“Biolar” created innovative polymer emulsions for more environmentally friendly paint materials

The Olaine company “Biolar” has invested 113,000 euros in research over two years and has developed several new types of polymer emulsion that can be used for the production of environmentally friendly varnishes and paint materials. In the future, all these emulsions will be used in the production of finished paints and varnishes, offering consumers a wider choice of high-quality, safe and environmentally friendly materials, inform the company’s representatives.

Thanks to the implemented project, two new products were created – water-based universal alkyd paint and water-based anti-corrosive paint. Trademarks are already registered for both materials in Latvia.

“Varnishes and paints consist of two basic components – a polymer and a so-called carrier. Traditionally, it is a volatile organic solvent produced from non-renewable resources that evaporates and enters the air, eventually oxidizing with atmospheric oxygen to CO₂ – carbon dioxide, which humans have released into the atmosphere in the last hundred years more than ever before. Therefore, a lot of work is now being done in the industry to develop water materials. But the polymer itself is mostly a product of petroleum origin. Therefore, in order to create a truly sustainable product, it is necessary to take one step further and develop polymer materials from renewable resources,” says Andrejs Gerbreders, director of varnish and paint production and scientific leader of the project.

“Biolar” specialists focused on the development, research and implementation of water-based alkyd emulsions in production with the aim of developing ready-made lacquer and paint materials for several market segments. The main priority – universal, anti-corrosive, protective paints and road marking materials. Historically, the company has extensive experience in the synthesis and application of alkyd polymers. By transforming the alkyd polymer already in the company’s product range from an organic solution to a water emulsion, it was possible to reduce its carbon footprint by more than 50%, according to company representatives.

Since alkyd emulsions are made from vegetable oils and their content can eventually exceed 60% of the mass, varnishes and paints based on them are more sustainable compared, for example, to water-based acrylate paints, where the polymer part is produced from petroleum-based chemicals. Thanks to the implemented project, special alkyd resins were synthesized, on the basis of which two modified alkyd emulsions – ATU56w45 and ATU52w45 – were developed. ATU56w45 is an emulsion in which it is suitable for the production of universal paint. It is now in an active pilot batch testing phase. ATU52w45 is a modified alkyd emulsion with increased hardness and wear resistance, which could be used for the production of road marking materials. It has now successfully passed the laboratory testing phase, according to the company.

The project is implemented from October 6, 2022 to April 30, 2024. The implementation of this project is the first stage of a gradual transition from traditional solvent-based paint and varnish materials to water-based materials. The company conducts material research in cooperation with Riga Technical University and the Lithuanian testing laboratory. The project focuses on the development of innovative polymer emulsions to produce paints with reduced CO₂ emission.

JSC “Olaines chemical plant “Biolars”” specializes in the production of chemical products, intermediate products for the varnish and paint industry and ready-made varnish and paint materials for industry, as well as in the production of finished materials for coatings, using technologies specific to these industries, existing production facilities or creating new production facilities that meet to the peculiarities of the technology, company representatives remind.