Wacker is all set to unveil its Vinnol solid resins portfolio at the 2025 European Coatings Show. The special focus within the product family will be on the polymer binder Vinnol H 15/45 M (renewable energy). As energy from renewable sources is used to generate the electricity required for manufacturing the product, Vinnol H 15/45 M thus has a lower product carbon footprint (PCF) in contrast to its conventional Vinnol counterpart.
Vinnol H 15/45 M does not in any way deviate from the properties of the conventional grade. The product is designed for excellent metal adhesion and is suitable for applications in sectors such as heat-sealing, industrial coatings and printing inks. The European Coatings Show (ECS) will be held in Nuremberg, Germany, from 25 to 27 March 2025.
The binder is the film-forming component of any printing ink or coating. In colored formulations, it encloses the pigment particles and fixes them to the substrate. Through its Vinnol portfolio of products, Wacker offers an extensive range of polymer resins that perform this very task in many application areas. Vinnol resins are available in three main product categories: Vinnol resins without functional groups, Vinnol resins with carboxyl groups and Vinnol resins with hydroxyl groups.
As innovative technologies and new processes emerge, though, the requirements of the printing inks and coatings industry keep changing. For this reason, Wacker works continuously on developing its Vinnol resins. Industrial manufacturers and retailers are focusing more on offering products that are more environmentally compatible. Wacker is all in favor of this shift and supports it with binders that are manufactured using energy from renewable sources, the aim being to reduce the product carbon footprint (PCF) of the finished products.
Already on the market for several years, Wacker’s Vinnol H 15/45 M, a copolymer of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate containing carboxyl groups, is mainly used as a binder for heat-sealing coatings, industrial coatings and printing inks. It provides excellent adhesion on both metal surfaces and polar substrates such as PVC and PET. As Vinnol H 15/45 M is virtually odorless, tasteless and also possesses excellent resistance to water and chemicals, it is ideal for the safe packaging of food or pharmaceuticals. Easy processability of the product, high resistance of the coatings to grease, oil, alcohol, water and salt, as well as a high degree of toughness and long-term flexibility open up a wide range of applications.
Wacker now also markets its product as a more environmentally compatible version under the trade name Vinnol H 15/45 M (renewable energy). The product is manufactured using electrical energy generated from renewable energy sources, as verified and certified by the technical inspectorate TÜV Rheinland. The use of renewable energy sources helps reduce the product’s carbon footprint (PCF value) by 19%. Furthermore, at least 80% of the renewable energy used in the production process is generated in Central and Western Europe, while the remaining 20% is acquired from neighboring regions. Vinnol H 15/45 M (renewable energy) retains, without exception, all the tried-and-tested properties of Vinnol H 15/45 M. The only difference between the two grades is that Vinnol H 15/45 M (Renewable Energy) has a lower carbon footprint.
