Continuing development in the field of acrylic polymers for surface coating applications during the 50’s led to the commercialisation of heat curing, thermosetting acrylic (TSA) resins for use in high quality industrial coating systems for both interior and exterior applications.
Whilst retaining the excellent colour and chemical resistance properties already seen in thermoplastic acrylics, the thermosetting varieties also offer the added advantages of significantly higher application solids, improved hardness and chemical resistance. Furthermore, through judicious choice of backbone monomers, monomer levels and crosslink density, a wide spectrum of film performances can be achieved.
As a result thermosetting acrylics started to replace alkyd/amino stoving finishes in automotive, domestic appliances, metal decorating, coil coating and a number of other applications.