Vanchem’s Paint Detackification
Vanchem offers a selection of paint detackification products that will exceed your needs.
Paint detackification is a specific process in which tacky paint overspray is rendered non-tacky by chemical reaction. This is the first step in paint detackification. The second step is called flocculation. Flocculation bridges the pin-flocs together creating a floating paint sludge mat that is skimmed and removed from the system.
For solvent-borne paint detackifcation, Vanchem Performance Chemicals utilizes a low molecular weight cationic polymer. Vanchem recommends that our detack product be added prior to the paint booth to enhance chemical efficiency. Normally we inject detack into the paint booth return line so the water is chemically active before entering the paint booth. Contrast this to adding detack directly to the pit, which reduces chemical efficiency because of less intermolecular contact.
Paint overspray is forced (blown) into flowing water (waterfall) and mixed in the venturi and then via gravity flow to the under booth area. Air and water are separated in the under booth area. The air is scrubbed and exhausted to the atmosphere while the water flows by gravity back to the sludge pit.
Paint detackification sludge pit is located away from the paint area. Sludge pits as a rule are large. They range in volume anywhere between 100,000 to 200,000 litres. Some are larger still. Sludge pits need to be big to provide proper residence time for the detack reaction to occur, normally between 5 to 10 minutes. The floating pin-flocs formed in this chemical reaction travel to an overflow weir. There are many different designs, such as fixed weirs, adjustable weirs, and autoweirs. The weir works by the same premise as a pool skimmer. It draws in the floating paint sludge and pumps it to a sludge consolidator. The sludge consolidator concentrates the solids and removes them from the water.
At this point in the paint detackification process, a flocculant is added just prior to the sludge consolidator. The flocculant is a high molecular weight high charge density cationic polymer. It is made down to a 1-2% solution.
Water and suspended solids are separated in the consolidator. Water is returned to the sludge pit and removed solids are sent to a dewatering process. A good description of how paint overspray is managed by chemically treating water can be found at our article Removing Paint Overspray and Detackification.
Detackification technologies are available in two varieties, either waterborne or solvent-borne. Vanchem Performance Chemicals offers diversity in both waterborne and solvent-borne products to meet your detackification needs. See Vanchem’s Product Guide for more information of detackifiers and detackification flocculants.
Vanchem has the solution for all of your paint detackification requirements. Contact Vanchem at our Burlington national headquarters for more information.
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