Is it possible to formulate without biocides?

Is it possible to formulate without biocides?

Friday, 14 October, 2022

Biocides are commonly used as preservatives in aqueous products to combat the proliferation of harmful organisms.

However, regulations governing the labelling of products containing them have become more restrictive in recent years.

To avoid their use, one of the possible options is to develop formulations that do not contain these products, such as high pH paints.

By working at high pH values, this type of coating naturally reduces the appearance and growth of microorganisms in aqueous coatings. This is because most of these organisms are not resistant to high pH levels.

Which additives does Comindex propose to formulate without biocides?

At Comindex we have always wanted to adapt to market conditions, by focusing on products that match current trends.

As such, we have the Circolit functional filler from our represented company Cirkel, which enables partial substitution of TiO₂. This additive is also ideal for these types of coatings as its composition gives it a high pH.

Its composition is based on calcium silicate hydrate (CSH) and it has a structure like Xonotlite, a naturally occurring mineral which is pure white in colour. This morphology allows it to effectively act as a TiO₂ extender.

The Circolit-Slurry product is slurry in water with a solid content of approximately 50%. Its incorporation allows the quantity of TiO₂ to be partially reduced – where we recommend substituting up to 30% of the volume to obtain the best results.

In addition to the previously discussed high pH paints, other applications for this titanium dioxide extender are lime or silicate paints.

Advantages of the use of Circolit-Slurry

In addition to partially reducing the quantity of titanium dioxide, its incorporation in formulations also provides the end product with other characteristics:

High whiteness and opacity
Biocides are not required for paint storage due to its high pH
It has no hazard classification and is an environmentally friendly product – it complies with the German Blue Angel standard
It has a low degree of sedimentation
It has a low impact on rheology
It allows for cost reduction

In the development of high pH formulations, all of the components must be resistant to the pH conditions of the formulation. Contact us if you are working on these types of systems.

For further information about these and other products, please contact our technical advisory team.

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