Safer, More Sustainable Automotive Adhesion Promoters
Sustainability is top of mind for consumers when making decisions about purchasing automobiles. To this end, automotive manufacturers have placed a greater focus on creating vehicles that are lighter in weight, have better fuel economy, or have electric engines, all with the aim of reducing carbon emissions into the environment.
However, the process of manufacturing these vehicles remains a global area of focus for improvement regarding safety and sustainability. Especially within automotive coating processes, for example, assembly lines still utilize significant amounts of products that contain hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) and toxins for workers and the environment.
Concerns Within Coating Processes for Automotive Plastics
Thermoplastic olefin (TPO), polyphenylene oxide (PPO), and polypropylene are plastics commonly used to create exterior and interior car parts, such as front and rear bumpers, trim, instrument panels, and wheel well liners. These plastics are notorious for their low surface energy and the difficulty basecoats, such as paints, have adhering to them. Thus, liquid primers are necessary to ensure adequate adhesion between plastic automotive parts and paint basecoats.
Traditionally, these primers have been formulated with solvents and additives that contain high amounts of VOCs, HAPs, halogens, and APEOs. Exposure to VOCs, HAPs, and halogens like chlorine causes respiratory harm to auto workers. APEOs are still being investigated for their impact on human health, but they are toxic to aquatic organisms and may accumulate in the environment when cars and parts are scrapped or recycled. Thus, primer options must be used to improve both safety and sustainability in automotive manufacturing processes.
Eastman’s Sustainable Adhesion Promoters
Advantis™ 510W
Eastman’s Advantis™ 510W is the latest advancement in safe and sustainable chemistry for adhesion promoters, as it is APEO free, chlorine free, VOC compliant, and water based. Highly compatible with other waterborne resins used in coating and primer formulations, it is perfect for use as a blend-in, adhesion-promoting resin in waterborne primer and paint basecoat formulations. Formulations using Advantis™ 510W have superior adhesion to automotive bumpers and plastic parts for automotive interiors made of thermoplastic, polyolefin-based plastics like TPO or PP.
Advantis™ 510W also has utility beyond TPO and PP substrates and can even be used to promote adhesion onto non-olefin substrates, such as nylon, polyphenylene ether, and ABS. While many formulators use Advantis™ 510W as a blend-in adhesion promoter, it can also be diluted and used as a wash primer.
CP 377W
CP 377W is Eastman’s water-based chlorinated polyolefin adhesion promoter that is APEO free. It is typically used within the automotive industry as an additive to provide primers and basecoat paints with excellent adhesion onto TPO and PP substrates.
If the presence of chlorine is acceptable, using CP 377W will provide superb resistance to humidity in paint, coating, and primer systems. CP 377W also has excellent compatibility with a wide range of waterborne resins in coating and primer formulations, including those that are amine neutralizable.
AP-550-1
AP 550-1 is Eastman’s solvent-based, chlorine-free polyolefin adhesion promoter typically used as a primer in automotive applications. It is also APEO free and provides outstanding adhesion of paints and coatings to TPO and PP substrates.
If there are no concerns working with organic solvents, namely xylene and aromatic 100, AP 550-1 is a great choice as a primer for working with two-component systems, such as two-part urethane coatings. It also performs well with many melamine-cured systems and has outstanding resistance to gasoline exposure. Formulators working with another adhesion promoter system can benefit from adding AP 550-1 to boost gasoline resistance.
Summary
Eastman’s adhesion promoters are instrumental in creating a positive impact on safety and sustainability for both automotive work environments and the global environment. The regulatory, safety, and performance advantages for each adhesion promoter detailed in the preceding sections are summarized below.
Formulators who work with Eastman adhesion promoters for automotive primers and coatings will create products that feature the following benefits.
Superior adhesion for paints and coatings onto interior and exterior automotive trim and parts with low surface energy, such as TPO and PP
Resistance to corrosion from humidity and gasoline exposure
Flexibility in use as adhesion-promoting additives or primers, depending on application needs
Minimization of health hazards to auto workers and the environment
For more information on Eastman's adhesion promoters and how to use them, check out this article. Contact us below to request a quote or sample of Eastman’s adhesion promoters.
