Document ID: EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0048-0129
Agency: epa
Document Type: Supporting & Related Material
Title: 
Posted Date: 2004-02-26T05:00Z

CONTACT
REPORT
­
RTI
Project
No.
08550.002.012.001
From:
Katie
Hanks,
RTI
Date
of
Contact:
November
11,
2003
Contacted
by:
Telephone
Company/
Agency:
Associated
Chemists,
Incorporated,
Orangeburg,
SC
Telephone
Number:
(
888)
891­
7765
Person
Contacted:
Paul
Silva
­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

Mr.
Silva
was
contacted
for
information
on
the
types
of
coatings
used
for
application
of
nail
lines,
logos,
and
trademark/
gradestamps
to
plywood
and
composite
wood
products
(
PCWP).
Mr.
Silva
was
asked
why
some
facilities
choose
solvent­
based
coatings
instead
of
water­
based
coatings
for
these
processes,
whether
any
change
in
application
equipment
would
be
needed
if
a
facility
were
to
switch
from
solvent­
based
to
water­
based
coatings,
and
if
there
is
a
significant
cost
difference
in
solvent­
based
and
water­
based
coatings.

Mr.
Silva
indicated
that
Associated
Chemists
supplies
roughly
85
percent
of
the
coatings
used
by
domestic
wood
products
mills.
He
noted
that
Associated
Chemists
invented
edge
seals,
and
that
water­
based
edge
seals
are
standard
for
the
PCWP
industry.
Mr.
Silva
also
pointed
out
that
many
solvent­
based
coatings
contain
mineral
oil
and
sometimes
traces
of
other
solvents
(
e.
g.,
isopropyl
alcohol).
However,
solvent­
based
coatings
do
not
necessary
contain
hazardous
air
pollutants
(
HAP)
and
any
HAP
present
in
solvent­
based
coatings
is
present
in
tiny
amounts.
Mr.
Silva
indicated
that
industry
standards
such
as
those
established
by
the
American
Plywood
Association
(
APA)
or
the
American
Society
for
Testing
and
Materials
(
ASTM)
dictate
how
a
trademark/
gradestamp
ink
should
function
(
e.
g.,
ultraviolent
stability,
water
spray,
color
fade).
In
the
past,
there
has
been
concern
that
water­
based
inks
would
dissolve
when
exposed
to
flooring
glues
and
bleed
through
linoleum
flooring.
However,
water­
based
inks
have
been
formulated
in
recent
years
that
do
not
have
this
problem
and
meet
all
of
the
applicable
industry
standards.
Some
PCWP
facilities
may
be
reluctant
to
switch
from
solvent­
based
inks
to
water­
based
inks
because
it
would
be
necessary
to
demonstrate
that
any
new
ink
used
at
the
facility
meets
industry
standards.

Mr.
Silva
indicated
that
the
price
of
water­
based
coatings
is
competitive
to
that
of
solvent­
based
coatings
for
nail
lines,
logo
paints,
and
trademark/
gradestamp
inks.
Mr.
Silva
indicated
that
all
of
the
nail
line
coatings
produced
by
Associated
Chemists
are
water­
based.
To
switch
from
solventbased
to
water­
based
nail
lines,
a
facility
could
likely
use
the
same
application
equipment
provided
that
it
is
flushed
prior
to
switching
coatings.
To
switch
from
solvent­
based
to
water­
based
gradestamp
ink,
a
facility
may
only
need
to
change
the
type
of
rubber
on
their
application
rollers
and
replace
the
plastic
tubing.
The
cost
for
revamping
the
ink
roller
system
would
be
minimal.
Facilities
would
also
need
to
become
accustomed
to
covering
the
ink
application
rollers
with
a
bag
when
not
in
use,
as
water­
based
inks
will
dry
on
the
rollers
much
faster
than
would
mineraloil
coatings.