Benefits of oxazolidine

moisture scavengers in
polyurethane
protective top coats
for wind turbines
case study
Benefits of
oxazolidine
moisture
scavengers in
polyurethane
protective top
coats for wind
turbines
case study

2
Introduction

Wind turbines, particularly offshore installations, are
exposed to hostile environments which demand that
the coatings systems must be able to withstand these
conditions for the lifetime of the turbine, typically 20
to 25 years. Difficulties related to access makes
coating maintenance expensive as well as technically
challenging for offshore wind turbines and lifetime
should therefore be of primary concern when
specifying coatings.
The key to eliminating this problem is to stop the
moisture reaction with the hardener during the
application of the topcoat. This is simply achieved by
adding Incozol 2, a very effective moisture scavenger,
to the formulation.
Incozol 2

Key characteristics of the final coatings are:

O N C4H9
• They must be able to withstand UV and
heat radiation
• They must be able to withstand a high degree of
weathering erosion including salt water resistance
• They must be tough and durable yet flexible
C4H9 C2H5
enough to withstand impacts without chipping

The ideal coating to achieve these aims also contains • Incozol 2 preferentially reacts with water over
minimum solvent for low VOC compliance and has isocyanate.
fast cure characteristics. The principal chemistries • It serves to eliminate carbon dioxide generation
used in a wind turbine coating system are a leading to loss of coating integrity.
solventless 2K epoxy primer overcoated with a state-
of-the-art 2K PU Acrylic topcoat. Typically, the
topcoat comprises a formulated high solids acrylic
polyol combined with an aliphatic isocyanate (usually
HDI) solventless or high solids hardener.

One major disadvantage of using isocyanate

trimer/biuret hardeners is their preferential reactivity
with moisture. During the application of the topcoat,
the isocyanate can preferentially react with moisture
to produce micro-bubbles of carbon dioxide within
the coating. Once the coating has fully cured, the
bubbles remain as defects which will seriously
compromise the integrity of the coating to protect the
wind turbine from moisture penetration and thereby
limiting the lifetime durability of the coating.

3
Benefits of oxazolidine moisture scavengers in
polyurethane protective top coats for wind turbines
case study

Study

The study investigated the impact on the cure and film properties of incorporating Incozol 2 into 2K wind
turbine topcoats. Steel panels coated with a 2K epoxy primer were overcoated with 2K acrylic PU paint with
and without Incozol 2 in the formulation.

On application, the reaction with moisture produces visible pinhole defects (below left) in comparison to the
formulation incorporating Incozol 2 (below right).

The consequences of corrosion and weathering in a defective system are shown below. The test panels were
subject to a 2000-hour anti corrosion prohesion test. Corrosion through pin-holes was clearly shown in the
coating system without Incozol 2 whilst the system incorporating Incozol 2 remained intact. This demonstrates
the poor durability caused by film gassing under harsh corrosive environments such as those experienced
offshore. The use of Incozol 2 can prevent such scenarios from occurring.

Panels after 2000 hours prohesion test. The panel without Incozol 2 shows rust through pin-holes (left).

4
The test panels were subjected to an accelerated weathering test. Each panel was coated with the same 2K PU
paint formulations, one with Incozol 2 in the formulation and one without. Both panels were cured under 90%
humidity conditions. The panels were then subjected to a 1000-hour QUV-A (ASTM G154-04 Cycle 3) test.

The figures below (left) show the gloss retention levels of the panels, with and without Incozol 2 in the paint
formulation, after exposure to the above cycle. The panels incorporating Incozol 2 obtained better gloss
retention results than those without.

From the colour retention figures below (right) the film incorporating Incozol 2 showed lower levels of yellowing
than the control formulation (without Incozol 2). These results can also confirm the better durability of the
coating brought about by the inclusion of Incozol 2.

Gloss retention after 1000-hour QUV-A Colour change after 1000-hour QUV-A
600 850

100 9
90 8
80 7
Gloss retention (%)

70
6
Delta E Unit

60
5
50
4
40
3
30
20 2

10 1

0 0
Control 2% Incozol 2 Control 2% Incozol 2

Incozol 2 – little impact on coating cure and film properties

Whilst having the benefit of preventing gassing, the addition of Incozol 2 moisture scavenger has no
detrimental impact on the film properties during the application process and in the final cured film. Due to the
low viscosity of Incozol 2, including it in the formulation can reduce the overall viscosity of the coating and also
the VOC level.

Formulation viscosity VOCs at same viscosity (25 s)

30 450

400
25
Din 4 Cup (seconds)

350

20 300
VOC (g/l)

250
15
200

10 150

100
5
50

0 0
Control 2% Incozol 2 Control 2% Incozol 2

5
Benefits of oxazolidine moisture scavengers in
polyurethane protective top coats for wind turbines
case study

From the figures shown below (left), it can be seen that the addition of Incozol 2 extends the pot life slightly
whereas the through cure rate results (below right) were similar. Incozol 2 should increase the cure rate once
the film is applied as it is a tertiary amine catalyst itself before ring opening and releases faster curing amine
after hydrolysis. This benefit would be more exaggerated as the level of Incozol 2 in the formulation is
increased.

Pot life (minutes) BK Dryer tests

160 7

140
6
Through cure (hours)
120
Pot life (minutes)

5
100
4
80
3
60
2
40

20 1

0 0
Control 2% Incozol 2 Control 2% Incozol 2

The rate of hardness development shown below (left) suggests the impact on overall hardness development is
insignificant. Likewise, the initial gloss levels (below right) are similar when Incozol 2 is included.

Hardness development Initial gloss

Control 2% Incozol 2 Control 2% Incozol 2

100 120
90
80 100
Persoz hardness (s)

70
Reflection %

80
60

50 60
40
40
30
20
20
10

0 0
6hr 1d 3d 7d 14 Gloss 20˚ Gloss 60˚ Gloss 85˚
Cure time Angles

6
Conclusion

The data demonstrates that the inclusion of Incozol 2 in 2K polyurethane protective topcoat formulations has
clear benefits.

In its capacity as a moisture scavenger, Incozol 2 will eliminate the generation of carbon dioxide gas by
preferentially reacting with moisture over isocyanate. This moisture may originate in the atmosphere or be
present in the raw materials, such as the pigments, extenders, solvents, etc. Preventing this reaction from
occurring prevents pinhole defects from appearing in the coating surface which will affect the coating integrity
and ultimately lead to corrosion of the substrate.

Whilst the data clearly shows the benefits of Incozol 2 as a moisture scavenger in the coating system, it also
shows that its inclusion in the formulation will not detrimentally affect film performance during application or in
its final cured state.

2K PU/Acrylic guide formulation incorporating Incozol 2

FORMULATION
Materials Amount (g) Supplier
PART A Synocure 852 BA 80 98 Cray Valley
DBTDL (0.02%) 0.25 (10% solution) Akcros
Tinuvin 1130 on binder (0.5%) 0.72 BYK
Tinuvin 292 on binder (0.5%) 0.72
Incozol 2 (2% replacement of polyol) 2 Incorez Ltd
Gemsperse White UX 6 (25% on solids) 68 Gemini
Butyl acetate (35% w) 68 Samuel Banner
PART B Tolonate HDT LV2 40 Perstorp
Total 277.69

Properties

% Solids 65
VOC (g/l) 415
Specific Gravity (SG) 1.19
Viscosity - Flow Cup (secs) 23

7
Manufacturers of specialist resins & polymers:
• Oxazolidines
• Waterborne epoxy curing agents
• Polyurethane dispersions
• Polyurethane/acrylic hybrid dispersions
• Polyurethane prepolymers

Incorez Limited Incorez Corporation

Iotech House • Miller Street 79 Bradley Street
Preston • Lancashire Middleton • Connecticut
PR1 1EA • England 06457 • USA

t: +44 (0)1772 201964 t: +1 (860) 613 1613

f: +44 (0)1772 255194 f: +1 (860) 613 1637
e: info@incorez.com e: info@incorez.com
w: www.incorez.com w: www.incorez.com ISSUE 1 - 03/11