Alkyd resins are oil modified polyesters with film forming characteristics in paints and clear coatings. The oil content can vary in chain length resulting in one of three types of resin descriptions: long oil alkyds have greater than 60% fatty acid by weight, medium oil alkyds have approx. 40-60%, short oil alkyds have <40%. The type of oil used can also vary; some examples are vegtable oil, linseed oil, sunflower oil, coconut oil, and tall oil fatty acids. Qualities such as drying time, weatherability, hardness, and mechanical properities are impacted based on oil chain length. Applications for all alkyds include artchitectural coatings, metal coatings, primers, wood coatings, stains, and varnishes. Low VOC coatings are achievable using alkyd resins.

We have a range of silicone resins for high temperature applications. These resins are used widely as a binder for heat resistant and anti-corrosion paint systems. Our resins offer tack free drying along with good film hardness. Understanding what kind of substrate and primer are being used will help our team of experts recommend the best grade suited for your needs.

• Polyester
• Ethylene Vinyl Acetate

100% acrylic resins in interior and exterior latex paints offer better stain protection, greater water resistance, better adhesion, greater resistance to cracking and blistering, and resistance to alkali cleaners. Acrylic resins are also considered extremely weatherproof, making it ideal for outdoor applications.

Acrylic resins, when combined with the hydrophobic monomer Styrene, create a versatile range of resins that provide improved water resistance and moisture-vapor transmission rate. Designing a sytrene acrylic resin at a specific Tg value is easily achievable. As a result, SA resins are durable and provide good abrasion resistance. Other key advantages of SA resins are ability to self-crosslink, broad tensile and elongation, excellent mechanical properities, ideal gloss and stain resistance. They also have good adhesion to a variety of substrates such as wood, aluminum, and galvanized steel.

With the addition of vinyl acetate to acrylic monomers, vinyl acrylic resins tend to be extensively used in interior architectural paints and adhesives. Vinyl acrylics are a good option for interior paints due adhesion to numerous substrates, flexibility, and scrub resistance. Due to their high viscosity, VA resins offer excellent peel and tack properities making them a first choice for putty, adhesives, and plaster.

We have alkali swellable emulsion (ASE), as well as hydrophobically modified alkali swellable emulsions (HASE), thickeners for a broad range of applications including coatings, hobby craft paints, specialty adhesives, glues, and sealants.

Fumed Silica, also known as silicon dioxide and amphorous silica, is used as a filler or flow control additive in many applications. Fumed silica consists of submicron particles that fuse together to form branches of new particles resulting with grades of various surface areas and low bulk densities. It is known as a universal thickening, rheology, or anticaking agent. There are hydrophobic (treated) and hydrophillic (untreated) grades of fumed silica. Selection of grade will depend on the solvents and resins used in your formula. Advantages of using fumed silica include rheology control (sag resistance, anti-settling), reinforcement(tensile strength, elongation, and tear strength), and free flow additive (anti-caking). Applications for fumed silica are endless as it is used across many industries. It is commonly used in coatings, inks, adhesives, sealants, construction, silicones, elastomers, and cosmetics.

As a silicate mineral from the mines of Austria, Aspanger Mica is a finely ground Muscovite mineral powder and, unlike competing brands, is purely white in color and virtually crystalline Silica free (quartz content of <1%). UMC has exclusivity of Aspanger Mica in the USA.

Why Use Mica?

Mica has the highest aspect ratio of all minerals – ~60:1. A higher aspect ratio with the same particle sizes means enhanced physical properties due to more mica particles. Mica is an excellent choice for exterior coatings due to high water resistance, chemical resistance and UV resistance. It has low water and oil absorption and is easy to disperse. It creates a tortuous path for stains to pass through making it an excellent stain blocking additive.

In the paint industry, Mica is used as a pigment extender that facilitates suspension, reduces chalking, prevents shrinking and shearing of the paint film. Additionally, it increases the resistance of the paint film to water penetration and weathering and brightens the tone of colored pigments. Further benefits of Mica in the paints and coatings applications include anti-fouling, anti-settling (rheology modifier), anti-corrosive, anti-tarnish and anti-seizing agent. Overlapping layers of mica platelets form a tough shield that improves paint integrity and durability. Mica can be mixed right into oil or acrylic paint as well as clay and plaster.

In construction, it can be used in joint compounds as well as an additive to reduce shrinkage and cracking of concrete. Mica can also be used to offer a decorative flaky mica look or granite look in cultured stone.

Applications of Mica are vast and include but are not limited to:

• Paints (architectural, exterior, metal, high heat)
• Coatings
• Adhesives
• Construction
• Roof Coatings
• Stain Blocking
• Plastics & Compounds
• Rubber
• Fire Extinguishers/Fire Suppression
• Decorative Cosmetics
• Biological Agriculture
• Sound Dampening Materials
• Drilling Mud
• Dry Wall Mud

UMC has partnered with BCS, a domestic EPA-approved producer of biocides. Their antimicrobial solutions are tailored to specific applications including preservation and a wide variety of approved process treatments. Process treatment using our biocides will provide preservation and lend stability to systems, preventing spoilage or lack of efficacy in the finished product. The main range of chemistries we offer include Isothiazolin (CMIT/MIT, MIT), Benzisothiazolin (BIT), Bronopol, Thione (Dazomet), Glutaraldehyde, and DBNPA.

Silane coupling agents from BRB International are adhesion promoters that work in the area between an inorganic (such as glass, metal, or mineral) and an organic substrate (such as an organic polymer, coating, adhesive). They act as a bonding or bridging agent to improve the adhesion between the two dissimilar materials. Silane coupling agents also improve dispersion during mixing of resins and fillers, and improve the mechanical strength, water and heat resistance, transparency, adhesion and other properties of the composite materials.

TA 95 is a multi-functional specialty additive containing 95% 2-Amino-2-Methyl-1-Proponal and 5% added water which offers opportunities for outstanding performance and sustainable end-user value. This liquid has a relavitely low molecular weight, odor, and viscosity. It remains liquid at temperatures as low as -2C/29F to ensure easy handling in all climates. It is most commonly used as a pH modifier in coating systems. Applications include architectural coatings, pigment dispersions, latex emulsion paints, and metalworking fluids.

Triglycidyl Isocyanurate (TGIC) is a synthetic, white powder used mainly as a three-dimensional cross-linking or curing agent in polyester powder coatings (paints). These powder coatings usually contain between 4 and 10% TGIC.

UMC offers a variety of Diatomaceous Earth grades. Each of our natural, calcined, and flux-calcined DE grades have low density, high porosity, and high surface area properties. All of the DE we offer is mined and processed in the United States.

Due to the small size and porosity, it is perfect for filtration. The pores trap bacteria, suspended solids, and some viruses which make it a superior filter aid for industries such as pool & spa, beer, wine, fruit juices, syrup, and honey. Our SwimPool DE filters dirt, algae, and amoeba down to 3-5 microns to keep pools sparkling clean.

Diatomaceous Earth fillers are used as a flattening/matting agent in paints and coatings industry. The combination of their high brightness, irregular structure, and high absorption make it an excellent choice to alter gloss and sheen, extend primary pigments, and enhance coating adhesion. It can be included as a whitening agent and extender in white paints to reduce costs of TiO2.

Perlite ore can be used as is from when it is mined or heated until it expands like popcorn. It is an amorphous volcanic glass that has a relatively high water content. It is commercially used for its low density and matting/flattening properities in paints and coatings. It also offers insulating, fireproofing, and pest-proofing properties.

UMC offers an ultra fine perlite BF grade which is the next generation matting agent for water based architectural paints. This ultra-fine perlite exhibits effective and efficient matting properties while minimizing any negative effect on a paint films integrity.

MicroLite is produced by the synthesized delamination – or chemical exfoliation – of vermiculite. It is available as both a free-flowing dry powder and as aqueous colloidal dispersions. The vermiculite dispersions fall into two broad categories: unformulated and formulated products. Because of the many unique features of this product, MicroLite offers numerous benefits when used as films, fillers, coatings, and binders. It also offers heat and fire resistance in coatings, construction insulation, and textiles.

United Mineral & Chemical is proud to be the exclusive distributor for Stikloporas, a Lithuanian manufacturer, of expanded glass granules in NAFTA. Expanded glass is a white inorganic thermal insulating material made from recycled glass, in the form of small porous granules. Stikloporas’ cutting edge technology produces lightweight particles in a wide range of sizes allows formulators the ability to incorporate these and other benefits into a variety of cementitious and polymer based products.

Applications include light weighting for concrete, plasters and dry mixes, construction panels, drop ceiling panels, polymer concrete and 3D printing. Expanded glass also has improved thermal and sound dampening properties.

We offer a line of finished coatings that offer single application solution to graffiti that can easily be applied using standard spray, brush or roller equipment. We have clear, pigmented and low VOC options.