Industrial Grade Diatomite Powder For Coating And Paint Industry Enhancing Scratch Resistance And Weather Resistance Suitable For Architectural And Wood Coatings
The coating and paint industry is constantly pursuing higher performance standards to meet the diverse needs of different application scenarios. As buildings, furniture, and industrial equipment are exposed to various environmental factors, properties such as scratch resistance, weather resistance, and stability have become key factors for customers to choose coatings. In this highly competitive market, diatomaceous earth powder (diatomite powder) has gradually emerged as an important functional additive in coating formulations, offering a unique combination of physical and chemical properties that significantly enhance the performance of coatings.
The success of diatomaceous earth powder in the coating industry can be attributed to its distinctive characteristics. Its unique porous structure, high hardness, and good compatibility with coating resins make it an ideal additive for improving both the mechanical and protective properties of coatings. The porous nature of diatomaceous earth powder provides excellent adsorption capabilities, which can be harnessed to improve weather resistance and durability. Additionally, its fine particle size and hardness contribute to enhanced scratch resistance and wear resistance, making it widely used in architectural coatings, wood coatings, and industrial protective coatings.
In architectural coatings, especially exterior wall coatings, diatomaceous earth powder's weather resistance and anti-pollution performance are highly valued. Exterior wall coatings are constantly exposed to harsh natural environments, including strong ultraviolet radiation, rain erosion, dust accumulation, and temperature fluctuations, which can lead to problems such as coating fading, chalking, and peeling over time. By adding 2-5% diatomaceous earth powder to acrylic exterior wall coatings, a dense protective film can be formed on the coating surface, significantly enhancing its ability to withstand environmental degradation.
The porous structure of diatomite powder plays a crucial role in improving the weather resistance of coatings. It can absorb ultraviolet rays, reducing the damage of UV radiation to the coating resin and delaying the aging process. This is particularly important for exterior wall coatings, as prolonged exposure to sunlight can cause significant degradation of the coating material. To illustrate the effectiveness of diatomaceous earth powder, let's consider the results of artificial accelerated aging testing. After 2000 hours of testing, which simulates strong UV exposure, high temperature, and humidity cycles, the gloss retention rate of coatings containing diatomaceous earth powder is above 85%, while that of coatings without diatomaceous earth powder is only 65-70%. The color difference of the former is less than 1.5, which is far lower than the industry standard of ΔE < 3.0, effectively maintaining the color stability of the exterior wall.
In addition to weather resistance, diatomaceous earth powder can also improve the anti-pollution performance of architectural coatings. Through appropriate surface modification, the hydrophobicity of diatomaceous earth powder can be enhanced, reducing the adhesion of dust and rainwater on the coating surface. This self-cleaning property allows rainwater to easily wash away the dust, keeping the exterior wall clean for a long time. A real-world example from a high-rise residential community in South China demonstrates this advantage. The community used exterior wall coatings added with 3% diatomaceous earth powder. After 5 years of use, the exterior wall still maintained a bright color, and there was no obvious chalking or peeling phenomenon. In contrast, the exterior walls of adjacent communities using ordinary coatings showed obvious fading and chalking after just 3 years, requiring repainting and incurring additional maintenance costs.
In wood coatings, diatomaceous earth powder plays a key role in enhancing scratch resistance and filling performance. Wood products such as furniture and floors are prone to scratches and wear during use, which not only affects their appearance but also reduces their service life. By adding 1-3% diatomaceous earth powder to polyurethane wood coatings, the hardness of the coating film can be significantly improved. The pencil hardness of the coating film can reach 2H-3H, compared to only HB-1H for ordinary polyurethane coatings. This substantial increase in hardness significantly improves the scratch resistance of wood products.
Moreover, the fine particles of diatomaceous earth powder can effectively fill the tiny pores on the wood surface, creating a smoother and more uniform coating film. This not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of the wood but also improves the adhesion between the coating and the wood substrate, ensuring better durability. A comparative test conducted by a furniture manufacturer in Guangdong clearly demonstrated the benefits of using diatomaceous earth powder. Furniture coated with wood coatings containing diatomaceous earth powder showed no obvious scratches after 500 times of friction with a steel wool (grade 0000) under a load of 500g, while furniture coated with ordinary coatings had obvious scratches after just 300 times of friction. This indicates that diatomaceous earth powder can effectively extend the service life of wood furniture, providing both functional and economic benefits.
Our company takes pride in providing high-quality diatomaceous earth powder products specifically designed for the coating industry. Our product range covers a wide spectrum of particle sizes, ranging from 300 mesh to 2000 mesh, to meet the diverse requirements of different coating applications. The 300-500 mesh diatomite powder is particularly suitable for architectural exterior wall coatings, as it can strike a perfect balance between the reinforcing effect and coating fluidity. On the other hand, the 800-1200 mesh diatomite powder is ideal for interior wall coatings and wood coatings, ensuring a smooth and even coating film.
The main technical indicators of our products are carefully controlled to meet the highest industry standards. Our diatomaceous earth powder has a SiO₂ content of ≥88%, Al₂O₃ content of ≤5%, Fe₂O₃ content of ≤1.5%, moisture content of ≤3%, and whiteness of ≥85 (for high-white products). We understand that different coating applications may require specific properties, and thus, we offer the flexibility to adjust the whiteness and particle size distribution according to the specific requirements of our coating customers. For high-end interior wall coatings, we can provide high-whiteness diatomite powder (whiteness ≥90) to ensure the color saturation and aesthetic appeal of the coatings.
To ensure the consistent quality of our diatomaceous earth powder for coatings, our production process incorporates advanced purification technology. We utilize a multi-step purification process, including gravity separation, flotation, and calcination, to effectively remove impurities such as clay and iron minerals present in the raw ore. The calcination process, which is carried out in a rotary kiln at a temperature of 800-1000°C, not only improves the purity of diatomite powder but also enhances its porous structure and adsorption capacity. This results in a high-quality product that meets the stringent requirements of the coating industry.
Each batch of our products undergoes strict quality inspection using state-of-the-art testing equipment. We conduct comprehensive tests, including particle size testing using a laser particle size analyzer, whiteness testing using a whiteness meter, and oil absorption testing using the linseed oil method. The oil absorption value of our diatomaceous earth powder ranges from 150-200g/100g, which is suitable for most coating formulations and can effectively adjust the viscosity and rheology of the coating, ensuring optimal application performance.
