What is an alkyd resin ?
Groupe Berkem has been designing high value-added alkyd resins adapted to the requirements of glycerophthalic paint manufacturers for its customers for more than 60 years. Very popular with professionals in the construction, timber and manufacturing sectors our alkyd resins are based on a wide range of quality raw materials capable of meeting various criteria.
But do you know what alkyd resin is actually made from? Are you aware of its benefits and its various fields of application ?
Let Groupe Berkem demystify this innovative solution for you!
Chemical composition of alkyd resins
Created from a polycondensation reaction between polyhydric alcohols and dibasic acids, alkyd resin is subsequently modified with oil or fatty acids.
While the term “alkyd” comes from “alcohol” and “anhydride”, it is the “polyester” part in alkyd resin which gives the resin its rigid properties. Oil or fatty acids play an essential role in flexibility, adhesion, pigment compatibility and solubility with solvents.
Today, this modified polyester resin is widely used in the construction, timber and manufacturing sectors as a binder for paint and varnish. Owing to its properties, using alkyd resin in the composition of paint allows both the maximisation of the product’s performance and the perfection of the finish.
The advantages of alkyd resins
Do you now have a better understanding of what alkyd resin is? Let’s continue with the various advantages of this binder when used in the composition of paints and varnishes :
- Ease of use: professionals in the sector often appreciate the ease of application for an excellent, streak-free result.
- Lower toxicity: thanks to a higher renewables content and the absence of biocides, alkyds are less toxic and thus more environmentally friendly.
- Durability and flexibility: compatible with most materials, alkyd resin can be used both indoors and out.
Principal applications for alkyd resin
Alkyd resin is increasingly being used in a wide range of applications, principal among these being:
- Construction: owing to its durability and quality of finish, alkyd resin is often used in the construction industry. Professionals emphasise the comfort and safety they offer during application.
- Timber: owing to the variable hygroscopicity of wood – meaning its water absorption – it requires a product that is both flexible and resistant. The good news is that alkyd resin preserves its properties in full and can protect and decorate both interior and exterior wood . And if alkyd resins can contribute to formulating wood stain, varnish, marine varnish, sealant and paint, they are also valued for their excellent chemical and mechanical resistance once dry.
- Industry: Thanks to their strong physical, chemical and environmental protection properties, alkyd resins give air-drying, oven-drying and single or two-part paints a real advantage in terms of hardness, gloss and corrosion protection.