Low VOC clear coat lacquer for brass

A. My company provides an E-coat that releases only approximately 1.0 #/gallon VOC during curing. It is applied in a water based bath and then cured at 290-320 °F depending on product. It is widely used for coating over solid brass and brass plate. These coatings have excellent UV resistance and afford good weatherability for exterior use.

The hooker from a VOC point of view is that the concentrate used to make up and replenish the bath is 3.77#/gallon VOC but the only VOC release in use is during curing as stated above and minimal evaporation loss from the bath surface. It is not like taking a 3.77#/gallon solvent based lacquer and spraying it where the majority of the VOC is released to the environment.

Regards,

A. Phil is right, electrocoat is the answer to your question.

A. Although e-coat may be the answer for your trouble, you should be very careful in analyzing the regulatory requirements which I think is the driving force for your search of this kind of clearcoat. If this is the case, I believe that the required VOC content of your clearcoat is as applied. If this is the case, phil's suggestion might work really well, especially that the concentrate is mixed with water prior to application.

A. You may want to look into spraying a 2.8 VOC clear polyurethane electrostatically. Saves a lot of money on buying an e-coat system.

A. Why not look at powder coatings? The thermosets are capable of curing as low as 275 °F. If this isn't low enough I can direct you toward people involved in UV curable powders that can process at temperatures around 200 to 220 °F for very short periods of time.

A. Dear Sir:

We have recently developed a complete line of ZERO VOC waterbased performance lacquers that one of the products was designed to replace our current solvent based coating for brite metals. It is either spray or brush applied with ZERO VOC and water clean up.

Sincerely,

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A. Dear Mr. Ching

G.J.Nikolas Co. Inc. manufactures & supplies low voc solvent and water base coatings for brass. Our best products are solvent base, with clear commercial products available with voc levels as low as 0.4 lbs per gal.. These coatings are available in clear, opaque color, and toners. We have formulas for all types of conventional appication methods, spray; electrostatic spray; dip; flow-coat; and centrifuge. Types include: air dry; force dry; two component and bake. Our customers manufacture: brass lighting; musical instruments; apparel fasteners; munitions; elevators; furniture; furniture and architectural hardware; statuary; name plates; fishing lures; jewelry; and other industries manufacturing with brass and bronze. We have been in business since 1890, and focus our efforts to brass protection and maintenance.

Ed. note: And G.J.Nikolas Co. is helping make this site possible.  🙂