Never Compromise quality

With rising pressure on VOC emission control along with fast-growing construction market, it has become even more challenging for formulators to find the balance between meeting quality standards and complying with legislature restrictions. It is now difficult for traditional ingredients such as Nitrocellulose to meet the regulatory requirements without compromising quality. Eastman Cellulose Esters are engineered solutions to ensure that quality will never be compromised. Stay ahead of the competition and bring innovation to your formulations.

Why should you formulate away from Nitrocellulose?

Nitrocellulose's high flammability caused some of the worst industrial accidents in history. It also exhibits high solvent demand, especially in wood coatings. The high solvent demand translates to a high VOC level putting your products subject to rising restrictions on VOC emission.

Nitrocellulose in wood coatings exhibits a high tendency to yellowing and weathering issues, especially in outdoor applications. Nitrocellulose lacquers have limited viscosity control and poor ability to form thinner film thickness. The chemistry also allows plasticizer migration.

Cellulose Esters Vs. Nitrocellulose Comparison

 

Properties	Cellulose Esters & Solus™	Nitrocellulose
Product form	White Powder	Flakes (damped)
Hazard rating	Low ✔	Highly flammable  ⇩
Solvent demand	Lower ✔	Higher  ⇩
Film former	Excellent ✔	Excellent ✔
Coating clarity	Excellent ✔	Excellent ✔
UV resistance	Excellent ✔	Poor - strong yellowing  ⇩
Pigment dispersion	Excellent ✔	Moderate  ⇩
Regulatory	No restrictions ✔	Not allowed in Canadian coatings  ⇩

How can Cellulose Esters improve your wood coatings?

Problem/Difficulty	Benefit of using cellulose esters
Yellowing lacquers	Non-yellowing under influence of UV light, Improved weatherability resistance
Poor adhesion	High butyryl CABs can be used to improve intercoat adhesion in UV systems
High drying time	Faster hardness development, improve dry-to-touch time allowing early stacking and processing of coated products, increase production speed and packaging time
Low viscosity control	Help to achieve the optimum viscosity and solids content balance which allows excellent wetting and definition. Enables thinner film formulations
Finishing defects	Excellent flow and leveling properties resulting in finishing defects reduction, consistent gloss, and excellent quality appearance

Eastman Solutions

Key Attribute	Grade Selection	Grade Examples
Compatibility	Higher butyryl content	CAB 551-0.2, 553-0.4
Solubility	High butyryl or hydroxyl content	CAB 551-0.2, 553-0.4
Reactivity	Higher hydroxyl content	CAB 553-0.4
Toughness	Higher viscosity	CAB 381-0.5, 553-0.4
Hardness	Lower butyryl or hydroxyl content	CAB 381-0.5, 553-0.4
Chemical resistance	Lower butyryl content	CAB 381-0.5, 381-0.1
Moisture resistance	Lower hydroxyl content	CAB 550-5, 551-0.2
Adhesion	Higher butyryl and hydroxyl content	CAB 553-0.4

Eastman Solus™ performance additives are the newest Cellulose Esters designed for high-solids solvent-borne systems to meet lower VOC levels with lower solvent demand. Eastman Solus™ grades are engineered with improved compatibility towards alkyd resins commonly used in wood coating formulations. They outperform nitrocellulose in providing excellent yellowing and weathering resistance under UV light. They also provide excellent gloss, hardness development and significantly improved dry-to touch time.