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Chemistry Refined...Naturally
Making It Greener With Myrifilm®
Zero-VOC Coalescing Solvent
Zero VOC
low odor
high efficiency
Myrifilm® Zero-VOC Coalescing Solvent
Technical Bulletin
Myrifilm is a bio-based, ultra low odor, broad spectrum coalescing solvent. Based on ASTM D6866 testing, zero-VOC Myrifilm
allows the formulation flexibility needed to meet increasingly stringent environmental compliance regulations. Myrifilm can
be used in a wide variety of resins and works particularly well in higher Tg resins, resulting in superior coating performance.
Myrifilm is a highly efficient coalescing agent, enabling lower use levels in some formulations, which can reduce overall
formulation cost.
Coalescing Solvent Technology
Coalescing solvents are a key functional component of waterborne coating systems. In a typical waterborne paint, polymer
particles are dispersed in water along with pigment particles and a number of other functional additives. As the paint is
applied to a surface, the water begins to evaporate and the particles begin to approach each other. The polymer particles,
assisted by the coalescing solvent, begin to flow together to create a coherent polymer film. This film, which adheres to
the surface and holds the pigment particles in place, has properties that are critical to the performance of the final paint.
The coalescing solvent must not adversely affect the properties of the finished paint through softening the film or have an
unacceptable odor.
Paint and pigment particles dispersed in water
Paint applied to surface
The particles come into contact and begin to flow
together with the help of the coalescing solvent...
...to make a dry film - a hard tough polymer layer
holding pigments in place.
Page 1
Regulatory Compliance
Coalescing solvents are under increasing pressure as regulatory bodies work to reduce the emissions of volatile organic
compounds, both immediately on application and over extended periods of time as relating to indoor air quality. Myrifilm has
a boiling point of 360 °C and is zero-VOC according to ASTM D6866. In addition, when tested according to ISO D-16000-10
in a typical indoor paint formulation, Myrifilm had 28 day emissions below 100 ug/m3.
Performance Compared to Traditional Coalescing Solvents
Myrifilm was evaluated in a typical formulation using Dow Rhoplex SG-30 semi-gloss all acrylic resin. The properties of
both the paint and the finished film were evaluated. The control coalescing solvents used were Texanol ™ (Eastman), TXIB
(Eastman), Optifilm 400™ (Eastman), and dipropylene glycol monobutyl ether (DPnB) (Dow).
Formulation
Physical Properties
Typical Total VOCs g/L
Density, lb/gal
Vol % Solids
PVC
Semi-Gloss Acrylic Coating
Raw Material
Weight (lb)
325.5
TiO2 Slurry
Water
79.3
Propylene Glycol
34.6
Kathon LX 1.5%
1.8
Rhoplex SG-30
501.4
Colescing Aid
12.5
Aerosol OT-75
1.5
BYK-022
2.1
Ammonia (28%)
1.0
Acrysol RM-2020NPR
17.3
Acrysol SCT-275
16.2
Water
56.3
TOTAL
1049.5
150
10.49
33.97
21.95
Results
Property
Semi-Gloss Acrylic
with Myrifilm®
Semi-Gloss Acrylic
with Texanol
Semi-Gloss Acrylic
with TXIB
Semi-Gloss Acrylic
with Optifilm 400
Semi-Gloss Acrylic
with DPnB
KU Viscosity (Initial/24 h)
87.9/104.2
90.7/107.8
99.3/115.7
94.7/112.3
83.8/95.4
Sag
10.7
10
11.3
10.7
7.3
Leveling
4
4
4
4
3.8
Contrast ratio (Air-dry, 24h)
96.24
96.25
96.43
96.98
96.4
Gloss 20°/60°/85°
44.4/74.4/97.9
39.8/75.3/97.8
39.8/75.1/97.6
45.5/78.0/98.2
37.4/73.3/96.2
Block Resistance (120 °F, 24 h)
5
6
5.33
5.67
6
Scrub Resistance (2,400 cycles)
8
8
9
9
8
Low Temperature Coalescing
(40 °F, 10 mil)
5
5
5
5
5
Tint Strength (Red) %TSUC
103.3
99.8
104.3
100.8
97.1
Tint Strength (Yellow) %TSUC
83.5
99.4
80.1
74.3
90.1
Tint Strength (Blue) %TSUC
101.4
100
105.8
99.7
80.5
Testing performed at the Western Coatings Institute, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
These results show that in the above formulation, Myrifilm demonstrates performance characteristics comparable to
traditional coalescing solvents. Myrifilm gives comparable final gloss and contrast ratio, along with good block and scrub
resistance.
Page 2
Myrifilm is an Efficient Coalescing Solvent
To highlight the efficiency of Myrifilm as a coalescing solvent compared to Texanol, both were added to a laboratory semigloss formulation. Myrifilm produced identical film properties at half the concentration of Texanol, with very low odor and
zero-VOC.
Normalized contrast ratio
Semi-Gloss Formulation
Raw Material
12
Weight (lb)
10
Grind
Water
29.000
Tamol 731A
8.000
DeIonic LF 80MOD
2.000
Dee Fo 3010A
0.500
Tafigel PUR 80
17.000
2
Minex 10
50.000
0
Attagel 50
3.000
8
Blocking
Normalized 60° Gloss
60° Gloss
6
4
Disperse 30 min to a 6-7 Grind
Water
81.000
Letdown
Leveling
TiO2 Slurry
280.000
Water
80.000
Tafigel PUR 80
12.000
Ropaque Ultra
60.000
Orgal P850RR
410.000
Myrifilm®
10.000
Dee Fo 3010A
1.500
Tafigel PUR 61
10.000
TOTAL
1054.000
Physical Properties
Normalized 85° Gloss
85° Gloss
Sag
Loading
Myrifilm 50% loading
Texanol Standard Dosage
Myrifilm®
Texanol
Dosage
1.2 wt% relative to resin
2.4 wt% relative to resin
KU Viscosity
124.2
123
Contrast Ratio
97
97
Total VOCs gm/ltr
4
60 ° Gloss
23
21.6
Density, lb/gl
10.54
85 ° Gloss
62.9
60.4
Vol % Solids
36.84
Sag
12
11.7
Wt% Solids
48.79
Leveling
5
5
PVC
34.09
Blocking
2
2
Page 3
Performance in Other Resins
In order to evaluate Myrifilm’s performance in other resin systems, the same semi-gloss formulation was used. The resin
was replaced as indicated in the following table, and low temperature (5 °C) film-forming characteristics were evaluated.
These results show that Myrifilm is an effective coalescent in a broad range of typical resins used for both coatings and
adhesives.
Low Temperature Coalescing
(10 mil/250 Micron Film)
Low Temperature Coalescing
(5 mil/125 Micron Film)
Rhoplex SG-30 (Acrylic) with Myrifilm®
4
3
Rhoplex SG-30 (Acrylic) with Texanol
3
1
Styrofan ND 593 (Styrene/Butadiene) with Myrifilm®
5
4
Styrofan ND 593 (Styrene/Butadiene) with Texanol
5
5
Acronal S504 (Acrylic) with Myrifilm®
5
5
Acronal S504 (Acrylic) with Texanol
5
5
Acronal 296D (Styrene/Acrylic) with Myrifilm®
5
5
Acronal 296D (Styrene/Acrylic) with Texanol
5
5
Summary
Myrifilm is a bio-based, ultra low odor, broad spectrum coalescing solvent. Based on ASTM D6866 testing, zero-VOC
Myrifilm allows the formulation flexibility needed to meet increasingly stringent environmental compliance regulations.
Myrifilm can be used in a wide variety of resins and works particularly well in higher Tg resins, resulting in superior coating
performance. Myrifilm is a highly efficient coalescing agent, enabling lower use levels in some formulations, which can
reduce overall formulation cost.
Safety and Regulatory
Myrifilm coalescing solvent is listed on the U.S. TSCA inventory, the Canadian DSL, the Korean ECL, the Australian AICS and
is registered under REACH.
When using this product, the information and advice given in the Material Safety Data Sheet should be observed. Normal
precautions for the handling of chemicals, including wearing proper personal protective equipment, should be followed at
all times. The Material Safety Data Sheet is available on request.
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