Which characteristic distinguishes coalescence curing?

Coalescence curing is a process commonly found in latex coatings where the film-forming materials are dispersed in water or another solvent. In this process, as the coating dries, the particles of resin in the liquid state start to come into contact with each other. Once they achieve sufficient contact, they fuse together to form a continuous film.

The hallmark of this process is that it does not require the addition of catalysts to facilitate the fusion of the resin particles. Catalyst-free production means that the process relies primarily on the physical chemistry of the resin particles and the behavior of the solvents involved, rather than needing to introduce any chemicals that might accelerate the setting or hardening of the film. This characteristic gives coalescence curing a distinctive method of achieving a durable coating compared to other curing methods that may depend on heat, solvent evaporation, or additional chemical reactions.

In contrast, some curing mechanisms depend on external factors like heat to initiate a reaction, rely heavily on solvent evaporation for hardening, or experience extended curing times due to additional processes. Coalescence curing's self-sufficient nature makes it particularly advantageous in many applications where simplicity and efficiency are prioritized.