Paint & Coating
The paint and coatings industry involves the manufacture, distribution, and application of protective and decorative coatings for various surfaces. It encompasses a wide range of products, from decorative paints for homes to industrial coatings for machinery and vehicles. The industry is broadly segmented into decorative/architectural and industrial segments.
Here’s a more detailed breakdown of the chemicals used in printing industries:
1. Solvents
- Hydrocarbons
These include aliphatic solvents like naphtha, paraffin hydrocarbons (pentane, hexane, heptane, isooctane, mineral oil), and aromatic solvents (benzene, toluene, xylene).
- Alcohols
Examples include ethanol (ethyl alcohol), normal propanol, and other alcohols used in flexographic and heliogravure compounds.
- Ketones
Solvents like acetone and methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) are used for their fast evaporation rate and solvency power.
- Glycols
Propylene glycol and ethylene glycol are used to control drying time and prevent clogging in inkjet printers.
- Other Solvents
Toluene, Isopropanol, 2-butanone, Ethyl Acetate, and Methanol are also used as solvents.
- Dichloropropane (DCP)
Can be used as a solvent in printing inks, potentially replacing organic solvents like toluene, acetone, and xylene derivatives.
2. Inks
- Pigments:These provide color to the ink, with common examples including carbon black.
- Resins: These act as binders, holding the pigment and other components together.
- Waxes: Waxes are used as additives to improve certain properties of the ink.
- Drying Agents: These help the ink dry quickly.
- Additives: Other additives, such as chelating agents, can be used to improve ink performance.
3. Other Chemicals
- Fountain Solutions: Used in offset printing to counter-etch the non-image area of a printing plate,
- Plate Cleaners: Used to clean printing plates.
- Roller Washes: Used to clean rollers.
- Blanket Washes: Used to clean blankets.
- Emulsions: Used in screen printing to create photo-reactive stencils.
- Sensitizers: Used in screen printing to create photo-reactive stencils, with newer sensitizers being safer and less toxic than older options like bichromates.
- Other Chemicals: Various other chemicals are used for specific purposes in the printing industry, such as additives, coatings, and cleaning agents.