Evonik launches new silica for deep-matte wood coatings
Evonik is launching a new product with the proven Spherilex technology. The spherical silica EXP 0002-1 is characterized by a particularly small particle size and is suitable not only for architectural paints, but also for water-based, deep-matte and silk-gloss wood coatings.
When it comes to wood surfaces, the trend is towards naturalness and sustainability: customers want their parquet flooring, kitchen countertop or piece of furniture to look natural, to feel smooth and beautiful, and to show off the fine grain of the wood well without developing a gloss. At the same time, the surface should also be durable and resistant to mechanical stress. "So a wood coating has to do both," says Marc Trageser, Marketing Manager Decorative Coatings EMEA at Evonik Coating Additives. "It should provide the best possible protection for the surface while making it look natural and untreated." The new member of the Spherilex family, tentatively named EXP 0002-1, helps extend the durability of the coating by improving its scratch and scuff resistance. At the same time, the silica provides a matte or silky gloss appearance to meet customers' aesthetic demands.
"In combination with classic matting agents, EXP 0002-1 acts as a kind of matting booster. The surface has no gray haze; instead, the naturally beautiful structure is retained," says Trageser. All this is made possible by the particularly fine, spherical particles of EXP 0002-1, which distribute the mechanical force and in this way help to maintain the uniform, matte appearance of the coating, improve the feel and protect the surface from scratches. This means that silica can be used not only in architectural coatings, but also for waterborne wood coatings. Another advantage is the product's good manageability and flexibility: "The prdouct is very easy to incorporate into formulations," says Pascal Schuster, Applied Research & Technology Wood Coatings EMEA at Evonik Coating Additives. At the same time, the silica has only a minimal effect on the viscosity of the formulation. This prevents undesirable foam stabilization even at high filling levels. "Paint manufacturers can combine EXP 0002-1 with many other additives, fillers and binder systems. This immensely increases the range of applications for the new silica," emphasizes Schuster.