Polyurethane dispersions – Delivering great value to industry

Over the past few years, the level of competition has raised across all industrial sectors. Let’s talk about coatings industry. The demand for solvent based coating has increased a lot in the past few years. This surged demand leads to the growth of polyurethane dispersions in today’s competitive industrial environment. This is because the application needs the best and safest replacement for solvent based coatings due to their eco friendly properties. Waterborne polyurethane dispersions, also called PUD’s, are a rapidly growing segment of the polyurethane coating industry which has come into control due to the environmental legislations such as the Clean Air Act. Another reason can also be the technological improvements that have made them a feasible alternative for the solvent-based coatings.

The most updated category of polyurethane dispersions is created to enable the formulation of high performance coatings, adhesives, and inks. The wide range of products enables a range of formulation parameters to be achieved. There are different advantages of polyurethane dispersions including:

They are highly versatile and manufactured from eco-friendly coating materials.They become available in a wide range of hardness and solid content.Their zero to low volatile organic content facilitates their formulation into a compliant coating for various substrates.Their extreme level of versatility and great range of superior properties, such as abrasion resistance, impact strength and low temperature flexibility are the key forces to their continuously expanding usage in many applications.

Polyurethane dispersions are typically completely reacted polyureas of small and discrete polymer particles ranging from 0.01 – 5.0 microns in a regular water phase. They are completely free of isocyanate residues and have a zero or a very low volatile organic content (VOC). They are meant to be very safe and emerge out a standard choice for compliant coatings.

The only problem with waterborne polyurethane dispersions is that they cost much higher than general solvent based coatings. To avoid this problem of higher cost and in some cases, to enhance adhesion to certain substrates, the PUDs are coupled with other low cost dispersions. The PUDs have a life of around 10 years even in exposed areas as they have excellent UV resistance against yellowing, cracking or peeling.

Incorez polyurethane dispersions are both waterborne and fully reacted and therefore can be formulated into low VOC coatings with low toxicity ratings. During application, film formulation takes place by evaporation of water to yield tough, resilient films. Polyurethane dispersions can be used on their own, or in combination with other polymer lattices, e.g. acrylic emulsions. Small additions of cross-linking agents may be used to upgrade chemical / solvent resistance.

Incorez Limited is of the leading manufacturer specialist resins and polymers that give quality assurance under ISO 9001.It is the global leader in the manufacturer and promotion of water borne polyurethane dispersions due to their eco friendly status.