This high-performance catalyst from Milliken offers a fast-drying solution for alkyd coatings while significantly reducing Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) content.
Borchers, a brand of global manufacturing leader Milliken & Company, has unveiled its latest innovation in coating additives: Borchi® Dragon Low VOC.
Designed to help coatings formulators meet tightening regulatory demands across the globe, Borchi® Dragon Low VOC delivers excellent drying performance in both solvent-borne and solvent-free alkyd systems. The product contains just 2% VOC content
(as measured by ASTM D2369), supporting compliance with increasingly stringent environmental standards without compromising on speed or effectiveness.
Crucially, the catalyst is free from cobalt—a common additive in traditional driers that has come under regulatory scrutiny in both the European Union and the United States due to health concerns. Instead, Borchi® Dragon Low VOC relies on a manganese-based formulation, helping manufacturers reduce reliance on materials classified as carcinogenic or toxic.
“We are committed to providing advanced additive technologies that anticipate regulatory trends and enable sustainable innovation. Borchi® Dragon Low VOC is another example of our proactive approach, aligning with Milliken’s broader sustainability goals and our continued recognition by EcoVadis with a gold rating,” has stated Jeff Losch, Vice-President and Coating Additives Business Manager at Milliken.
In addition to its environmental advantages, the catalyst offers several performance benefits: a higher flash point for improved safety in handling, reduced yellowing, and enhanced surface hardness compared to conventional low-VOC driers. It is also up to 92% biobased carbon, verified under ASTM D6866-24 B standards.
As global awareness of VOC-related health and environmental impacts grows, regulatory bodies are pushing for lower permissible levels in coatings and other chemical formulations. Borchi® Dragon Low VOC gives the industry a viable alternative—sustainable, compliant, and high-performing.
This new solution joins Borchers’ portfolio of cobalt-free drying technologies, including Borchi® OXY-Coat, an iron-based catalyst for alkyd systems, and the recently introduced Borchi® Phoenix, designed to boost drier performance in high solids and solvent-borne coatings.