Blending Vinyl Acetate-Ethylene and Acrylic Latexes to Achieve Targeted Performance Properties

By Wenjun Wu, Keith R. Olesen, Albert R. Miner II, Jeff A. Schneider

Paint and coatings play an important role in preserv­ing, protecting, and beautifying the objects to which they are applied. Architectural paints are used to deco­rate and extend the service life of the interior and exte­rior surfaces of residential and commercial buildings.

The U.S. paint and coatings industry is large and ma­ture. In the year ‘2000, the architectural market repre­sented about 50% of the total coatings volume sold in the United States at 644 million gallons. Vinyl acrylic (V/A) latexes dominate the U.S. architectural coatings market segment, representing 62% of the latex sold and utilized in 70% of paint produced. V/ A latexes have achieved this position due to their favorable cost/performance balance.

Changes in the marketplace, resulting from in­creased government regulation regarding volatile or­ganic compounds (VOC) used in paint manufacture, raw material shortages and margin pressures, have caused many coatings manufacturers to reevaluate their formulating approach in an effort to maintain their profitability and market share. As a result, many coat­ings manufacturers are evaluating vinyl acetate-ethyl­ene (VAE) latexes as possible replacements for V/A.