Glossy Fillers

A new wet grinding process produces ultrafine calcium carbonate filler that can be used in high gloss paints. Tests showed the new filler had better dispersibility and gloss retention than traditional dry ground fillers, even at high loadings. It allowed for reduced titanium dioxide and increased pigment volume concentration while maintaining contrast ratio. The higher filler level also decreased yellow tinting in white paints, offering economic and performance benefits for paint producers.

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Glossy Fillers

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kensley oliveira

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Quelle/Publication: European Coatings Journal

Ausgabe/Issue: 03/2006
Seite/Page: 52

Glossy fillers
apparent in the gloss and gloss retention. Gloss readings at
Ultra fine ground calcium carbonate for high gloss 20° for the new product show clearly better results,
paints. particularly at high calcium carbonate loads, and the
A new wet grinding production process for ultrafine calcium retention after 30 days also is significantly higher (Figure 2).
carbonate provides filler materials that can be used in high Despite the reduction of TiO2 content by 4% from the
gloss paint and coating formulations. reference to trial D, the contrast ratio stays on the same
Andreas Kumm, Eric Chetelat. level, which is due to the spacing effect of the fine calcium
There are still some limitations which do not allow the use of carbonate particles [3].
fillers in all paints and coatings applications. Normally, the Another interesting aspect is observed by evaluating the
filler should not affect the paint properties in a negative way. yellowish tinting of the paint. The higher level of the wet
In glossy coatings, however, a decrease in gloss is ground product in the paint leads to a lower yellowish tinting
observed when traditional extender grades are used. which could be a benefit for pure white pigmented alkyd
Among the various minerals available, ground calcium paints (Figure 3).
carbonates (GCC) are the most important extenders for In conclusion, the new production technology enables the
paint and coating applications. Further development of the use of ultra fine ground calcium carbonate in applications
manufacturing process allows the production of a new where it has been limited in the past, e.g. in the partial
generation of ultra fine GCCs which are now also suitable substitution of titanium dioxide, for formulations with
for glossy paints. increased PVC or lower binder content, or in higher solid
coatings [4]. Due to the favourable cost/performance ratio of
Two production concepts calcium carbonates, this can result in economical benefits
There are two major production processes for the production for paint producers.
of natural ground calcium carbonate [1]. The most common
is based on a dry grinding process in combination with REFERENCES
classification. It is typically used for products with a mean [1] F. W. Tegethoff, Calciumcarbonat, Birkhäuser Verlag,
particle size (D50) greater than 1 µm. Optimisation of the Basel 2001
classification has lead to products with D50 values below 1 [2] D. Gysau, Füllstoffe, Vincentz Network, Hannover 2005
µm. These ultra fine GCCs show good dispersibility. High [3] Omya International AG, Partial Replacement of titanium
gloss is achievable particularly in solvent based alkyds. dioxide by CALCIGLOSS in white industrial stoving enamel,
The other option is based on a wet grinding technology Omya, Oftringen
which requires a drying step afterwards. The process is very [4] Omya International AG, Importance of Cost Effectiveness
cost efficient for the production of fine and ultra fine GCC, (D of Extenders in Paints, Omya, Oftringen
50 less than 1µm). Usually though, the resulting properties of
the wet ground products in paints and coatings have been The authors:
inferior to those of dry ground products. However, an -> Andreas Kumm is Marketing Manager for Decorative and
improved production technology now makes new wet Industrial Coatings at Omya AG, Switzerland
ground products with enhanced performances available. -> Eric Chetelat is Technical Support Manager at Omya for
the regions France and Greater South
Higher gloss and gloss retention, better contrast Focusing on specific topics in today's coatings and inks
Naturally, the use of extenders should not show a negative formulation, "Face the facts" addresses materials-related
effect on paint properties like gloss but should help to technical problems which these industries are facing. In
reduce formulation costs. In practice, the particle size each ECJ issue, a distinguished expert - representing a
distribution and mineralogy of the extender have a Premium Partner of Vincentz Network's Formulation Center
significant impact on the gloss of the paint film [2]. Hence, - analyses the facts and suggests solutions to the problem in
only ultra fine products with low oil absorption are being question.
used in semi-gloss and glossy coatings.
The properties of conventional ultra fine products are well
known, but have been limited in the amounts that can be
used. The new product based on the new wet grinding
technology has been tested in solvent based alkyd top coats
against such a conventional dry ground ultra fine product.
Table 1 shows the characteristics of both. The starting
formulation was pigmented with titanium dioxide
(Reference). The calcium carbonate content was increased
(7, 14, 21 and 28%, Trial A to D, respectively; see Table 2).
The dispersibility was determined as the fineness of grind
after 15 minutes of high speed mixing with a peripheral
speed of 11 m/s. Gloss, contrast ratio and colour were
measured after a drying time of 7 days at room temperature.
To evaluate the gloss retention, the gloss of the films was
further measured after 30 days storage at room
temperature.
In contrast to previous experiences, the wet ground product
does not show poorer dispersibility than the dry ground UF
GCC. Keeping in mind that the dispersion was done by a
high speed mixer only (Figure 1), the results are in fact even
slightly better. The improved dispersibility also becomes