Five questions for the expert Rainer Troppmair, Head of Development Window & Architectural coatings at ADLER

What are the advantages of using water-based paints?

Modern water-based paints offer excellent performance and clear advantages in processing - with at least the same surface quality: fast drying allows two to three work cycles per day, the working materials can be cleaned easily and economically. There are no solvent vapors, which makes processing much more pleasant and also healthier, as solvents can irritate mucous membranes and the respiratory tract. This also reduces safety risks during storage and processing. Water-based paints also have advantages for the customer: The unpleasant smell of solvents is eliminated, rooms can be used again immediately and renovation work can also be carried out safely in living spaces and sensitive areas. In addition, there are no harmful emissions that can continue to escape from surfaces painted with solvent-based paints for up to four weeks. And finally, environmental and climate protection also speak for themselves. The solvent emissions (VOC) produced during paint application are harmful to the environment and contribute to air pollution and the greenhouse effect. When using very high-quality water-based coatings, these VOCs can be reduced by up to 95%!

What are the weaknesses of water-based coatings?

There are no real weaknesses today - modern water-based coating systems are on a par with solvent-based coatings in every respect, both in terms of Durability and processing as well as chemical and mechanical resistance. Even cream and grease resistance, which sometimes caused problems "in the last millennium", is no longer an issue today. There are only relevant differences in processing, as water-based paints react somewhat more sensitively to ambient temperature and atmospheric humidity in unfavorable climatic conditions. However, this aspect can be ignored when working indoors.

What are the advantages of spray application?

First and foremost, an enormous gain in efficiency. For larger areas, you save an enormous amount of working time and therefore money, large jobs are much easier to calculate and can also be carried out on tight schedules. In addition, overhead work or work in areas that are difficult to access is easier. And the surface quality also improves, as spray application achieves a more even application. With modern, low-mist sprayers, many interior jobs can be carried out without any problems.

What problems can occur with paint adhesion and how can they be prevented?

Most surface defects such as poor adhesion, unevenness or discoloration can be avoided with professional pre-treatment of the substrate. Wooden substrates should be carefully sanded and, if necessary, de-resinated. In the case of metals, rusty areas must be thoroughly sanded and cleaned accordingly. Adhesion problems with metals and plastics can be prevented by applying ADLER degreaser to a sanding fleece and sanding the surfaces to a matt finish. Depending on the application or stress, the surface can then be primed or painted directly.

What is behind the cationic technology?

Substances such as wood extractives (e.g. tannins, lignin degradation products) or nicotine, soot particles etc. are often anionic, i.e. they have a negative electrical charge. This is why the binder system of our Primer coat Aqua-Isoprimer CT PRO is equipped with cationic, i.e. positively charged particles. These particles bind the negatively charged impurities electrostatically to themselves and thus bind them in the primer coat. As a result, they can no longer penetrate the top coat and stains and discoloration are effectively prevented. It is important to note that this special primer coat may only be painted over with matching coatings.

ADLER – paint runs through our veins

With 730 employees, ADLER is Austria's leading manufacturer of varnishes, paints and wood preservatives. Founded in 1934 by Johann Berghofer, this family business is now managed by a member of the third generation, Andrea Berghofer. Every year, 21,000 tonnes of paint leave the Schwaz plant and are delivered to customers in more than 30 countries worldwide. ADLER has sales subsidiaries in Germany, Italy, Poland, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia; their sole production site is the ADLER-Werk Lackfabrik in Schwaz, Tyrol (Austria). Innovation and sustainability are the cornerstones of the corporate strategy. ADLER is committed to active climate protection and is continuously working to improve the company's ecological footprint and develop sustainable solutions for its customers.