{"id":19003,"date":"2025-03-12T07:16:25","date_gmt":"2025-03-12T13:16:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ulprospector.com\/knowledge\/?p=19003"},"modified":"2025-04-02T07:59:56","modified_gmt":"2025-04-02T13:59:56","slug":"pc-paint-that-lasts-for-us-fungicides-in-coatings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ulprospector.ul.com\/19003\/pc-paint-that-lasts-for-us-fungicides-in-coatings\/","title":{"rendered":"Paint That Lasts for Us – Fungicides in Coatings"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Various takes on the \u201cZombie Apocalypse\u201d make for very popular science fiction scenarios. Many root causes of the resulting global disasters are explored including viruses, secret military experiments gone awry and even cosmic rays. At least two sci fi franchises place the blame on organisms not often thought of as catalysts for the end of civilization, Fungi<\/em><\/strong>. Both \u201cThe Last of Us\u201d and \u201cThe Girl with All the Gifts\u201d envision a post-apocalyptic world where mutated Cordyceps fungi infect humans, turning them into rampaging, flesh-eating undead creatures. Luckily, the fungi that affect coatings are not that destructive in comparison.<\/p>\n

Fungi attack coatings in less dramatic ways than the renegade Cordyceps <\/em>of fiction and video games. Degradation of coatings from fungal contamination can occur both in the can and on the applied dry film. Preventing the damage inflicted by fungi is important to maintain customer expectations of product quality and durability. There is a wide range of anti-fungal agents approved by various regulatory agencies for use in paints and coatings. Mold and mildew are the most common fungal contaminates of paints. Algae can also damage dry paint films in use. It is fortunate for the coatings formulator that many dry film fungicides also exhibit anti-algal activity.<\/p>\n

Fungi were once classified in the Plant Kingdom, but now have their own Kingdom. Yeasts, molds, mildews, and mushrooms are commonly encountered members of\u00a0 Kingdom Fungi. In some ways they are actually biologically closer to animals than plants. A key difference between fungi and plants is the fact that fungi, like animals, are heterotrophs and absorb their food as dissolved molecules. Fungi typically excrete digestive enzymes into their environment to create these soluble molecules. A 2017 estimate placed the number of fungus species at 2.2 to 3.8 million. Fungi occur in many forms and have evolved into symbiotic and parasitic organisms as well as free-living life forms.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Fungicides<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Fungicides are a subclass of biocides<\/a> used to control fungal contamination in paints and other products. Depending on the nature of the fungicide<\/a> it may act in the container, on the painted surface or both. This article will give a basic run down of the chemical classes of fungicides, what types of organisms they protect against, and whether they act as in-can or dry film preservatives. Classes of fungicides that also protect against algae will be noted. Secondly, it will outline techniques to optimize your fungicide package depending on your preservation needs and regulations applicable to the use of fungicides in paints.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Chemical Families of Fungicides<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are six major groupings of fungicides based on chemical structure. Let’s review each, outlining the types of organisms it protects against contamination from and whether it acts in-can, as a dry-film preservative, or both.<\/p>\n

A. Isothiazolinones (the basic building block structure of the class is shown below)
\nare one of the most widely used and versatile classes of fungicides since they are active against bacteria and algae as well as fungi. There are many commercial isothiazolinone compounds used in coatings, often in combination with others in the class or other preservatives. Commercial Isothiazolinone based fungicides include:<\/p>\n

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