Solventloze

Solventloze, or solvent-free, describes products, formulations, and processes that do not rely on volatile organic solvents to carry components during application. In coatings, adhesives, sealants and paints, solventless systems are designed to emit little to no VOCs and to reduce flammability hazards and solvent waste. They achieve this by using reactive chemistries that cure or solidify without dissolving the components in a solvent.

Common solventless chemistries include two-component epoxy and polyurethane systems that cure by polyaddition or polycondensation, moisture-curing silicones, and hot-melt or reactive-hot-melt adhesives. These systems are formulated to cure at ambient or elevated temperatures without releasing organic solvents.

Advantages of solventless formulations include lower VOC emissions, easier compliance with environmental regulations, improved workplace safety, and reduced solvent waste. They often produce durable coatings and strong bonds. However, higher resin viscosities, thicker film thicknesses, longer cure times, and the need for specialized equipment or handling can increase application cost and complexity. Some systems are sensitive to moisture or temperature.

Applications span construction and industrial coatings, floor and electronic coatings, encapsulation of electronics, and automotive or aerospace bonding and sealing. The growing emphasis on sustainability and tighter regulatory limits on VOCs continue to drive development of solventless technologies and market adoption.

Solventless technology thus represents a category of protective, bonding and coating solutions designed to minimize solvent use while maintaining performance, with ongoing research to expand material options, processing, and long-term durability.