Biodeterioration of waterborne paint cellulose thickeners

Abstract

Cellulose ether polymers are widely used by the paint industry as thickening agents for waterborne paints and any reductions in the degree of polymerisation of these polymers will result in the loss of paint viscosity (paint thinning). Two main mechanisms of waterborne paint thinning are discussed: contamination of paint by microbial cellulolytic enzymes and an excess of oxidising and reducing agents. Different ways of preventing and controlling paint viscosity loss caused by these mechanisms are discussed and evaluated.