Dow Coating Materials: Driving Innovation in Coatings in Turkey

The coatings industry recently underwent significant change with the introduction of new technologies aimed at enhancing interior and exterior paint performance. Forty years ago, most coating materials consisted of conventional, solvent-based formulations. Water-based paints accounted for approximately 30-35 percent of total market share. However, forward-thinking companies like Dow, with contributions from their customers and innovation partners, transformed this conventional approach by implementing innovative solutions, with Turkey playing its part in this transition. Dow Coatings Materials, a business unit of DowDuPont's Materials Science division, is at the forefront of this change, technologies and innovations aimed at helping Turkish paint and coatings manufacturers produce more sustainable and environmentally responsible solutions. Dow works in collaboration with its customers to create end-use products that are faster and easier to apply, stain-resistant, improve air quality, provide longer-lasting protection and use fewer natural resources.

Extending the Service Life of Buildings

Cemal Drahor, General Manager and Regional Commercial Manager of Dow Coatings Materials Joint Venture, stated: "One example of Dow's innovative work is PRIMAL WDV 2001GS binder, which forms the foundation of a new exterior coating designed to prevent wear on steel-reinforced concrete. The product Exelans Turbo Flex C1, launched by Polisan Kansai, Dow's long-standing partner, reduces carbon dioxide penetration into cracks. Designed to prevent cracking of brittle concrete due to low tensile strength, it reduces concrete carbonation and steel corrosion, thereby extending the service life of structures. Enriched with nano silica, the coating also has an extremely flexible and elastic structure designed to help prevent micro-crack formation." This new product, which contains a Dow binder at its core, was designed for large structures such as bridges, metros and high-rise buildings. This product not only supports longer service life for buildings affected by earthquakes, but also helps protect concrete structures from the damaging effects of weather conditions. Polisan Kansai obtained an independent certificate regarding this coating's ability to prevent carbon dioxide ingress and currently markets the product as a specialist exterior facade paint. "Improving the Air We Breathe" Another example of technological innovations soon to be introduced to the Turkish market is FORMASHIELD Technology, designed to help improve interior air quality. Because people spend more time in their homes and new insulation and air-sealing methods are being used to improve energy efficiency, international focus on maintaining indoor air quality is increasing.

Exposure to formaldehyde indoors is known to cause eye, nose and throat irritation, wheezing and coughing, fatigue, skin rash and severe allergic reactions.

Due to its role in causing respiratory diseases, allergies and even lung cancer, this substance has been classified as a hazardous material by the European Union. China was among the first countries to seriously address the issue by setting a limit on formaldehyde levels in living spaces (0.08 mg/m3), and was followed by other countries including the United States, Germany, Australia and Switzerland.   Berna Onar, Senior Sales Manager at Dow, said: "FORMASHIELD technology is designed to release carbon and hydrogen when in contact with painted walls, converting them into harmless water vapor and removing formaldehyde from indoor air. Formaldehyde is irreversibly broken down and the purification is permanent. We are currently working with coatings manufacturers who can use the technology as a binder to create functional coatings that can help clean the air indoors."

Targeting Safer Roads

Safety is also a priority in outdoor environments. Road safety is a serious problem in Turkey, as thousands of people lose their lives every year. To overcome this problem, the visibility of safety markings is vital for those on the road. However, paints used for road markings are traditionally solvent-based, contributing to air pollution and affecting public health and safety.          

FASTRACK water-based binders developed by Dow, environmentally responsible alternatives to solvent-based options, are designed to improve both applicator safety and sustainability through reduced volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions.

The binder, thanks to its exceptional adhesion, durability and fast-drying technology, delivers results that are at least equal to or faster than traditional solvent-based alternatives in terms of drying times and performance characteristics, thus facilitating the formulation of water-based road line paints. Cemal Drahor said: "Since 2012, Dow has been working with TCK, TÜBİTAK and paint manufacturers to support the transition to water-based road line paints in Turkey, making Turkey one of the leading countries in Europe with the most reduction in solvent applications, after Scandinavia. As of 2018, it is estimated that 60 percent of road line paint used in Turkey is water-based. FASTRACK binders, locally produced in Gebze, represent one of Dow's major successes in Turkey. With this success, it has also improved health and safety conditions on the country's roads."

Superior Performance Through Technology

Last but equally important, the latest-generation EVOQUE Pigment Encapsulation Technology, EVOQUE Technology, is currently attracting considerable interest from paint manufacturers in Turkey and is designed to deliver better paint film by improving coating durability, film resistance and hiding power. Binders incorporating revolutionary pigment encapsulation technology encapsulate TiO2 pigments, ensuring ideal distribution of mineral particles in the organic phase. The technology increases the efficiency of valuable TiO2 pigments, providing effective hiding performance while delivering improvements in cost and sustainability. At the same time, it creates a polymer-rich top layer that minimizes paint film soiling and UV-induced degradation. Berna Onar said: "Getting better yield from raw materials is critical, and by using less TiO2 for hiding needs, paint formulators can contribute to CO2 reduction, improve the carbon footprint of their products and use their resources more efficiently. This means achieving superior performance while at the same time protecting the planet."