The United States Environmental Protection Agency presented its Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award to BASF's Automotive Refinish Coatings business for the company's eco-efficient ultraviolet (UV)-curable primer.
Patrick Prevost, president — chemicals, plastics, and performance products with BASF, accepted the award on behalf of the company at the 10th annual Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award celebration held at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington DC.
Unlike conventional urethane-based primers, which require heat and can take more than 20 minutes to cure, BASF's primer cures in just a few minutes when exposed to visible or near-UV light from UV-A lamps — or even when exposed to sunlight. UV curing eliminates the need for bake ovens and reduces energy consumption. BASF's UV-curable primer requires fewer preparation steps, is more durable, provides bettercorrosion protection, and has an unlimited shelf life.
The new primer is also much more eco-friendly, containing only 1.7 pounds of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) per gallon versus 3.5 pounds to 4.8 pounds per gallon for conventional primers — a VOC reduction of more than 50%.