Tolsa Reports Robust Growth for Rheological Additives Based on Sepiolite Technology
Last update on Apr 5, 2024
Tolsa reports strong growth for its portfolio of rheological additives based on high-purity sepiolite technology. The company's long-term strategy is to expand its resources and capabilities with new investments in technology, manufacturing, capital, and personnel. Tolsa, based in Madrid, is a supplier of specialized additives for the paints and coatings industry.
Challenges Associated with Powdered Rheology Additives
Powdered rheology additives are commonly used in paints and coatings to improve their rheological properties (pseudoplasticity/thixotropy), reducing the sagging effect and enhancing workability. However, there are challenges associated with using these additives in terms of acquiring the required performance.
The common challenges associated with these powdered rheology additives include:
- Dispersion: There are issues related to the dispersion of mineral powdered rheology additives for paints and coatings formulations that may result in inconsistency and poor performance of the final product. It can lead to sedimentation issues with a lack of homogeneity in the mixture
- Leveling: Leveling refers to the ability of a paint or coating to flow out well and form a smooth surface after application. Paints and coatings need to possess the leveling properties that result in even surfacing. The aesthetics of the coated surface is determined by its leveling as it eliminates the surface defects occurring after the application. It is critical to obtain the right balance between sag resistance and leveling
- Application: Pseudoplastic behavior of paints and coatings provides sedimentation and sag control, but at the same time good workability due to the viscosity reduction during the application. It is also needed during the application of a certain viscosity level to avoid spattering or dripping from the tools
'With our versatile PANGEL® S product offering we are firmly positioned as a strategic supplier to the U.S. market,' said Alberto Fernández-Ibarburu, industrial product development leader for Tolsa. 'We have tailored our products for water-based and solvent-based systems to meet the broad manufacturing needs of OEMs and producers, ensuring greater efficiencies and productivity.'
Related Read: Discover PANGEL® products by Tolsa for water- and solvent-based systems
Rheological Additives with High-purity Sepiolite
The rheological additives from the PANGEL® S series are crafted with high-purity sepiolite. Due to the high pseudoplastic profile, PANGEL® gives strong performance along with additional suspension capacity, and anti-sagging but at the same time excellent workability and application.
PANGEL® additives have been specially designed to optimize the rheology of the whole thickening systems either alone or in combination with other organic additives.
You May Like to Read: Discover high-purity mineral rheological additives for water-based systems
Sepiolite-based PANGEL® S is a phyllosilicate with an acicular morphology that provides a strong chemical and thermal stable structure at high temperatures, at a wide pH range (3-14), and has very low electrolyte sensitivity. PANGEL® S requires an appropriate particle wetting and subsequently a mechanical agitation that guarantees peripheral speeds between 18 and 25 m/s.
Delivers ‘3S’ Benefits into Coatings Systems
The interactions are caused by a weak dipole attraction that could be easily broken under shear. Due to this fact, the coating viscosity decreases when the product is stirred, thus making it easier to work with.
A key feature of PANGEL® technology is its ability to yield fewer defects when incorporated into a coatings system, thus providing a competitive advantage for the end-user. PANGEL® products are characterized by the '3S' benefits they deliver - settling, sedimentation, and syneresis. They are particularly efficient in architectural and industrial coatings where solids content and filler density often drive strong variations in coatings stability.
PANGEL® series products are sold as micronized solids. Their dispersion process is similar to that of other solid components of the formulation, ensuring an appropriate wetting of the product and application of sufficient mechanical energy (shear).
PANGEL® S9, a purified sepiolite, offers high-shear thinning. It is normally used as a co-thickener with HEC or associative thickeners for improving syneresis and sedimentation and replaces attapulgite thickeners at half dosage.