New business moves in the UAE

F O C U S New polymers as high performance flow and levelling additives A study on the structure-activity relationship of perfluoroalkylpolydimethylsiloxane modified acrylates by researchers at Ciba Heerenveen BV, in The Netherlands has examined their flow and levelling performance, outlining the design of these new polyacrylic additives together with the product performance properties. Polysiloxanes and polyacrylates with perfluoroalkyl side chains have both been applied commercially as additives in coatings for enhancing flow and other surface qualities, but they do have drawbacks such as incompatibility and recoatability. In this paper it is shown that by combining fluorine and silicon moieties onto an acrylic backbone it is possible to overcome these defects. These flow additives have low surface tension, and they do not cause intercoat adhesion problems, when they migrate to the surface of the film. In the designed new polymers the fluoride side chains should have a lower surface tension than the siloxanes, which should cause the fluoride side chains to become positioned at the air-coating interface while the silicone chains should remain within the coating. As a result the siloxane moieties would reduce the surface tension of the coating film but not reach the air interface. Experiments show that there is a correlation between the reduction of surface tension and the effectiveness of flow agents. Although polyacrylates already tend to reduce the surface tension of a coating, it is found that fluorocarbons and polydimethylsiloxane are more efficient at lowering surface tension. The paper then describes the experimental work in producing the new flow materials. At levels of 5% the incorporation of siloxane gave good compatibility in a clear coating system. An 4

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increase in siloxane gave incompatibility but a higher incorporation of both fluorine and siloxane proved to be very compatible. A main drawback to the earlier types of fluorinated acrylates and siloxanes is their ability to stabilize foam and air bubbles. All of the new additives incorporating both moieties in the acrylic framework showed defoaming characteristics instead of foam stabilization. It was also found that levelling improved with decrease in surface tension, and recoatability was good. Paper entitled “Combined Perfluoroalkyl and Polydimethylsiloxane Modified Polyacrylates as High Performance Flow and Levelling Additives” by co-researchers at Ciba Heerenveen presented at Fatipec Congress held in Ghent, Belgium, 9-11 Jun 2008

INDUSTRY NEWS Jotun shifting powder wing to Pune A prominent paint industry, Jotun Group has shifted its powder division from the Union Territory of Daman to Pune. The division at Daman manufactures around 10,000 tonnes of powder. The Pune facility, which entails an investment of $25 M started its production in Jun 2008. The facility has an installed capacity of 50 M lt in wet paints. Chemical Weekly, 29 Jul 2008, 53 (50), 128

Bayer and AkzoNobel supply materials for Chinese Olympic stadium Bayer has supplied polycarbonate sheets under the brand name Makrolon for, amongst other things, the roofs of the Olympic Stadia in Shenyang, Tianjin, and Quingdao, China. In addition, AkzoNobel products have been used at more than 30 Olympic locations, including around 1000 kg Interpon powder coatings. Chemie Magazine (Nederlandse Chemische Industrie), 20 Aug 2008, (7), 18 (in Dutch)

C OAT I N G S Enviro acquired by Protech Grand Rapids, MI, USA-based Enviro-Powder company’s powder coatings unit is to be acquired by the Protech/Oxyplast Group. The Enviro-Powder production operations will be incorporated into Protech’s organisation. PPCJ, Polymers, Paint, Colour Journal, Aug 2008, 198 (4527), 6

New Turkish PPG customer US group PPG Industries will supply coatings to the MeillerDogus facility in Turkey. The facility will manufacture tippers and trailers for the heavy-duty truck market. PPCJ, Polymers, Paint, Colour Journal, Aug 2008, 198 (4527), 8

New business moves in the UAE The chemical and coatings market in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is booming, buoyed by strong investment activities. Recent activities included the construction of an emulsion polymer facility (initial capacity of 100,000 tonnes/y) by Visen Polymers in Sharjah ; and the establishment of a Borealis jv for an upstream industrial chemicals city to be located in Abu Dhabi, due for completion in 2013. The Multi Chemical polyurethane systems house in Abu Dhabi is being acquired by BASF and the Kanoo Group from the Al Hamid Group. Becker also unveiled a new jv with RAKIA (the Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority), which oversees the economic and social development of the Ras-Al-Khaimah emirate. The Becker-RAKIA jv will see the construction of a new industrial paints and coatings plant that will serve the coil, metal and plastic coatings markets. PPCJ, Polymers, Paint, Colour Journal, Aug 2008, 198 (4527), 14

Uralac introduces first in HiTone DSM Powder Coating Resins has introduced a Primid curable OCTOBER 2008