As communities build the cities of the future, today's construction product manufacturers have an opportunity to deliver next-generation, higher performing, and more sustainable materials.

With 100 years of innovation and service in the construction coatings industry, Univar Solutions is ready to help meet the demands of growing CASE (coatings, adhesives, sealants, elastomers), rubber and plastic additives markets.

As a leading supply chain and distribution partner, Univar Solutions is the go-to source for construction chemicals and ingredients, large or small, specialty or commodity. Our ingredient specialists and CASE Labs located in our Solution Centers across the Americas and Europe provide technical resources to help you develop better construction solutions – better for consumers and better for the planet.

We are supporting innovation and distribution for construction applications including:

• Asphalt modifiers
• Concrete modifiers and coatings
• Insulation, foam, and polyurethanes
• Maintenance coatings
• Reflective roof coatings and chemistries
• Sustainable coatings
• + many more

Innovation in ingredients and specialties is shaping the future of construction.

Formulators are exploring solutions that go beyond the "same old" high-carbon concrete and cement, creating new material formulations, adhesives, and coatings solutions that move away from high VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and products containing APEOs (alkylphenol ethoxylates).

Univar Solutions lab services and product specialists have created custom solutions with leading ingredient suppliers to bring you the latest performance materials to help you get started on your next innovation.

Formulate with our ingredient guides for your new construction products, including low VOC, APEO-free and water based epoxy concrete coating solutions.

Purpose built for sustainability: How can CASE companies and product makers benefit?

CASE ingredients, materials, and their applications have always been at the forefront of innovation, helping assets last longer or boosting resistance to weather and environmental effects. You might say CASE applications were sustainable before sustainability was a trend, especially when applied to critical infrastructure and construction applications to improve safety, inhibit corrosion, and increase asset life.

But while the industry has long been focused on traditional considerations like regulatory compliance and reducing VOCs, today's expanded ESG definitions include broader societal impacts and the circular economy – ultimately meaning more accountability but also more opportunity throughout the value chain.

Material considerations for future construction projects

Advanced materials and technologies abound in the CASE markets to help companies get better positioned to benefit from the expected tide in infrastructure construction projects.
Here are some major product and application categories for companies to consider:

• Concrete modifiers and coatings that extend surface life while protecting from weather and corrosivity will be in high demand. Historic chemistries like acrylics and epoxies are becoming easier to use and better for the environment, while new high-performance polymers, resins, and additives enhance numerous performance attributes with quantifiable benefits for formulators and specifiers.
• Roof coatings and chemistries are increasingly valuable to construction success as project planners and designers seek to minimize maintenance costs while optimizing energy consumption. New reflective coatings and weatherproofing technologies help maximize energy efficiency within the built environment while reducing urban heat effects and extending asset life. Longer-lasting roof coatings will help minimize the risk of tear down and landfill waste from structural damage, a growing concern as weather events continue to affect asset/building life.
• Maintenance coatings to protect investment in infrastructure assets cannot be overestimated. Key performance attributes such as VOC safety and compliance, metal adhesion, rust and corrosion resistance, UV durability, and weatherability will be prioritized on projects that qualify for funding. With today’s sustainable technologies extending a bridge recoat schedule from five years to up to 25 years, project owners will want to take advantage of improved worker safety, longer asset life, and decreased maintenance costs.
• Construction adhesives must be able to withstand harsh conditions with high strength and resistance to chemicals and environments, holding buildings and critical infrastructure together for the long run. These high-performance materials include caulks, sealants, and contact cements made from improved polymers, resins, and related materials. Lightweight products with less space available for connection are driving adhesives and sealants market growth in the industrial sector.
• Asphalt modifications are helping to make this common and economical construction material more durable and longer lasting. Companies are exploring trends like “cool pavements,” fast-drying asphalt emulsions, and reflective heat properties that will be especially attractive for large roadway, airport, and port projects. Modified asphalts made with performance additives can help improve automotive and other transportation fluid resistance.
• Insulation, foam, and polyurethanes are basic components of the construction industry, and new materials and technologies around insulative fillers, protective wraps, and liquid-applied air barriers, as well as fiberglass, are helping designers and specifiers take energy efficiency of the built environment to the next level.

Partner with Univar Solutions to take a brand-new idea from inception to specification with these civil and municipal projects in mind. Our Performance Materials product, technical, marketing, and sales teams have the specialty knowledge to help your products and services get noticed.