Coatings or adhesives that use water as a solvent.

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Waterborne materials use water as the solvent. In these systems the binder is dispersed or emulsified in water, and when applied, the water evaporates while the binder coalesces to form a continuous film. This approach typically lowers volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions and reduces odors compared with solvent-based systems, making it a more environmentally friendly choice in coatings and adhesives. In automotive refinishing, waterborne formulations are common for basecoats and some primers, offering good color performance and easier cleanup with water. Other options rely on organic solvents (solvent-based coatings), apply as dry powder and melt (powder coatings), or use oil/solvent mixtures rather than water (oil-based coatings), so they do not fit the criterion of using water as the solvent.