Abrafati 2017: WACKER Presents Dispersions and Silicones for Easy-to-Clean-Coatings

At the Abrafati 2017, WACKER is displaying several novelties for dirt-repellent treatment of mineral surfaces for the first time in the region. The PRIMIS® SAF 9000 dispersion has a special composition that is both oleophobic and hydrophobic, making wallpaints resistant to many different types of stains – from coffee and red wine to colored pencils. Further, WACKER is presenting its new anti-graffiti concentrate SILRES® BS 710. Formulations based on this product yield a long-lasting protective silicone film – any graffiti can simply be washed off with water. Stickers, posters or signs that have been pasted onto walls can easily be removed as well. The Abrafati will be held in São Paulo, Brazil, from October 3 to 6.

The new dispersion PRIMIS® SAF 9000 can ideally be used to formulate so-called “easy-to-clean” interior wall paints which are resistant to a whole host of substances – from tea and coffee to lipstick, mustard or colored pencils. Just adding 10–20 percent of the dispersion in relation to the main binder is enough to allow dirt to be simply wiped off the wall without trace just using a sponge. The dispersion also increases the blocking resistance in paint formulations so that dried surfaces do not adhere if they are pressed together.

In exterior wall paints, adding PRIMIS® SAF 9000 minimizes the dirt pick-up and prevents the soluble additives like emulsifiers in the paint from leaching
and creating so-called “snail trails”. PRIMIS® SAF 9000 is exempt from labeling requirements and according to the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) is even suitable for contact with food and drinking water (BfR Recommendation XIV). The new dispersions are thus an environmentally compatible option for formulating easy-to-clean coatings.

Anti-Graffiti Coatings
The new anti-graffiti concentrate SILRES® BS 710 is a one-part silicone rubber formulation that cures to form a silicone elastomer at room temperature and upon exposure to moisture. The difference between SILRES® BS 710 and traditional silicone-based anti-graffiti coating compounds is its unique formulation concept, which completely eliminates the need for tin catalysts and oxime crosslinkers. Coating materials made from SILRES® BS 710 can be sprayed onto surfaces or applied with a roller or brush. A single treatment is generally enough. Surfaces will be reliably protected from graffiti and posters after a curing time of one day. Furthermore, the silicone film is permeable to water vapor. Studies conducted on adhesive properties have shown that porous mineral substrates like concrete or bricks do not need to be primed prior to the application of a coating material made from SILRES® BS 710.
The cured silicone film is strongly abhesive, which means that other substances adhere either poorly to its surface or not at all. Graffiti can be easily removed from the surface, and stickers, posters or signs either fall off on their own or can be peeled off effortlessly. Cleaning the surface with cold water using a sponge or a pressure washer is all it takes to remove graffiti.

The cured film is elastic and resistant to any impact that weather or temperature could have under real circumstances. Thanks to its flexibility and good adhesion to the substrate, the film remains intact even during the processes of washing off graffiti or removing stickers. In other words, SILRES® BS 710 offers permanent protection, while also intensifying colors and creating a slightly glossy surface. Manufacturers of building protection agents can incorporate SILRES® BS 710 into ready-to-use products. As a concentrate, the product gives formulators the freedom to adjust the active content and viscosity to meet the needs of the application at hand. They can even use pigments to adjust the color. Typical applications of SILRES® BS 710 include anti-graffiti and poster release coatings for residential areas, schools, pedestrian underpasses, parking garages, train stations, freeway bridges and noise barriers.

Visit WACKER at Abrafati 2017, Booth 112.