V. Ginzburg
VVG Physics Consulting,
United States
Keywords: paints, polymers
Summary:
Architectural coatings are important part of our lives. Improving the sustainability of the paint and coatings industry is critically important and includes multiple technical challenges – from better recyclability of used paint to improving freeze-thaw stability to more efficient use of pigments. Physics- and chemistry-based modeling is a crucial enabling capability to reduce the new formulation development time and better understand the design principles needed to make better paints. Here, we highlight two collaborative projects, one between Dow Inc. and the University of Michigan, and the other one between Dow Inc. and Caltech. The first project was devoted to the development of multiscale modeling approaches to simulate the effect of associative thickeners on the rheology of the waterborne paints. The second project aimed at understanding the fundamentals of pigment dispersion in the paints and how to optimize it using poly(acrylic acid) dispersants. Learnings from both projects will be used to design better paint formulations, leading ultimately to improved sustainability in the coatings industry. In collaboration with Tom Kalantar, Ant van Dyk, Ryan Marson (Dow), Zhen-Gang Wang (Caltech), and Ronald Larson (University of Michigan).