Document e7kyYReyzqagGeobx0G9D1Kqg

WTTOMC DEC 271972 3< T. Bowell Strongsville, Ohio LEAD REMOVAL Last few formulas December 22, 1972 Mr. W. D. Kinsell UCB cci Mr. E B. Buchner Dr. H. J. Kiefer, UCB Mr. R. J. Haviland,#1 YMr. W. M.' .^fege-- . Mr. J. E. Southwick You have ashad us to remove ell the lead from our formulae by January 1973- one year in advance of legal national requirements. We have been ublo to achieve this in most formulas, at a cost increase for some and a hiding loss for others, but there are a few for which we need additional testing time. These are the oil house paints - certain formulas in the endurance, Craftsman and Ultra-Hide lines. Last year these 6 paints accounted for 045,000 gallons of production. Lead drier promotec thru dry anda more flexible film in these products, and the best replacement for lead, a mixture of cobalt and zirconium, gives very slow drying films when used at a safe level, and brittle films when at a level that gives equivalent dry to lead. Several series of exposure pansls produced since 1955 have shown this embrittlement with lead replaced with cobalt at levels sufficient to give adequate dry. We still have hopes of being able to work out a satisfactory lead-free drier system because our vehicles today should be inherently more flexible than they were then, and we are using leaser quantities of zinc oxide, a pigment that contributes to embrittlementas a by-product of its other valuable contributions. Ve can seo nc quick answer in our analyses of competitors action. 4S-W has adopted a low level of .01% cobalt on vehicle soldis, and their paints are very poor in drying. They are approximately 2 hours slower than Endurance under lab conditions, and much slower at a temperature of 0P and 7056 R. H. The S-W paint dries tp a tender skin which remains vet underneath for hours after a lead-containing formula has dried thru satisfactorily. T.t has been this ability of lead driers to provide satisfactory dry under adverse conditions of cold and high humidity that has made them so necessary. We can produce formulas suitable for Chicago at .0356 cobalt which will give us acc&ptaltie dry at 70# and dry only 3 hours slower than our g LD01?14? t Mr, D. Kinsoil -2- December 22, 1972 lead-containing formulas at 50 and 70% R, H. This is less than the level that some drier manufacturers have recommended, and while these paints might be somewhat more brittle than our lead-containing formulas, they should not be a total disaster. We won let like to defer going lead-free on a National basis for these particular paints until at least next Chine, after additional testing whether higher levels or cobalt drier will not oauso premature cracking .?nd flaking with today's vehicles, and would be able to produce paints with cideguate dry, v.{th the decision by the Rouse Committee to change the lead limitation from .06% to .5% we are hopeful that this will dear both House and Senate) and permit us to stay at .9% lead, which will giva us positive d ry \inder cold damp conditions and the best durability regarding chucking and embrittlement. We propose to issue lead-free formulas ii.fr Chicago, but those for the rest of the country still containing lead until we can resolve our problem. May we have your approval for j. r ;' c t ?r: z'f STB sect S. T. Bowe11 GLD012143