COMPOSITION TO BE USED IN PAINTS

Abstract: The invention relates to a paint composition comprising a resin constituent which includes (i) a non-aromatic epoxy resin, (ii) a polysiloxane and (iii) an epoxysilane. The paint composition of the invention has an anti-corrosive effect.

Description: COMPOSITION TO BE USED IN PAINTS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an environmentally friendly, epoxy- resin-based anti-corrosive composition to be used in paints, which composition has high dry solids content and low viscosity and which can be applied to protect steel structures and/or concrete surfaces. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Epoxy-, alkyd- and polyurethane-based paints and combinations thereof are commonly used to protect steel structures and/or concrete sur- faces against corrosion. In general, polyurethane-based paints require a primer. Their greatest disadvantage, however, is related to health factors. The dry solids content of the polyurethane paints is low, which results in a great amount of volatile substances (solvents) and limits the use of said paints. Even though epoxy paints have several good properties, such as good adhe- sion to steel, concrete and other substrates, good mechanical strength and chemical resistance, it is necessary to use weather-resistant alkyd, or in particular, polyurethane paint for topcoating, because the epoxy paint chalks, i.e. becomes matt, and often yellows when exposed to weather. The required film thicknesses are within the range of about 150 to 500 μm, which often requires 2 to 4 repeated treatments. Even though the epoxy paints have been developed to achieve thicker films with fewer treatments and a slight improvement in the weatherability has also been achieved, the use of polyurethane as a top coat cannot have been avoided so far. The amount of volatile organic content (VOC) still constitutes a problem for both epoxy and polyurethane paints. High viscosity has also limited the use of previously known epoxy paints. A low ambient temperature has also imposed restrictions on their use in the open air. Quite recently, reduction in viscosity and improvement in weather resistance of the epoxy paints are achieved by modifying epoxy resins with acrylic monomers and oligomers. At the same time, the use of acrylic monomers and oligomers has considerably shortened drying times and exploitation times of the paints. Further, silicone paints and silicate paints based on organic and inorganic silicon compounds have been known for a long time. Silicone paints resist well heat, up to 600 °C, but they dry poorly and yellow easily. Zinc sili- cate paints have often been used as a primer for demanding anti-corrosive paintings. Polysiloxane-based paints, based on silicon and oxygen compounds, have also been developed having excellent weather resistance and particularly improved UV light resistance even as compared with the polyure- thanes. However, due to their high price, these polysiloxanes acting as binders are used as a sole binder in paints only in exceptional cases, such as in space technology where requirements are extremely high. The high price has forced paint manufacturers to use silicone and siloxane compounds instead of polysiloxanes for improving and modifying the properties of other binders. An epoxy-based polysiloxane coating composition useful for corrosion prevention is known from WO 96/16109, the composition including a non- aromatic hydrogenated epoxy resin, a polysiloxane and an organooxysilane. As preferred non-aromatic epoxide resins are stated hydrogenated cyclohex- ane dimethanol and diglycidyl ethers of hydrogenated Bisphenol A-type. When the composition dries, the non-aromatic epoxy resin used forms a straight- chain epoxy polymer and not a three-dimensional structure, which is possible in the solution of the present invention. Good weather resistance of the known composition is believed to be specifically due to the linear epoxy polymer. On the other hand, it has been found that the drying times of these compositions are relatively long. A casting resin composition used for covering optoelectronic components is known from US Patent 5,492,981. Said US patent thus relates to a field of use which is different from the field of use of the present invention. For instance, the hardener type and the curing temperature cited in said patent publication indicate that the known composition in question is not related to paints in any manner whatsoever. The resin component of the casting resin composition according to the US patent contains 5 to 95 % by weight of a condensation product which is an expoxy-groups-containing polysiloxane formed of a silanol and an epoxyalkoxysilane at an elevated temperature. Ac- cording to the publication, the resin component also contains 5 to 95% by weight of epoxy resin. The solution of the present invention, in turn, uses polysiloxane, which does not include epoxy groups, and separately epoxy silane and aliphatic epoxy resin. The object of the invention is thus to provide a low-viscosity anti- corrosive paint composition which avoids the problems of the corresponding, known epoxy-based paint compositions. The present invention is based on the use of a combination of aliphatic epoxy constituents and specific polysiloxane- containing constituents. Now, it has been found that a paint composition having excellent properties is obtained by using epoxy siiane, instead of organo- oxysilane (cf. WO 96/16109), together with an aliphatic epoxy resin. The composition of the invention has an advantage that it has low viscosity, whereby diluting is not generally needed, and that it dries quickly also at low temperatures, even at -5 °C. The drying rate and curing at low temperatures of known epoxy compositions can be improved by specific accelerators, which, however, do not act at the same temperatures or they cause other problems, such as more intense yellowing than conventionally and matting (chalking) of a painted surface. These accelerators can also be toxic, for instance, phenol derivatives. The compositions of the invention have a further advantage that it is possible to apply new coatings over the paints containing said compositions after a long time without that any adhesion or curling problems occur. They need not be coated with a separate weather-resistant topcoat either, film thicknesses can be reduced in many cases and the intervals between maintenance paintings can be prolonged, which in turn reduces costs. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a composition to be used in paints, which is characterized by comprising a resin constituent which includes i) a non-aromatic epoxy resin, ii) a polysiloxane having the formula: where R 1 is hydroxyl or an alkyl, aryl or alkoxy group having up to 6 carbon atoms, R 2 is a hydrogen or an alkyl or aryl group having up to 6 carbon atoms and n is a number selected so that the molar mass of the polysiloxane is within the range of 400 to 2000, and iii) an epoxy siiane which acts as a crosslinking agent between the epoxy and siloxane chains. The invention also relates to a kit, which is characterized by comprising a container A, which contains a composition of the present invention, and a container B, which contains a hardening agent, whereby the container A and/or B may further contain conventional additives. The additives may include accelerators, water and other conventional additives. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the composition of the invention, the non-aromatic epoxy resin is preferably an aliphatic branched epoxy resin. A suitable branched aliphatic epoxy resin has the general formula: R 3 R 4 - C - (CH 2 ) p -0-(CH 2 ) s - CH - CH 2 \ / R 5 O where p is an integer between 0 and 3, s is an integer between 1 and 3, R 3 and R 4 represent independently C^alkyl or a group -(CH 2 ) -0-(CH 2 ) s -CH-CH 2 , / O where p and s are as defined above and R 5 is hydrogen, C^alkyl or a group -(CH 2 ) -0-(CH 2 ) s -CH-CH 2 , where p and s are as defined above. O The preferred branched aliphatic epoxy resins include CH, - CH - CH, - O - CH, -C CH, - O - CH, - CH - CH, . / O O CH,- 0 - CH, CH - CH 2 O CH, i - CH 2 - CH - CH 2 - 0 - CH 2 -C - " T / CH, - O - CH, CH CH 2 i and O CH, V CH 3 - (CH 2 ) 3 - H Polysiloxanes described in WO 96/16109 can be generally used as a polysiloxane constituent of the resin component in the compositions of the invention. Particularly preferable are substances under commercial names DC-3074 and DC-3037 available from the manufacturer Dow Coming, which are methoxy functional polysiloxanes. The amount of polysiloxane in the paint composition is 15 to 45 % by weight. Suitable epoxy silanes include those having the general formula: O (CH 2 ) k (CH 2 ), - (0) r - (CH 2 ) m - Si (0-Alk) 3 where k is an integer between 0 and 4, l is an integer between 1 and 6, r is 0 or 1 , m is an integer between 1 and 6 and Alk is an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. Particularly preferable epoxy silanes are glycidoxypropyl- trimethoxysilane having the formula and β-(3,4-epoxycyclohexyl)-ethyltrimethoxysilane having the formula In the composition of the invention the weight ratio between the epoxy siiane, polysiloxane and non-aromatic epoxy resin is suitably 1 :2-5:2-5. In connection with the present invention, conventional hardening agents can be used as hardeners. Such hardeners include, for instance, aliphatic amines, aliphatic amine adducts, polyamidoamines, cycloaiiphatic amines and adducts thereof, aromatic amines, Mannich bases and ketimines all of which may be substituted wholly or in part with aminosilanes. Amine hardeners useful for the present invention are described in WO 96/16109, for instance. Organic tin compounds, such as dibutyl tin dilaurate (DBTL) or or- ganic salts, for instance naphthanates, of some metals, such as cobalt, zinc, manganese, iron and lead, can be used as an accelerator in the compositions of the invention. Water can be included in the compositions of the invention, either separately added or in the form of water present in the ingredients. The amount of water is about 1 % by weight of the total weight of the paint. The compositions of the invention may also include other commonly used paint ingredients, such as pigments, fillers, additives such as tixotropic substances, softeners, solvents, et cetera, to achieve the properties desired by the user. Following advantages, for instance, are achieved by using epoxy siiane instead of organo-oxysilane in the composition of the invention: - epoxy siiane has properties improving paint adhesion, - epoxy siiane acts as a crosslinking agent between the epoxy and siloxane chains, - when using epoxy siiane in a siloxane reaction, the amount of alcohol liberated in the reaction in relation to the molecular weight is considerably lower than when using organo-oxysilane. Consequently, a higher dry solids content and a lower amount of volatile organic compounds (VOC) can be achieved. - epoxy siiane reduces the viscosity of the paint, - epoxy siiane also has a modifying effect on functional fillers, such as wollastonite, whereby strength and anti-corrosive properties improve. The following examples illustrate the invention. Example 1 (Paint A, reference) Preparation of a polyurethane paint A resin and pigment blend was prepared by first combining 200 g of hydroxyl polyacrylate (Desmophen 365™, equivalent weight 607, manufac- tured by Bayer) and 10 g of bentonite-based thickener (Bentone 38™, manufactured by Rheox) and blending for about 10 minutes, whereafter 250 g of titanium dioxide pigment and 25 g of barium sulphate filler were added. The mixture was ground to 20 μrn fineness of grind at a dispersing temperature of about 50 °C. The paint was completed by adding the rest of the binder (200 g) and 70 g of butyl acetate and 87 g of xylene to achieve the desired viscosity. The hardener was prepared by mixing 84.65 g of polyisocyanate (Desmodur N 75™, equivalent weight 255) and 15.30 g of butyl acetate. The specific weight of the paint was 1.31 kg/dm 3 (1.01 equivalents per dm 3 ) and the specific weight of the hardener was 1.04 kg/dm 3 (3.47 equivalents per dm 3 ). Example 2 (Paint B, reference) Preparation of an epoxy paint A resin and pigment blend was prepared by combining 307.5 g of liquid Bisphenol-A epoxy resin (Dow DER 331 ™, equivalent weight 190), 34 g of benzoic alcohol and 34 g of xylene to achieve the desired viscosity and 8.5 g of polyamide wax thickener (Crayvallac Super™). After mixing the blend for about 10 minutes, 134 g of titanium dioxide pigment and 278.5 g of feldspar filler (Siokal FF 30™) were added. Thereafter the mixture was dispersed with a laboratory dissolver at a temperature of 55 °C where it was allowed to stay for 15 to 20 minutes. The required fineness of grind was 50 μm. The paint was completed by adding the solvents: 21.5 g of butanol and 33 g of xylene. The hardener was prepared by combining 188.5 g of hydrocarbon resin (Necires EXP-L™) and 4.9 g of polyamide wax thickener (Crayvallac Su- per™). The blend was allowed to mix for about 10 minutes, whereafter 184.5 g of isophoron diamine epoxy adduct, 250 g of talcum and 58 g of xylene were added. Thereafter, the blend was dispersed with a laboratory dissolver at a temperature of 55 °C where it was allowed to stay for 15 to 20 minutes. The required fineness of grind was 50 μm. The hardener was completed by adding the solvents: 25 g of butanol and 51 g of xyiene. The specific weight of the paint was 1.55 kg/dm 3 (2.94 equivalents per dm 3 ) and the specific weight of the hardener was 1.29 kg/dm 3 (2.85 equivalents per dm 3 ). Example 3 (Paint C, present invention) Preparation of an epoxy polysiloxane paint A resin and pigment blend was prepared by combining 306 g of methoxy-functional polysiloxane (Dow Corning 3074™) and 21.3 g of polyamide wax thickener (Crayvallac Super™). After allowing the blend to mix, 156 g of titanium dioxide pigment, 30 g of talcum, 54.5 g of wollastonite, 49 g of feldspar filler (Siokal FF 30™) were added. Thereafter the blend was dispersed with a laboratory dissolver at a temperature of 65 °C. The required fineness of grind was 40 μm. The paint was completed by adding 50.6 g of glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (Silquest A-187™) and 268.5 g of pen- taerythritepolyglycidylether (Polypox R 16™). The hardener was prepared by combining 173 g of polyamide (Versamid 140™) and 33.9 g of aliphatic epoxy resin (Dow DER 732™, equivalent weight 320). The obtained adduct was allowed to react for 24 hours at room temperature, whereafter 404 g of γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (Silquest A-1100™) and 16.2 g of tin catalyst (DBTL) were added. The specific weight of the paint was 1.46 kg/dm 3 (2.80 equivalents per dm 3 ) and the specific weight of the hardener was 0.97 kg/dm 3 (8.19 equivalents per dm 3 ). Example 4 (Paint D, present invention) Preparation of an epoxy polysiloxane paint Example 3 was repeated, except that 52.7 g of β-(3,4- epoxycyclohexyl)-ethyltrimethoxysilane (Silquest A-186™) was used as the epoxy siiane. The hardener was prepared by combining 217 g of polyamide and 43.5 g of aliphatic epoxy resin (Dow DER 732™, equivalent weight 320). The obtained adduct was allowed to react for 24 hours at room temperature, whereafter 381 g of N-(β-aminoethyl)-γ-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (Silquest A-1120™) and 19.8 g of tin catalyst were added. The specific weight of the paint was 1.46 kg/dm 3 (2.79 equivalents per dm 3 ) and the specific weight of the hardener was 1.02 kg/dm 3 (11.17 equivalents per dm 3 ). The specific weight of the paint was 1.46 kg/dm 3 (2.79 equivalents per dm 3 ) and the specific weight of the hardener was 1.02 kg/dm 3 (11.17 equivalents per dm 3 ). Weather resistance In an ultraviolet tolerance test, the weather resistance of polyurethane paint A, epoxy paint B and epoxy polysiloxane paints C and D were compared. The test was conducted with a QUV/spray-type test equipment. The lamps used were lamps transmitting long-wave ultraviolet radiation (UVA 340 nm). The equipment was run as follows: 4 h UV (T=60°C), 4 h condensation (T=40 °C). The test results are presented in the attached Figure 1. The obtained results show that the epoxy polysiloxane paint has improved resistance to ultraviolet light as compared with the conventional epoxy paint. An average 50 % gloss reduction occurred in 640 hours in the epoxy polysiloxane paints, whereas in the epoxy paints it occurred as early as in 120 hours from the beginning of the test. Gloss retention was clearly best in the polyurethane paint. Adhesion in corrosion stress Epoxy paint B and epoxy polysiloxane paint C were exposed to a neutral salt fog test according to SFS 3707 standard. Paint adhesion to a sub- strate before and after the test indicates the protection performance of the system in extremely severe conditions (pre-treatment: Sa 2/4, sheet thickness 5 mm). The test results are presented in Table 1. Table 1

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A composition to be used in paints, characterized by comprising a resin constituent which includes i) a non-aromatic epoxy resin, ii) a polysiloxane having the formula: where R 1 is a hydroxyl or an alkyl, aryl or alkoxy group having up to 6 carbon atoms, R 2 is a hydrogen or an alkyl or aryl group having up to 6 carbon atoms and n is a number selected so that the molar mass of the polysiloxane is within the range of 400 to 2000, and iii) an epoxy siiane which acts as a crosslinking agent between the epoxy and siloxane chains. 2. A composition as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the weight ratio between the epoxy siiane, polysiloxane and non-aromatic epoxy resin is 1 :2-5:2-5. 3. A composition as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the non-aromatic epoxy resin is a branched aliphatic epoxy resin. 4. A composition as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the aliphatic epoxy resin has the formula where p is an integer between 0 and 3, s is an integer between 1 and 3, R 3 and R 4 represent independently C h alky! or a group -(CH 2 ) p -0-(CH 2 ) s -CH-CH 2 , o where p and s are as defined above and R 5 is hydrogen, C,. 6 alkyl or a group - (CH 2 ) p -0-(CH 2 ) s -CH-CH 2 , where p and s are as defined above. o 5. A composition as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the aliphatic epoxy resin has the formula CH, - CH - CH 2 - 0 - CH 2 -C CH 2 - O - CH, - CH - CH. O N o' CH 2 -0-CH 2 -CH-CH 2 \ O 6. A composition as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the aliphatic epoxy resin has the formula CH 2 -0-CH 2 -CH-CH 2 O 7. A composition as claimed in claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the aliphatic epoxy resin has the formula 8. A composition as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the aliphatic epoxy resin has the formula CH 3 - (CH 2 ) 3 - CH - CH 2 - O - CH 2 O -CH 2 CH CH, C 2 H 5 ^o' 9. A composition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, c h a r acterized in that the epoxy siiane has the formula O (CH 2 ) k (CH 2 ), - (0) r - (CH 2 ) m - Si (0-Alk) 3 12 where k is an integer between 0 and 4, r is 0 or 1 , I is an integer between 1 and 6, m is an integer between 1 and 6 and Alk is an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. 10. A paint composition as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the epoxy siiane has the formula 11. A paint composition as claimed in claim 9, character' i z e d in that the epoxy siiane has the formula 12. A kit, characterized by comprising a container A, which contains a composition according to any one of claims 1 to 11, and a container B, which contains a hardener, whereby the container A and/or B may further contain conventional additives.

Inventors: PERAELAE MIKA, TIKKANEN SEPPO, PERAELAE, MIKA, TIKKANEN, SEPPO
Applicants: NOR MAALI OY, PERAELAE MIKA, TIKKANEN SEPPO, NOR-MAALI OY, PERAELAE, MIKA, TIKKANEN, SEPPO
Application year: 2000
Main classification: C09D183
IPC codes: C08G59, C08L83, C09D163, C09D183