Alongside its colorants and benzyl products, specialty chemicals company Lanxess is showcasing its new product portfolio of biocide formulations at the European Coatings Show (ECS) 2017 in Nuremberg, Germany, from April 4 to 6. The Material Protection Products (MPP) business unit’s product range is focused on being able now and also in the future to meet regulatory and technical challenges in the field of biocides – for example avoiding labeling as a sensitizer – and reducing leaching.

Nicolas Gallacier, global marketing director for Industrial Preservation & Coatings in Lanxess’s MPP business unit, stated that: “Our regulatory experts are actively involved in association committees and in close contact with the authorities so as to ensure we can help equip our customers for the new legislation. This shows that Lanxess is a competent partner that enables paints and coatings manufacturers to operate successfully on the market.”

Protecting paint
Biocides protect paints while they are in liquid form during storage, but also once they are applied. This prevents attacks by microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and algae that can lead to unpleasant odors, changes in flow behavior and discoloration. Biocides can avoid these undesired effects by protecting the coating material from being decomposed by microorganisms. This, on the one hand prolongs the shelf life of the paint in the containers and on the other hand maintains the protective function of a coating for as long as possible.

Adapting the preservation strategy using MIT-free formulations
One of the most commonly used in-can preservatives is methylisothiazolinone (MIT). The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has proposed lowering the threshold for sensitizer labeling for this active ingredient significantly, from 1000 ppm to 15 ppm. Since effective dosing starts at 50 ppm, products using MIT as a preservative will soon have to be labeled with the hazard statement “H 317” (May cause an allergic skin reaction) and the GHS07 pictogram (exclamation mark). GHS stands for “Globally Harmonized System,” and is an attempt to create a uniform system worldwide for classifying and labeling chemicals. Gallacier said: “We don’t expect the new threshold for labeling MIT as a sensitizing substance to apply before the end of 2018.”

As soon as the new legislation comes into force, it will have significant implications for preserving paints for the DIY market and for professional users. Substances that require an H 317 label will probably only be approved for professional users after that. “We are keeping a close eye on the implementation of the new classification and are supporting our customers in adapting their preservation strategies to the new legislation and offering products free of sensitizing products,” says Gallacier.

MIT-free formulations containing combinations of other isothiazolinones (BIT, CMIT/MIT, OIT) and/or bronopol are already available. LANXESS is also testing combinations with non-sensitizing active ingredients.

Less leaching from the coating
Besides labeling of sensitizers, sustainability is another key issue. Paints and coatings manufacturers face the challenge of continuously having to reduce the leaching of biocides from their products even further.

At the ECS, Lanxess is showcasing a new generation of preservatives, the “Preventol next” series. Preventol next A 29-D and Preventol next A 31-D are fungicide/algicide combinations that have achieved excellent results in the laboratory and in two-year external weathering tests in a damp climate. Their innovative slow-release technology meets industry’s growing demands for low leaching and environmental impact.