| For Paint Manufacturers worldwide, there has | | | | conditions during its transit. A sudden drop & rise |
| come a radical new development in the legion of | | | | in outside temperature can effect the stability. |
| Thickening Agents & Colloidal stabilizer for | | | | Solvitex has potentially proven to be stable under |
| Aqueous Latex Paints. So far most of the | | | | those conditions. |
| companies producing aqueous Paint emulsions, the | | | | Amongst HEC, I personally find Cellosize of Dow |
| most preferred thickening agent was Hydroxy | | | | as the most stable product compared to |
| ethyl cellulose (HEC). The HEC based thixotropic | | | | Bermocoll & Tylose. |
| additives is produced by some of the renowned | | | | Myself as Paint formulator & other colleagues |
| multi-national companies such as Hercules, Akzo | | | | working in different companies had a dilemma |
| Nobel & Dow. | | | | existing for selection. For cheaper Paints the |
| Here we refer to a Biopolymer based on | | | | Stronger product or High Viscosity grades were |
| Polysacchride derived from controlled | | | | used such but there always was a flocculation |
| derivatisation process from plant origin. The | | | | after some period on shelf storage. For the |
| product developed by Asian Trade Link Chemicals | | | | Expensive ones we had to prefer Medium |
| Division in India has already been a successful | | | | Viscosities grade to overcome shelf storage time. |
| venture for replacement of HECs for many paint | | | | Most of the companies carry the same practice. |
| companies. The Product is known as Solvitex | | | | When I came across Solvitex range of |
| thickening agent & colloidal stabilizer. | | | | Thickeners I was given much competitive prices. |
| The solvitex range of products is offered in wide | | | | Priced at least 10% lower than HEC based |
| range of viscosities of aqueous solutions. It comes | | | | Products, but my major concern was to check |
| in Powder form of Offwhite color and the | | | | the colloidal stabilization. The Product was |
| thickening properties are similar to HEC. | | | | immediately tested and was found to perform |
| But the Advantages of Solviex against HECs are | | | | excellent. |
| many. The prime factor is the stability & | | | | Apart from that, Solvitex has provided better |
| economic pricing. Its been observed that for a | | | | color acceptance & and coatabilty. |
| Medium viscosity range of products such as | | | | Sooner we came across Solvizen developed by |
| Natrosol 250 HBR or Bermcoll 381 the intial drop | | | | the same company for more economic & |
| after settling is by 20% and then the finished | | | | cheaper Price. The thickening & stability properties |
| paint adheres to be stable for six months.and the | | | | was the same but economically priced. |
| viscosity further drops. Solvitex has an initial drop | | | | However, The Water solution clarity of Solvizen |
| of settling to 10% and the product is stable in | | | | was not as clear as of Solvitex or HECs. It was |
| physical observation for more than 1year | | | | slight turbid. But when incorporated in Paints, we |
| exhibiting the same viscosity. | | | | couldn't find any difference. Again the Paint was |
| As known by many Paint technicians, its inevitable | | | | stable physically observed. |
| that the stability of thickening agent after | | | | As a Paint formulator from past 2 decades and |
| incorporating in the Paint system, is delicate | | | | based on my experiences, I suggest to all those |
| towards wide temperature changes. Especially | | | | technicians in the same field to try Solvitex & |
| applicable for Export shipments when the Paint | | | | Solvizen range of Thickening agents. |
| under goes through various temperature | | | | |