information please refer to the Orgasol® Powders brochure “Orgasol® as Solid Lubricant Additives for Industrial Coatings”.
- Can Orgasol® Powders be used in UV or EB formulations?
Orgasol® Powders can be used in any kind of formulation such as water-based, solvent-borne, UV or EB systems. In UV curable formulations, Orgasol® Powders offer the unique advantage of not impacting the viscosity of the formulation while providing low gloss or abrasion resistance. For more information please refer to the Orgasol® brochure “Orgasol® as Additives for UV and EB Formulations”.
- What resins can be used with Orgasol® Powders?
There is no limitation. Orgasol® Powders are currently used as additives in a wide variety of resins or binders such as alkyds, polyester, polyurethane, acrylic and epoxy. Orgasol® Powders keep their benefits in all kinds of formulations (water-based, solvent-borne, UV or EB). Nevertheless, the best results have been obtained with urethane-based coatings.
- How can Orgasol® Powders be incorporated into water-based applications?
With the use of surfactants, Orgasol® Powders may be easily dispersed into water. If your current water borne system already includes surfactants, just pre-disperse the Orgasol® Powders using the same surfactant and introduce into it your coating. All surfactants (non-ionic, cationic and anionic) are compatible with Orgasol® Powders and will facilitate their introduction into water.
If you are using a co-solvent in your water borne system, simply pre-disperse the Orgasol® Powders in the solvent and then introduce into the water borne system.
- May Orgasol® Powders be incorporated into solvent-borne applications?
Orgasol® Powders have excellent chemical resistance, making them compatible with most solvent systems. Simply add the Orgasol® Powders at the end of the mixing phase, allowing enough time for the solvent to wet the Orgasol® Powders. For more information please refer to the Orgasol® technical report “Solvent Resistance of Orgasol® Powders”.
However, much depends on the nature and function of the coating you wish to modify. For more in-depth information, please Contact Us.
