This webinar was organised by UL prospector in November 2021 and discusses the typical defects found in architectural coatings and offers product recommendations to solve these issues. 

Recorded Webinar: As the printing industry advances towards higher printing speeds and a broader range of graphic effects, the utilization of both fumed and precipitated silica in printing inks has become prevalent. The choice of particle sizes and surface treatments plays a crucial role in influencing the ink formulation's matting effect and rheology behavior. This presentation aims to explore the benefits of using engineered silicas such as AEROSIL®, ACEMATT®, SIPERNAT®, and SPHERILEX® in printing inks applications. The discussion will focus on how these silicas can enhance key properties like Rheology Control, Matting, Anti-block, and scratch resistance in the ink formulations.

Wall paints are a very important application within Architectural Coatings - and renewing them is quite laborious. Optimizing the resistance to damage and wear leads to more economical and sustainable paint formulations, as it makes renovation of e.g. façades with the costly installation of scaffolding redundant. One particular headache for freshly painted façades can be the formation of so called snail trails causing an uneven appearance when there is high humidity or rain. New specialty fillers help to prevent these problems and allow to formulate very long-lasting beautiful films when formulated e.g. with optimized hydrophobing agents. For interior coatings, innovative fillers also play a major role for optimization of mechanical resistance e.g., burnish phenomena - in addition, the use of suitable surface-active agents facilitates the optimization of scuff and chemical resistance. Studies of film formation help to understand and optimize both interior and exterior formulations.