Solvay recently launched Reactsurf^® 2490, a new APE-free polymerizable surfactant designed as a primary emulsifier for acrylic, vinyl-acrylic, and styrene-acrylic latex systems. In addition to exterior coatings and pressure-sensitive adhesives, other common uses of the new emulsifier include paint binders; adhesives and sealants; textile and nonwoven binders; paper coatings; and building and construction applications. The product is currently available in Asia, Europe, and Latin America.

Reactsurf 2490 is highly reactive and easily incorporated during the emulsion polymerization reaction. It eliminates the need for secondary emulsifiers, thereby facilitating fast and simple design of new latexes. REACH-certified and water-soluble, it also ensures compliance with increasingly stringent regulatory requirements for APE-free solutions. The emulsifier’s combination of properties includes low-dynamic surface tension and critical micelle concentration, good particle size control, low grit, and low foaming, in turn enabling better film hardness and antiblocking. In tests of elastomeric coating binders, Reactsurf 2490 delivered improved blocking resistance and superior dirt pick-up resistance after three months of outdoor exposure. Initial tests also demonstrated improved water-whitening resistance in PSA applications.

For more information, visit: www.solvay.com.