Rust-Oleum Chooses Soy for Cost, Availability and Technical Attributes

Although Rust-Oleum is certainly not the only company marketing soybean-derived wood stains, the company has a rich history of using soy ingredients in their products. Rust-Oleum has worked with the United Soybean Board for nearly 10 years on a variety of projects.

From rubbers to solvents and plastics to adhesives, industrial uses of soy have a lot of variety to offer. The coatings industry is one of the many industrial uses that keeps up with the ever-changing soy technology. Soybean oil’s versatility and availability are among the many reasons it appears in several Rust-Oleum wood-care product lines. Rust-Oleum products with soybean oil provide a glossy finish no matter the texture, in addition to smooth and accurate spreading qualities.

“The viscosity of the soybean oil is low enough so pigments can get deep into the wood grain, and you get a richer color,” says Joseph Ferguson, director of research and development for Rust-Oleum. “Soybean oil gives reactivity as it gets exposure to air that speeds up drying and adds durability. It also gives some water resistance, which is helpful. Plus, soy is readily available. It’s tried and true to use with wood stains.”

Varathane Classic, an indoor wood stain collection, is one of Rust-Oleum’s lines that includes soybean oil. The May 2018 launch of Varathane Classic came from the success of the Varathane Professional line. Also containing soybean oil, the Professional line has long been a highly rated favorite stain among consumers, based on online reviews on sites such as Amazon.com.

Beyond the immediate application benefits consumers see, there are a number of other advantages gained from using soy-derived ingredients, with sustainability being one.

“Because we can modify soybean oil as an ingredient, it expands the possibilities it can be used for,” Ferguson says. “As we see more push from regulatory agencies to reduce the VOCs of products, the value of soy will increase incrementally as we use it to create other raw materials.”

“Soybean oil provides the right combination of cost, availability and technical attributes,” he says. “That’s its appeal.”

Its versatility and ability to stand up to tough conditions, such as high heat, are among the reasons Ferguson says soybean oil will remain a valued ingredient for the coatings industry for years to come.

For more on how soy is used in coatings, visit soynewuses.org/coatings.