Environmental considerations have stimulated research on many high-performance pigment surface modifications as well as the applications of polymeric dispersants to improve rheological characteristics of modern high-solids solventborne pigment dispersions. The approach involves adsorption of specific substituted derivatives (anchors) onto the pigment surfaces to maximize interaction with appropriate polymeric dispersants, resulting in significant rheological improvements and concomitant improvement in aesthetic values of resulting coatings.
Since the Clean Air Act of 1990, paint producers have been faced with the task of modifying liquid paint compositions. The legislation forces paint makers to significantly reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are precursors of lower atmospheric smog due, in part, to ground level ozone. It also imposes limits on the use of paint components that are considered hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) because of potential health hazards. Although air quality in the United States has improved in the last 30 years, ground-level ozone has increased significantly.