| VOCs are considered to be organic compounds in paint formulations (either as individual ingredients of the formula or as part of eg. an intermediate raw material) that have :
A.) a vapour pressure >0.01mm Hg at 21C, or
B.) an initial boiling point <250C measured at a standard pressure of 101.3kPA. (Source: APAS) Conventional paints can make the air you breathe a chemical cocktail, even long after they have dried, as they continue to release petroleum based solvents, called Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) as they cure. Typical oil-based paint averages 350g/L VOCs, or between 35-50% of the paints volume. Even most water-based acrylics contain 3-7% solvent content. The VOC content of paint and the CO2 emitted during manufacture are key contributors to environmental impact - primarily in the form of air pollution (petrochemical smog) and to a lesser degree 'greenhouse gases'. The smaller the VOC content, the less the paint is off-gassing into the surrounding atmosphere. Typical VOCs contained in paints include ammonia, acetone, toulene, xylene.
|
