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PolyOne licences ICP technology
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Albemarle completes acquisition of Rhodia's polyurethane flame retardants business Albemarle Corporation has completed the acquisition of the phosphorus-based polyurethane flame retardants businesses of Rhodia. The products are used in rigid and flexible polyurethane foam applications. Albemarle has also acquired Rhodia's ammonium polyphosphate product range, which has applications in textiles, timber and coatings. Albemarle says that the addition of this polymer business segment is expected to generate sales of about $65 million in its first year. Albemarle is acquiring a production site in
Avonmouth in the United Kingdom, and will be supplied with flame retardants and intermediates manufactured at Rhodia's sites in Charleston S.C. in the USA, and in Oldbury and Widnes in the United Kingdom. About 75 employees will join Albemarle as part of this transaction. "This is an important acquisition in our strategy to become the leading flame retardants supplier in the industry," says Luc Van Muylem, Albemarle's global business director. "With this extensive new offering in the polyurethane
area to add to our portfolio, we are offering our global consumers the best value and performance in all major flame retardant technologies." According to Albemarle, the addition of the polyurethane flame retardants will greatly improve its ability to compete in the market for flame resistant furniture foams, an important safety issue receiving regulatory and legislative attention throughout the world. Furniture that complies with California Bureau of Home Furnishings Technical Bulletin 117 standards is being promoted by
fire marshals and consumer groups in North America as one way to prevent death and injury in home fires. The company says that the acquisition also brings a range of non-halogenated flame retardants to the portfolio, which is an area of focus for Albemarle in recent product development and acquisitions. Albemarle adds that it has a strong position in both bromine-based and mineralbased flame retardants. Contact: Albemarle Corporation Website: www.albemarle.com
PolyOne licences ICP technology PolyOne Corporation has negotiated an exclusive licencing agreement with GeoTech Chemical, LLC. The agreement provides PolyOne with exclusive rights to manufacture and market Teslart™ inherently conductive polymers (ICP), which are based on technology originally developed by NASA, as well as Catize® corrosion control additives named and developed by GeoTech. ICPs have electrical conductivity properties similar to metals and inorganic semiconductors but are lighter in weight, easier to process and more environmentally friendly. The Teslart ICP additives can be combined with sol-
expand the inherently conductive polymer market beyond its current niche positioning, and we are fortunate to have the technology innovators, GeoTech, as our partner." In 2000, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to three scientists involved in the early discovery and development of ICPs. That same year, GeoTech, located in Tallmadge, Ohio, signed an exclusive licencing agreement with NASA's Kennedy Space Center to manufacture and market an economically viable ICP, now marketed as Teslart, which is based on lignosulphonated polyaniline. The Teslart brand
vent- or water-based resins for use in corrosion-resistant coatings, anti-fouling coatings, anti-static fabrics and packaging, conductive inks and adhesives, EMI/RFI shielding and electronic products. The Catize products, containing both ICPs and metal particles, can be added to paints, coil coatings, pretreatments and other systems to prevent corrosion. "The innovative technology behind the Teslart ICP and Catize corrosion control products is a key growth opportunity for PolyOne," says Cindy Kerker, director of new business ventures for PolyOne. "We offer the market reach, capacity and resources to
Plastics Additives & Compounding September/October 2003
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is a reference to SerbianAmerican inventor, electrical engineer and scientist Nikola Tesla, who earned more than 700 patents from the late 1800s to early 1900s. "We are pleased to have the opportunity to work closely with PolyOne," says Christopher Geer, vice-president of GeoTech who is now serving as a full-time consultant to PolyOne. "Together, we can further the technology and manufacturing capacity to meet the needs of current customers as well as target new markets." Contact: PolyOne Corporation Website: www.polyone.com
News
Albemarle completes acquisition of Rhodia's polyurethane flame retardants business Albemarle Corporation has completed the acquisition of the phosphorus-based polyurethane flame retardants businesses of Rhodia. The products are used in rigid and flexible polyurethane foam applications. Albemarle has also acquired Rhodia's ammonium polyphosphate product range, which has applications in textiles, timber and coatings. Albemarle says that the addition of this polymer business segment is expected to generate sales of about $65 million in its first year. Albemarle is acquiring a production site in
Avonmouth in the United Kingdom, and will be supplied with flame retardants and intermediates manufactured at Rhodia's sites in Charleston S.C. in the USA, and in Oldbury and Widnes in the United Kingdom. About 75 employees will join Albemarle as part of this transaction. "This is an important acquisition in our strategy to become the leading flame retardants supplier in the industry," says Luc Van Muylem, Albemarle's global business director. "With this extensive new offering in the polyurethane
area to add to our portfolio, we are offering our global consumers the best value and performance in all major flame retardant technologies." According to Albemarle, the addition of the polyurethane flame retardants will greatly improve its ability to compete in the market for flame resistant furniture foams, an important safety issue receiving regulatory and legislative attention throughout the world. Furniture that complies with California Bureau of Home Furnishings Technical Bulletin 117 standards is being promoted by
fire marshals and consumer groups in North America as one way to prevent death and injury in home fires. The company says that the acquisition also brings a range of non-halogenated flame retardants to the portfolio, which is an area of focus for Albemarle in recent product development and acquisitions. Albemarle adds that it has a strong position in both bromine-based and mineralbased flame retardants. Contact: Albemarle Corporation Website: www.albemarle.com
PolyOne licences ICP technology PolyOne Corporation has negotiated an exclusive licencing agreement with GeoTech Chemical, LLC. The agreement provides PolyOne with exclusive rights to manufacture and market Teslart™ inherently conductive polymers (ICP), which are based on technology originally developed by NASA, as well as Catize® corrosion control additives named and developed by GeoTech. ICPs have electrical conductivity properties similar to metals and inorganic semiconductors but are lighter in weight, easier to process and more environmentally friendly. The Teslart ICP additives can be combined with sol-
expand the inherently conductive polymer market beyond its current niche positioning, and we are fortunate to have the technology innovators, GeoTech, as our partner." In 2000, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to three scientists involved in the early discovery and development of ICPs. That same year, GeoTech, located in Tallmadge, Ohio, signed an exclusive licencing agreement with NASA's Kennedy Space Center to manufacture and market an economically viable ICP, now marketed as Teslart, which is based on lignosulphonated polyaniline. The Teslart brand
vent- or water-based resins for use in corrosion-resistant coatings, anti-fouling coatings, anti-static fabrics and packaging, conductive inks and adhesives, EMI/RFI shielding and electronic products. The Catize products, containing both ICPs and metal particles, can be added to paints, coil coatings, pretreatments and other systems to prevent corrosion. "The innovative technology behind the Teslart ICP and Catize corrosion control products is a key growth opportunity for PolyOne," says Cindy Kerker, director of new business ventures for PolyOne. "We offer the market reach, capacity and resources to
Plastics Additives & Compounding September/October 2003
6
is a reference to SerbianAmerican inventor, electrical engineer and scientist Nikola Tesla, who earned more than 700 patents from the late 1800s to early 1900s. "We are pleased to have the opportunity to work closely with PolyOne," says Christopher Geer, vice-president of GeoTech who is now serving as a full-time consultant to PolyOne. "Together, we can further the technology and manufacturing capacity to meet the needs of current customers as well as target new markets." Contact: PolyOne Corporation Website: www.polyone.com