Well, as you might expect with technological developments, it’s not clear cut. Certainly water based paints, often referred to as acrylic emulsions, contain much less of those unfriendly solvents (VOC’s) that evaporate to the air that are a feature of oil based paints. It’s the VOC’s that produce the odour of oil based paints and contribute to low level ozone. But solvents reduce drying time, help with smooth application and the formation of a regular paint film - they have been a key constituent in modern paints in every application and in the role paints play in protecting and preserving everything we use.

The problem is replacing oil based paints with products that do not contain solvents while still ending up with a paint that performs just as well. The EU is forcing the pace of change by requiring a reduction in the amount of solvents in paints and the industry is responding with a range of water based (hydro) paints, particularly in domestic environments where odourless paints with no solvents have advantages. Water based paints can have a tenth of the level of solvents found in oil based paints.

In the more specialist commercial paint applications, the marine industry for example, life is a little more difficult. Without solvents, water based paints dry more slowly and may need extra drying apparatus. Slow drying affects adhesion and paint flow and allows dust etc to contaminate surfaces. The finished paint may not be as hard as solvent oil based paints and can be less resistant to other solvents, less UV resistant and through oxidation, tend to surface chalkiness - salt water promotes oxidation of water based epoxies without surface protection.

The technology is advancing and many of these drawbacks are being solved. There is no doubt that the future lies in finding alternatives that reduce or even eliminate VOC’s and water based paints do offer the prospect of reduced environmental impacts as well as being easier to use - washing brushes in water is one example. At Nauteco, we continue to work with our manufacturing partner and will be introducing water based paints as soon as we are satisfied that their performance meets the demands of the marine environment.

In the meantime, Nauteco’s Pro-Finish 21 Topcoat, a two pack acrylic paint for topsides and coachroof, manages to produce a rapid drying, high gloss, UV stable finish with industry leading low levels of VOC’s and is fully EC compliant.

It is this combination of research in new technology and continued improvements to existing products that lie behind Nauteco’s business philosophy.