Look for materials in paints and building supplies that suit cradle to cradle ideals in sustainability
It’s no secret that going forward every industry on the planet is looking to become greener and smarter. In fact, it isn’t a choice. Leading NGO commentators have made it clear that for a business to survive, it needs to take its environmental social governance responsibilities very seriously.
An industry that you’d expect to struggle would be construction. It uses a wrath of unsustainable materials on a daily basis. Happily, that seems to be changing as companies like Xiran go the extra mile to create building materials that remove and replace unsustainable elements.
Xiran specialises in SMA (styrene maleic anhydride) derivatives and additive solutions, so let’s explore the benefits in more depth.
What is Styrene Maleic Anhydride (SMA)?
Styrene maleic anhydride is a coating that has a range of applications including but not limited to wall paint, furniture coating, painting metals, and colourants and dispersions. SMA adds protection to materials enabling them to withstand water ingress, corrosion, stains and pigment dispersion.
Advantages of SMA
There are several advantages of using an SMA coating. Let’s explore these in more depth:
Protects surfaces from water – Water can do a lot of damage if it manages to penetrate a material. It can render the material obsolete and it has to be replaced. SMA protects against water penetration and as such any material that is exposed to the weather is now impervious to and repels water. This is called hydrophobia.
Protects against glass transition – When a material such as PVC is manufactured, they go through changes when the material is cooled. To keep the rigidity, durability, and hardness of materials, SMA coatings are used to keep the material stable when it comes under temperature stress. Once applied, the material is now protected from corrosion, scratching, and abrasion, and is overall easier to clean.
Compatible with other resin systems – One significant advantage SMA has is that it is compatible with other resin systems. As such, the trade-off in performance is significantly decreased and often the SMA coating adds to the performance, look, and creates a better end product.
It’s highly versatile – SMA is also an extremely versatile product. It can be combined with alcohols and amines to adapt it to various uses such as dispersants, emulsifiers and surface modifiers. It can also be used with co-resin and matting agents.
SMA and Sustainability
Polymers can be made sustainably
One of the key aspects of using SMA is its sustainability properties. Traditional solvent use is comprised of unsustainable substances that while offering good performance is not so great for the future.
SMA replaces many of the unsustainable ingredients but still delivers exceptional performance, especially in the areas of stain and scrub resistance.
It is durability and performance that promotes sustainability by design. By enhancing and prolonging the life of a material, SMA adds sustainability to a material reducing repair and maintenance times which tend to involve the use of other materials and tools that may have a sustainability cost.
When sustainability is factored in, then products such as SMA are the future and the way forward.
Author: Bhok Thompson
Bhok Thompson is an “eco-tinkerer” who thrives at the intersection of sustainability, business, and cutting-edge technology. With a background in mechanical engineering and a deep fascination with renewable energy, Bhok has dedicated his career to developing innovative solutions that bridge environmental consciousness with profitability. A frequent contributor to Green Prophet, Bhok writes about futuristic green tech, urban sustainability, and the latest trends in eco-friendly startups. His passion for engineering meets his love for business as he mentors young entrepreneurs looking to create scalable, impact-driven companies. Beyond his work, Bhok is an avid collector of vintage mechanical watches, believing they represent an era of precision and craftsmanship that modern technology often overlooks. Reach out: [email protected]
