AQUACER 494
Aqueous paraffin wax emulsion for care products and polishes
On October 4, 2018, the European Union (EU) agreed a re-classification of methylisothiazolinone (MIT), a common preservative for water-based products, and this was then published in the 13th ATP (Adaptation to Technical and Scientific Progress, (EU) 1480/2018). Accordingly, more stringent regulations on statutory limits and labeling requirements came into force at the EU level with effect from May 1, 2020.
By this deadline at the latest, products with an MIT concentration equal to or more than 15 ppm must be labeled with a pictogram, the signal word “Warning” and hazard statement H317 (“May cause an allergic skin reaction.”):
In Europe, contents of between 1.5 ppm to below 15 ppm must be labeled with hazard statement EUH208 (“Contains [...]. May produce an allergic reaction.”): Safety data sheet available on request. Contains 1,2-Benzisothiazol-3-one, Mixture of CMIT and MIT (3:1). May produce an allergic reaction.
In order to meet these stricter requirements on the one hand, and customers’ expectations of safe and unproblematic handling of BYK products on the other, BYK has adapted the preservative package of numerous additives in the AQUACER, AQUAMAT and BYK product ranges as well as some other water-based additives.
In this way, the proven additives remain classification-free and can continue to be used as usual without special protective measure
MIT is a very effective in-can preservative which ensures long-lasting preservation of water-based products. It is therefore used as the preferred standard preservative in a wide variety of products. In order to achieve comparable effectiveness, BYK has developed an adjusted preservative package consisting of chloromethylisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone (CMIT/MIT) in a ratio of 3:1 with a concentration limit of less than 15 ppm for MIT and benzisothiazolinone (BIT) with a concentration limit of less than 500 ppm, thereby ensuring best product preservation as well as safe application.
The formulation adjustment of the products only takes place in a range equal to or below 500 ppm. Otherwise the formulations remain unchanged, so that this has no effect whatsoever on product performance.
Should you have any further questions on the subject or require information on other BYK additives for aqueous systems, please do not hesitate to get in touch with your local BYK partner or to use our contact form.
