Low VOC self-crosslinking waterborne acrylic coatings incorporating fatty acid derivatives

Acrylic waterborne coatings free of volatile coalescing agents were produced and characterized. The film-formers used in the coatings were resins incorporating an allylic fatty acid derivative (AFAD) and an acrylic fatty acid derivative (AcFAD), either as reactive (non-volatile) coalescing agents or as co-monomers. The minimum film-forming temperatures of the new coatings were lower than the reference, confirming that AFAD and AcFAD act as coalescing agents. On the other hand, the observed reductions in through drying-time and increase in scrub resistance, more evident for AcFAD, indicating that reaction between the conjugated double bonds in the fatty acid derivatives and atmospheric oxygen-oxidative cure-took place and provided an effective self-crosslinking drying mechanism.