A generic solvent selection methodology for the model-based design of a coating formulation

It is known that solvents account for one third of the cost in coating formulations and are extremely important in order to deliver the active ingredient (pigment and binder) of the formulation. They are vital in conferring the final aesthetic and functional properties of the coating [1]. Therefore, the selection of the solvent mixture is a critical step in coating formulation design. A generic solvent selection methodology for the model-based design of coating formulations is developed in order to aid a formulation chemist to quickly arrive at a solvent mixture with the desired physico-chemical and environmental, health and safety (EH&S) properties. Such a model-based methodology is useful as it can reduce the search space for the solvent mixture. The applicability of this algorithm has been tested via a case-study on solvent mixture design for an acrylic-based organic coating.