Shenzhen introduced new furniture standards to ban solvent-based coatings

The main harmful substances in paint are formaldehyde, benzene, TVOC and so on
.
TVOC i.
e.
, total volatile organic compounds, including benzene, toluene, xylene and the like
.
It is not only the precursor of PM2.
5, but also the main component of photochemical pollution
.


The outline of the "13th Five-Year Plan" is clear.
We will promote the total emission control of volatile organic compounds in key regions and key industries, and reduce the total national emissions by more than 10%
.


Key industries include petrochemicals, organic chemicals, surface coating, packaging, printing and so on
.


One of the "Shenzhen Standards" (furniture) led by the Shenzhen Furniture Industry Association, the "Limited Standards for Hazardous Substances in Finished Furniture and Raw and Auxiliary Materials", has recently passed the review and approval of the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government for implementation
.
The "Shenzhen Standard" (furniture) will be officially implemented on January 1, 2017, and the use of solvent-based coatings and solvent-based adhesives in Shenzhen will be completely banned from May 1, 2017
.


What is solvent-based paint? Why should it be banned? For consumers, how can they tell whether the furniture uses solvent-based coatings? With these questions, the reporter interviewed relevant experts
.


Why ban solvent-based coatings?

"Solvent-based coatings mainly contain harmful organic solvents
.
" said Peng Yingdeng, a researcher at the National Urban Environmental Pollution Control Technology Research Center
.


What are the organic solvents used in solvent-based coatings? Why should it be disabled? According to Zhang Ren, secretary-general of the Residential Decoration Committee of the China Building Decoration Association, architectural coatings are divided into solvent-based coatings and water-based coatings according to different diluents
.
Solvent-based coatings are architectural coatings made of organic solvents as a dispersion medium.
Most of them use formaldehyde as a diluent.
They are currently the most widely used and mainstream coatings, and their main varieties are also called paints
.


  At present, the main types of coatings and adhesives used in the furniture industry are solvent-based, accounting for about 95%.
The thinners used in solvent-based coatings are mostly toxic and harmful to the human body
.
Especially solvent-based coatings will release toxic organic solvents during the curing process, which can cause chronic poisoning if the human body inhales them for a long time
.


  In addition to affecting human health, the organic solvents in solvent-based coatings also have a negative impact on the environment
.
Peng Yingdeng explained: “Organic solvents become precursors of atmospheric photochemical reactions after volatilization, and are the main source of photochemical smog
.
” According to data released by the China Painting Industry Association, the total amount of VOCs emitted by the coating industry into the atmosphere each year About 4.
3 million tons, of which paint accounts for about 98%
.
Banning the use of solvent-based coatings can effectively reduce Shenzhen’s VOCs emissions by about 40%, and reduce the degree and scope of photochemical pollution
.


  Although solvent-based coatings are not friendly to the human body and the environment, but because they can provide a wide range of solubility, the polymer film-forming material of solvent-based coatings has strong aging, good adhesion, smooth coating, abrasion resistance, and acid resistance.
It has good properties such as resistance and water resistance.
Therefore, solvent-based coatings are still widely used in many fields
.


What to use instead of solvent-based paint?

  Since solvent-based coatings have many shortcomings, what should be used to replace them? A new type of environmentally friendly paint, water-based paint, is expected to become a substitute for paint
.


  Zhang Ren introduced that water-based paint is a new high-tech material that is polymerized by polymer to produce zero aldehyde and zero benzene
.
The essential difference between water-based paint and paint is that the solvent used in water-based paint is water, and the organic solvent used in paint
.


  Peng Yingdeng told reporters: "Compared with paint, water-based paint does not contain organic solvents, so there is no VOCs emission
.
" Therefore, compared with paint, water-based paint has the characteristics of low formaldehyde, low irritating odor, and environmental protection.
It is currently in the world.
Promote water-based paint
.
The utilization rate of water-based paint in western developed countries has reached more than 80%
.


  Statistics show that China has an annual furniture consumption capacity of about 500 billion yuan, making it the largest furniture consumer market in the world
.
If we use non-toxic, odorless, healthy and environmentally friendly water-based paints, it will completely solve the problem of air pollution caused by solvent-based coatings, reduce a lot of VOCs, and have a positive impact on human health and the environment
.
Zhang Ren pointed out: "The furniture industry should force the use of water-based paints and eliminate traditional paints
.
"

  Although water-based paints are more environmentally friendly than paints, market awareness is not high, and relatively high costs and spraying process requirements hinder them.
The market popularity of water-based paint
.
The cost of water-based paint furniture is 30%-50% higher than the cost of painted furniture.
In addition, not only the replacement of paint, but also the transformation of production lines and product changes, it requires investment of tens of millions of funds, and it will take at least two years to complete the entire transformation
.
Therefore, few businesses are willing to produce water-based paint furniture
.
At present, the market share of water-based paint furniture in China is only 5%
.


  In order to promote environmentally friendly water-based paint, on July 1, 2015, Beijing formally implemented the "Wooden Furniture Manufacturing Air Pollutant Emission Standards" to promote the withdrawal of paint from the market and require that furniture manufacturers be inspected in 2017 to reduce air pollution And volatiles
.
In 2017, the Shenzhen Municipal Commission of Human Settlements and Environment will also focus on promoting the "oil-to-water" transformation of the furniture industry, increase support and inspections, and plan to introduce policies to provide financial support for enterprises, accelerate the application of water-based paint, and promote the "oil-to-water conversion".
”And other environmental protection technology development
.


How to distinguish water-based paint?

  So how can we tell whether the furniture uses water-based paint? Peng Yingdeng pointed out: “For consumers, the distinction between paint and water-based paint is mainly based on the smell
.
Water-based paint generally has no irritating taste
.
”

  Zhang Ren said: “Ordinary consumers can use the methods of smelling, seeing, and asking more to identify water-based paints and paints
.
” To

  smell more is to smell the smell
.
The paint emits a lot of pungent odors, which may irritate the eyes and nasal mucosa, cause tears, make the nose uncomfortable, and some may cause allergies
.
The water-based paint is non-toxic, tasteless, and does not contain harmful chemicals
.


  Look more, just look at the logo
.
Some paints are odorless by adding flavors or using low-odor materials
.
Consumers must pay more attention to whether the product-related environmental protection indicators meet the standards when purchasing
.
Secondly, the water-based paint coating is relatively thin, and you can feel the texture of the wood itself when you look carefully or touch it, and the coating film is also relatively soft
.
The paint film is very smooth and hard
.


  Ask more, just ask sales
.
When buying, ask more about the qualifications of the sales staff, the manufacturer's coating conditions, etc.
, and try to choose products produced and sold by regular manufacturers
.