Naphthenate

Paint and ink driers are metal carboxylates (mainly octoates and naphthenates) used in paint and ink manufacturing industries to enhance the film properties of the coating and accelerate the drying process.

They have the general formula of Me (RCOO) x, where Me is the metal, (RCOO) is the specific higher carboxylic acid group and x is the number of groups attached to the metal depending on its coordination number. The metal can be a heavy or an alkaline-earth metal and the carboxylic acid can be naphthenic, 2-ethyl hexanoic or C7-C11 acid.

BARIUM OCTOATE is improved to substitute toxic lead components in the paint systems. Barium octoate also shows a through drying of a coating and has good pigment wetting properties.

CALCIUM OCTOATE is an auxiliary drier. When used alone, calcium does not show a sufficient drying effect.In combination with active metal soaps calcium octoate gives much better results.

COBALT OCTOATE is the most active and most widely used drier metal. It catalyses the oxygen uptake, accelerates peroxide formation and effects mostly surface-drying. To prevent wrinkles in the film cobalt octoate is used in conjunction with auxiliary driers than can either the activity of cobalt (zinc octoate) or promote drying of the interior of the film (lead octoate). Cobalt also improves the hardening in baking alkyd-melamine systems.

LEAD OCTOATE is also an auxiliary drier. Lead octoate is used in combination with manganese, cobalt and calcium octoates.

MANGANESE OCTOATE is also a surface drier but is a little less active than cobalt. Manganese octoate catalyses the polymerisation in baking finishes and gives a better through-drying than cobalt. It is especially suitable for exterior coatings, enamels and baking finishes.

ZINC OCTOATE is also an auxiliary drier and produces a hard film when used in combination with cobalt octoate. Zinc driers mostly help the oxygen uptake by keeping the film 'open' thus retarding surface dry.

ZIRCONIUM OCTOATE is often applied a substitute for lead octoate.

OTHER OCTOATES We can offer a wide range of carboxylates including cerium, copper, Nickel and Sodium upon request.