How does the use of coating substrate emulsion in anti-corrosion coatings improve the environmental performance of these products?
Publish Time: 2025-09-22
With the increasing global emphasis on environmental protection and sustainable development, traditional anti-corrosion coatings that rely on petroleum-based raw materials are facing severe challenges. These coatings often release large amounts of volatile organic compounds during production and use, and consume significant amounts of non-renewable resources, making it difficult to meet increasingly stringent environmental regulations and green manufacturing requirements. Against this backdrop, coating substrate emulsion, primarily derived from renewable biomass, has emerged as a key technology driving the green transformation of anti-corrosion coatings. This type of emulsion can be used in both water-based and oil-based anti-corrosion coating systems and also reduces dependence on fossil resources at the source, significantly lowering the carbon footprint and comprehensively improving the environmental performance and market competitiveness of the product.1. Renewable Raw Materials, Reducing Dependence on Fossil ResourcesTraditional anti-corrosion coatings primarily use film-forming substances derived from petrochemicals, such as acrylates and epoxy resins. These raw materials are non-renewable, and their extraction and processing are energy-intensive and polluting. New coating substrates, such as emulsion, are made from renewable biomass, including vegetable oils, starch derivatives, rosin, and lignin, through biocatalysis, esterification, and emulsion polymerization. These raw materials are widely available and sustainably renewable, significantly reducing reliance on petroleum resources. For example, soybean oil-based bio-based acrylic emulsion can have a biobased content of over 30%, significantly enhancing the coating's renewable nature and aligning with the development of a circular economy.2. Water-based technology reduces VOC emissions and improves the construction environment.A major advantage of emulsion coatings is their excellent water dispersibility, making them particularly suitable for the development of water-based anti-corrosion coatings. Compared to traditional solvent-based coatings, water-based coatings use water as a dispersion medium and virtually eliminate harmful organic solvents such as benzene, toluene, and xylene, thereby minimizing VOC emissions. This not only reduces air pollution and photochemical smog, but also significantly improves the working environment for construction workers, reducing fire risks and health hazards. Promoting the use of waterborne, bio-based emulsion coatings in corrosion protection projects for large steel structures, such as ships, bridges, and storage tanks, is crucial for achieving green coatings.3. Low-Carbon Production, Contributing to Carbon NeutralityFrom a full lifecycle perspective, the carbon emissions of bio-based emulsion coatings during production are significantly lower than those of petroleum-based products. Plants absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis during their growth, partially offsetting carbon emissions during subsequent processing and use, creating a "carbon cycle" rather than "carbon accumulation." Furthermore, the extraction and conversion of bio-based raw materials typically consume less energy, further reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Anti-corrosion coatings produced using this type of emulsion can reduce their carbon footprint by 20%-50%, helping companies meet carbon emission regulations, enhance their green brand image, and strengthen their competitiveness in the international market.4. Combining Excellent Anti-Corrosion Performance with Environmentally Friendly PropertiesEnvironmental protection does not mean compromising performance. Modern bio-based coating substrates, such as emulsion, have been engineered through molecular structure design and complex modification technologies to achieve excellent adhesion, water resistance, salt spray resistance, and UV aging resistance, fully meeting the stringent requirements of industrial corrosion protection. For example, modified vegetable oil emulsion creates a dense coating that effectively blocks water vapor, oxygen, and chloride ion penetration, preventing corrosion of metal substrates. Furthermore, some bio-based resins possess self-healing or antimicrobial properties, further extending coating life and reducing maintenance frequency and resource consumption.Emulsion, a coating substrate derived from renewable resources and combined with water-based technology, is reshaping the environmental landscape of anti-corrosion coatings. It not only reduces dependence on fossil energy for raw materials but also achieves low carbon and low pollution throughout the entire production, application, and use process, truly achieving a win-win situation for both environmental protection and performance.
