Southern Chemicals supplies a range of products to the paints, inks and coatings markets that assist customers to meet a wide variety of end-use requirements.

Coatings Industry

The modern coatings industry utilises evolving chemistries in its quest to become more efficient in protecting and enhancing the various substrates to which coatings are applied. Further, in order to limit toxic and environmentally damaging emissions, the industry is striving to move away from solvents to water-based, high solids and radiation-cured systems. Southern Chemicals is focused on providing some of the chemical solutions to the many challenges the industry face today in generating modern, safe, low-emission paints and coatings.

Polymers / Resins / Binders

Vinyl copolymers are known for their low toxicity, ease of formulation and excellent performance on a variety of substrates such as metal, paper, leather and wood. Phenoxy resins are unique materials displaying excellent metal adhesion, flexibility, and excellent chemical and solvent resistance. Similarly, Phenolic resins are widely used in steel primers and as bonding agents either on their own or in conjunction with other resins. Polyvinyl Butyral is used with phenolic resins in the manufacture of well-known “etch or wash” primers. Polycaprolactone polyols are polyester polyols used in the manufacture of high performance polyurethane finishes. Polysiloxane resins which are used in high temperature coatings, can withstand temperatures of up to 700 Deg.C. Additions of these polysiloxanes to exterior heavy duty coatings can also significantly improve the durability of a film. A new generation of crosslinked polyolefins is becoming available for protection of steel. The materials display excellent corrosion protection and weatherability.

Fillers/Fibres

Cellulose fibres are employed in waterborne coating systems to provide strength, volume and texture. They are well-known for their use in the manufacture of “membrane-free” waterproofing systems. These are supplied in a number of different grades in order to meet any requirement, including their use with bitumen. Pure microcrystalline silicas serve as an effective filler to improve abrasion resistance and hiding power in coating systems. This locally manufactured product is chemically treated in order to remove any chemical impurities. Expanded hollow glass microspheres are used in order to reduce the density of a system. They are primarily used in the manufacture of lightweight body putties, but also have an interesting use in decorative and heat-reflective coatings.

Speciality additives

Southern Chemicals is active in a number of specialty additives for solvent-based, radiation cure and water-borne systems. With the accent now on water-borne systems, several newer chemistries are available to assist the paint chemist overcoming some of the difficulties associated with water inclusion in formulations. These include compatibility issues, substrate adhesion, crosslinking of thermoplastic emulsions, ambient cure etc. Organosilanes have proven to be very effective in modern and conventional coating systems to improve substrate adhesion and to enhance filler-surface compatibility with resin systems, thereby reducing viscosities. Organotitanates are used as adhesion promoters and cross-linkers in solvent borne flexographic and gravure inks. Their inclusion primarily promotes adhesion of the ink to flexible and metal packaging films. Phthalate-free plasticisers have become synonymous in the manufacture of coatings that meet European standards for health and safety. We supply a range of such plasticisers that are based on benzoate esters or “Benzoflex” additives that can be used in both water and solvent borne systems. These are in essence slow-boiling solvents.

Organosilicone copolymers and terpolymers are used to improve flow and levelling of solvent-based, waterbased and radiation-cure coatings. "Super wetting" agents enable waterborne coatings to be applied even to difficult-to-coat materials such as “Teflon” and polypropylene.

Water repellency is an increasingly important requirement for untreated masonry surfaces. Hydrophobic siloxanes have proved to be highly effective in creating humidity barriers in building materials such as concrete, clay, natural stones, plasters, mortars and roof tiles.

Neutralising agent in waterborne coatings. Southern Chemicals supplies some specific chemistry into water-based coatings to achieve pH neutralisation, coalescence and good dispersibility.

Moisture scavengers are also offered for inclusion in one and two component polyurethane systems. This is an equivalent to the well known Additive TI.

Other products include Fumed Silica 200 (Aerosil 200) and nonyl phenol (non-ethoxylated).

Amines / Catalysts

Southern Chemicals offers a full range of amines, including ethylamines, ethanolamines, substituted amines and diamines. They are used primarily as neutralising agents in waterborne systems and catalysts/cross linkers in solvent/solvent free systems and in the formulation of polyureas. Well know products include:

• Diethyleamine (DEA)
• Triethylamine (TEA)
• Dimethylaminopropylamine (DMAPA)
• Diethylaminopropylamine (DEAPA)
• Monoisopropylamine (MIPOA)
• Diethylene Triamine (DETA)
• Triethylene Tetramine (TETA)
• Pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDETA)
• N-Methylethanolamine (N-MEA)
• Dimethylethanolamine (DMEA)
• Diethylethanolamine (DEEA)
• Meta-Xylene Diamine (MXDA)
• Polyetheramines (D230, D400, D200)
• Diethylenetoluene Diamine (Ethacure 100)
• Diethylenethiotoluene Diamine (Ethacure 300)
• IsophoroneDiamine (IPDA)
• Tetramethylhexanediamine (TMHDA)

Solvents and Diluents

A full range of speciality and functional solvents are specifically imported for the local market. A non exhaustive list of these solvents would include: Tetrahydrofurane (THF), Gamma butyrolactone (GBL), 1,4 Butanediol (BDO), n-Methylpyrollidone (NMP), n-Octylpyrollidone (NOP), Dodecylpyrollidone (DDP), n-Ethylpyrollidone (NEP), n-Vinylpyrollidone (NVP), Dimethyformamide (DMF), Propylene Carbonate (PC), Methyl Formate (MF), Solvent PMA (same as Dowanol PMA) and Methylene Chloride.

Green Chemistry.

Of topical interest is a patented range of bio-based solvents offering renewable resource alternatives to petroleum-based solvents. The blends of these biosolvents are based primarily on four major ingredients – ethyl lactate, fatty acid methyl esters (soy methyl esters), d-limonene and ethanol for a variety of specialty applications. Sustainable and renewable feedstocks such as corn, citrus, soya and sugar cane are used to manufacture these solvents. The manufacturer has intellectual property for these blends and applications and they are used in many specialty product formulations such as inks, agricultural products, specialty coatings, paints and plastics recycling. These products are biodegradable and carbon-neutral and can be used as direct one-for-one replacements for well-known solvents such as xylene, toluene, methyl ethyl-ketone, NMP, acetone and numerous others. They offer particular interest is their use in the manufacture of environment-friendly paint strippers.

PAINTS, INKS, AND COATING PRODUCTS

• Vinyl Copolymer resins
• Phenolic Resins
• Phenoxy Resins
• Polysiloxane Resins
• Caprolactone Polyester polyols for urethane coatings
• Cross-linkable polyethylene powder for coatings
• Silicone copolymer emulsifiers
• Silicone copolymer wetting agents
• Silicone copolymer flow, levelling agents
• Siloxane / silicone hydrophobising agents
• Silane and monomeric isocyanate moisture scavengers
• Benzoate-ester plasticisers
• Fumed silica thixotropic agents
• Silica fillers
• Organosilane primers
• Organosilane adhesion promoters
• Organosilane crosslinking agents
• Organosilane filler modifiers
• Silane viscosity reducers
• Amine neutralising agents
• Fibre reinforcement and texturiser
• Polyvinyl Butyral Resins
• Amine curing agents and catalysts
• Alternative solvents (renewable source)