Evonik Introduces TEGO Humectant 7005

Evonik has added TEGO Humectant 7005 to its portfolio of additives.  Available worldwide, TEGO Humectant 7005 is effective for binder-free pigment pastes that has a particularly low VOC content and at the same time shows a low influence on paste properties such as color strength and viscosity.

TEGO Humectant 7005 is effective against drying of pigment concentrates, while its influence on water resistance and other paint properties remains low. This combination makes the new product particularly suitable for a wide range of applications, including architectural paints and industrial coatings.

The formulation of paints and coatings is a complex process. One of the challenges is the short drying time of binder-free pigment pastes. The addition of a humectant extends this so-called “open time” until drying, but usually affects the coating properties. For example, it reduces the water resistance of the formulation, which is particularly important for industrial coatings.

“Keeping the balance here is an important task during development,” said Frank Kleinsteinberg, head of pigment concentrates application technology. “For the formulator, it is important that the humectant maintains the paste properties, such as color strength, stability, compatibility or viscosity, and shows little influence on the coating properties.”

The product offers low VOC and SVOC content of less than 0.1 percent. This means that it can be used without restriction in formulations that comply with the current VOC regulations in Europe and the US.