Dow launches new business

F O C US blocked IPDI is incorporated at between 11.5 and 16.5% depending upon the ratio of GMA derivatives, and 1.5% of dodecanedioic acid is also included. A small amount of a proprietary catalyst is added to each formulation. The features of these multi-cure matte finishes are: good weathering performance; consistent appearance and gloss across the range of film thicknesses and cure schedules; excellent gloss stability over wide processing variables; and excellent mechanical properties, with OT bend flexibility. Tests on a series of white pigmented powder coatings showed that all films stoved for 10 minutes at 204°C, at film thicknesses of around 60 microns, exhibited H pencil hardness, 160/160 reverse/direct impact resistance, good mar resistance, greater than 100 rubs using the PCI solvent test, excellent acid and alkali resistance, and all passed the OT bend test. In a black pigmented version, the gloss stability remained constant after one, two and three passes through a twin screw extruder. A table illustrates the cross linker ratios required for gloss control at various levels in the super-durable versions. The matte finishes also show excellent burnish resistance, processing and gloss stability, outstanding colour and gloss retention, and excellent mechanical properties at thin film applications. Finally, a graph shows the considerable difference in accelerated weathering tests between the multi-cure and the super-durable multi-cure systems, and the paper concludes with a comparison of the matte chemistries discussed in this presentation. Paper entitled “Low Gloss Powder Coatings for Metal Finishes” by Allen Burbank of Reichhold Inc, presented at Powder Coatings 2002, in Indianapolis on the 23-24 Sep 2002. Bound copies of conference papers available from organizers: The Powder Coating Institute, Alexandria, VA, USA

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INDUSTRY NEWS UCB acquires Solutia Coatings for $510 M $510 M is to be invested by UCB to acquire Solutia’s coatings business that includes liquid coating resins, powder coatings, coatings additives, technical resins and pressure sensitive resins. The deal is due for completion early in 2003. A graph details the match-up between the two companies that will have combined sales of €1.1 bn. Sales by UCB’s chemical operations in radiation curable, powder and polyurethane coatings together with cellophane, pressure sensitive adhesives and oriented polypropylene film total €865 M. UCB’s core pharmaceutical operations report sales of €1.4 bn/y. During 2001 the Solutia businesses recorded earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of €74 M on sales of €683 M. Earnings before interest and taxes amounted to €27 M. Solutia’s 1300 employees and its manufacturing facilities in Werndorf, Austria; Suzano, Brazil; Soborg, Denmark; Dijon, France; Wiesbaden and Hamburg, Germany; Romano d’Ezzelino, Italy; La Llagosta, Spain; and Rayong in Thailand will be taken over by UCB together with its R&D facilities in Springfield, MA, US and Graz in Austria. Amino cross-linking resins will be toll manufactured by Solutia for UCB at Springfield and LaSalle, PQ, US. Gelva pressure sensitive adhesives will be toll manufactured at Indian Orchard. The proceeds of the deal will allow Solutia to repay short-term debt. $40 M in interest costs will be saved during 2003. Solutia’s earnings will be around 7-9 cts/share during 2003. A new cost-cutting programme is to be launched by Solutia

C O AT I N G S following the completion of its successful two-year programme that saved around $100 M/y. Chemical Week, 11 Dec 2002, 164 (48), 9

Dow launches new business Dow Chemical has formed a speciality polymers business to develop non-traditional markets for polyolefins. Dow Specialty Polymers will seek openings in markets such as coatings, wood treatment and preservation, softtouch durables, adhesives and modified dispersions, with products such as ethylene acrylic acid, ethylene ethyl acrylate, and very low density PE. The idea is not entirely new. Dow has, for example, been investigating powder coatings with Primacor ethylene acrylic acid copolymer for around 18 months. Target uses include thermoplastic powder coatings to provide adhesion and toughness. The company says it would regard 50% in traditional markets and 50% in non-traditional markets as success. Speciality polymers account for less than 5% of volumes in Dow’s polyolefins and elastomers business. Chemical and Engineering News, 23 Dec 2002, 80 (51), 11 & Chemical Week, 18-25 Dec 2002, 164 (49), 31

Reichhold expands powder coating resin production at two facilities Reichhold Inc said it will expand production of glycidyl methacrylate acrylic (GMA) resins as well as polyester resins for applications in powder coatings. The company will expand GMA acrylic resins capacity at its Vienna, Austria facility by 4 M lbs, with the expansion expected to come onstream in 2Q 2003. A new polyester resin system was also commissioned in Jan 2002 at its plant in Modi des Cruzes in Brazil, which added roughly 9 M lbs of capacity there. European Paint and Resin News, Nov 2002, 40 (11), 10

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