Hyperbranched additive into a high solid acrylate coating for automotive application: impact on performance and emission of volatile organic content

Purpose Automotive coating materials are very important items for this industry. However, their performance is limited by the use of excessive amounts of solvents in their formulations, whereas the emission of volatile organic solvents is against the widely ascending principle of green chemistry. Thus, this study aims to overcome this global problem to save the environment without affecting the properties and performance of the coating. Design/methodology/approach High solid content paint formulation for automotive applications has been designed with low amount of volatile organic solvents with the aid of a functionalized hyperbranched modifier. Findings It was found that the presence of a hyperbranched additive allows a high solid content to be designed and facilitate the processing, which indicates its liability to compensate the role played by excessive solvents amounts. In addition, the mechanical properties and physical characteristics of the modified coatings showed outstanding performance and preservation of clarity in comparison with the commercial counterparts. Practical implications A high solid content coating with facile processing and improved performance leads to cheaper price beside the positive impact on the environment considering the limited emission of volatile organic contents. Social implications Limitation of the used volatile organic compounds in any industry helps to save the health of humans and keep the environment unaffected. Originality/value The use of functionalized hyperbranched additive to automotive coatings is a very promising additive for automotive coatings with optimized characteristics.