Water-based lacquers

In all industrial countries pollution is very high and environmental protection has been promoted for many years. Paints industry joins in by developing and improving finishes in which non-enomomical, and health hazardous organic solvents are replaced with cheap non inflammable and healthfriendly water. Lately, technology of waterborne coating for wood has developed considerably. It could be expected that many manufacturers will choose this technology for ecological reasons, but successful introduction of waterborne products requires familiarity with their properties and problems that could occur when they are used. Besides the composition of water-based lacquers and this comparison with organic solvent-based Lacquers, this paper discusses specific problems in application and the issue of finishing treatment and that of recycling process, which is very topical in west European countries.