Test methods to identify emissions out of Interior Paints and practical results based on model formulations

The Coatings Industry is under constant pressure to reduce VOC and SVOC emissions. Based on this situation there are a number of European regulations and test methods to measure and quantify emissions from Interior Paints.
According the European Paint Directive 2004/42/EC and the European Eco-Label for Paints and Varnishes the Volatile Organic Compounds ( VOC’s ) are defined as any organic compound having an initial boiling point less or equal to 250°C measured at a standard pressure of 101,3 kPa. In this context VOC’s are measured as “In-Can” VOC content of the liquid paint using a gas chromatographic direct injection method according to ISO 11890/2.

Driven by the European Products Regulation 305/2011 new regulations like the French Décret 2011-321 or the German AgBB have evolved. Common to these new concepts is the evaluation and limitation of emissions out of a dried paint film based on chamber measurements according ISO 16000-9.
Investigations of model paints with different pigment volume concentration (PVC) demonstrate that there is no direct correlation between the emissions measured in the chamber and the concentration of coalescing agents in the liquid paint. Chamber measurements of model paint formulations show the impact of the PVC on the emissions behavior of interior paints.

Optimized Interior Paints based on VAE-Emulsions without any coalescing agents can meet even the strictest emission limits for volatile (VOC) and semi-volatile (SVOC) compounds according emission chamber tests and the practical results are far below 1000 µg/m3 after 28 days which is required to achieve the lowest emission class A+ in the specification of the French Decret.