The Montebello Vicentino-based company, a leader in the chemical industry and alongside tanning industries around the world for 34 years, launches its IR reflective pigments on the market, specifically targeted at the automotive sector.
SYN-BIOS SpA, LOCATED in Montebello Vicentino, a manufacturer in the chemical field that has been serving tanneries all over the world for 34 years, is bringing yet another innovation to the market in a specific sector in which it is increasingly a leading player both in Italy and internationally
After having closed 2021 with a sales growth exceeding pre-pandemic levels, in the first half of 2022 the Veneto-based company, which has always been owned by the Gastaldello family, HAS launched on the market a series of reflective IR pigments specifically dedicated to the automotive sector, one of the fields that, after two years of global health crisis, is expected to register among the highest growth rates, according to economic indicators.
Enrico Gastaldello, leading the group together with his father Daniele Gastaldello, who founded SYN-BIOS in 1988, explains, “The NIR TECHNOLOGY pigment series is based on the technology of reflecting the near-infrared spectrum of sunlight (NEAR INFRARED, hence NIR). The dark colors in the series also reflect sunlight, with the advantage that the surface of the leather does not heat up. Compared with an item made with non-reflective pigments, the temperature is reduced by as much as 20°C. The colors, with high yield and coverage, have been selected and designed in order to ensure maximum fastness to light, migration on PVC and heat stability tests, as required in the production of automotive articles.”
“Always careful to anticipate what may the market demands be,” the owner points out, “SYN-BIOS has selected specific pigments that can boast the distinct feature of reflecting infrared rays, finding the right use in the automotive sector, where this requirement is obviously fundamental to give an article added value. Once again, SYN-BIOS stands out for its genuine commitment to applied research, in continuously offering value-added products, selecting specific raw materials, which, in addition to the outstanding fastness values to chemical-physical tests, also guarantee a high reflectance index.”
To learn more about the NIR TECHNOLOGY series, we spoke with Giulia Fontana, Technical Director of SYN-BIOS: “The sun is a source of radiation – her words – with a wide spectrum of wavelengths, distributed in the visible spectrum, perceived by the human eye and responsible for the perception of color, in the area of ultraviolet (UV), near infrared (NIRNear Infra-Red) and infrared (IR): the last two radiations are responsible for the increase in temperature of everything item exposed to sunlight.”
“This phenomenon,” Fontana pointed out, “produces overheating that, in the case of dark colors, which absorb most of the radiation, can reach as high as 80°C, while pastel colors, which on the contrary reflect the sun’s rays, slightly exceed 40°C. Reflective IR pigments, due to their chemical nature, have the ability of reflecting infrared rays, thus avoiding problems of excessive overheating.
From these premises the colors of the NIR TECHNOLOGY series are created, pigments designed for the automotive field, where the problem of the increase in temperature of colors exposed to the sun is particularly felt. Just think of the dark seats of a car, which during the hot months of the year remain exposed to sunlight longer: they significantly absorb IR radiation responsible for radiation heating. Negative effects to be considered are increased consumption FROM air conditioner use and premature deterioration of the polymer matrix of the finishing layer, in which pigments are included. The use of the NIR TECHNOLOGY series makes it possible to keep the temperature rise of pigmented surfaces under control even with dark colors, ensuring greater comfort of leather seat covers during the summer period. Not to be underestimated are the energy savings for cooling the passenger compartment, less deterioration of the surfaces and, consequently, a longer life of the finish.”
However, such a system boasts additional outstanding features. “In addition to these undoubted advantages, exclusive to the NIR TECHNOLOGY series,” concludes SYN-BIOS’ Technical Director, “the IR reflective pigments chosen to be part of the range also provide excellent fastness to light, migration on plasticized PVC and heat, as required in the manufacture of automotive items. In pursuit of the goal of eliminating hazardous substances from the production chain, the pigments in the NIR TECHNOLOGY series have also already been certified at ZDHC Level 3 (acronym standing for Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals), in full compliance with MRSL 2.0 (Manufacturing Restricted Substances List), which provides a list of substances whose placing on the market must be eliminated or restricted.”
“The careful selection of raw materials, the analysis of them, as well as the timely certification to ZDHC Level 3,” concludes the Montebello Vicentino company’s top management, “have entailed an investment in terms of money and time that we confidently believe can be recognized by customers for offering a range that is decidedly superior in terms of quality and performance”.
Enrico Gastaldello, CEO
Giulia Fontana, technical director di SYN-BIOS SpA