Acrylic Lacquer availability

[Thomas N.]

I am hearing more and more of Acrylic Lacquer not being available due to its hazards to the environment. I've sprayed many cars with acrylic lacquer and other catalyzed paints such as 2 part epoxies, Acrylic Enamel with hardener, and catalyzed Polyurethane. From a toxicity point of view, Acrylic Lacquer is way down on the food chain. Heck, we've all seen the factory photos of painters painting in the factory spray booths without even a particle mask. You can't do that with the catylized paints. I can't understand why this paint is becoming unavailable and these others paint technologies are not a problem getting. Could it just be that this is an old technology paint, and not worth it for jobbers to carry all of the tints, bases and items for the acrylic lacquers? Does anyone know what the compound in Acrylic Lacquer that is the environmental issue?

[Steven S.]

Re: Acrylic Lacquer availability

You are correct in the fact that 2k urethanes are more of a problem for the painter than lacquers are/were. But the main problem is the solvent emissions. Since you have painted with both, you remember that you reduce the lacquer far more than the urethane putting move solvent in it. The lacquer is already much lower in solids than the 2k products before you reduced it, so when ready to spray it is even more loaded with solvent. None of that solvent stays in the coating after it is cured. It all goes in the air as a organic compounds that are hazardous to the ozone layer. Companies like GM aren ow limited to just 50,000 lbs of each of these compounds emitted a year and a total of 100,000 lbs of any combination. When a gallon lacquer reduced weighs 10 lbs (aprox) and 75% or more is solvent - it does not take long to get 100,000 lbs on a production line. Same goes for a production auto refinisher but they are under less restrictive regulations right now. These solvents are also hazardous to humans and more of them is not good. These are monitored by the EPA under HAPS regulations (hazardous air polutants) Most solvents fall under both areas. Interestinly Acetone does not fall under either but is too fast a solvent to be the only solvent in the coating.

Steve

[Thomas N.]

Re: Acrylic Lacquer availability

Thanks for the insight! I understand the situation a lot better!

[Philip C.]

Not to mention LEAD *NM*

[Ray C.]

Re: Not to mention LEAD

Hi! Phil

I thought that lead was removed from lacquer that is available today. The removal of lead is one of the reasons that todays lacquer is not as durable as the lacquer that was originally used on Corvettes.

Ray