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Rhein Chemie develops new additive for PU slabstock foam, opens Chinese jv plant
May 2006
properties of polypropylene, such as stiffness, impact properties, hardness, heat distortion temperature, etc. This improvement of mechanical properties generally enables down-gauging and weight reduction of the finished parts. Additionally, the higher crystallization speed of polypropylene in the presence of the Irgastab NA 287 nucleator can lead to a reduction of the cycle time in moulding processes and generally can result in increased output as well. Last but not least, by reducing the crystallite size, Irgastab NA 287 improves haze control such that the ‘see through’ characteristics of thermoformed polypropylene products can be enhanced. Ciba says that Irgastab NA 287 can be used in a variety of injection moulding applications, including the manufacture of thin-walled packaging, bottle caps & closures, automotive products, furniture, appliances, and crates, boxes & containers. It can also be used in the thermoforming of trays, cups and tubs and for general-purpose blow moulding. “Irgastab NA 287 has been designed to round off the market offerings in high-performance nucleation. It shows an excellent cost/performance balance and allows our customers to meet the varied requirements of the polypropylene moulding and thermoforming industry,” says Philipp Walter, global marketing head, Nucleators & Clarifiers, Ciba Specialty Chemicals. Contact: Ciba Specialty Chemicals, Plastic Additives, Klybeckstrasse 141, PO Box, Basel 4002, Switzerland; tel: +41-61-636-4090; fax: +41-61-636-8212; URL: www.cibasc.com
Rhein Chemie develops new additive for PU slabstock foam, opens Chinese jv plant Rhein Chemie Rheinau GmbH, the wholly owned subsidiary of Lanxess Deutschland GmbH, has introduced a new high-performance additive blend of emulsifier and stabilizer to enhance the production of polyurethane foam. The new RC-PUR® additive KE 9859 is said to guarantee the precise and safe setting of the cell parameters for flexible polyester-based polyurethane slabstock foams. The cell structure can be set from very fine to very coarse without having to make any special changes to the formulation, the company says; density and hardness can be adjusted as usual.
Additives for Polymers
RC-PUR additive KE 9859 achieves these properties by ensuring a good balance between nucleation, cell stabilization and cell opening. The product is safe to use and guarantees a high level of productivity. The foam only has minor bottom and edge zones, meets the highest standards in terms of cell size distribution and is free of distortions, according to Rhein Chemie. Although flexible polyester-based polyurethane slabstock foam counts for only 5% of the global flexible slabstock foam business, it is remarkable for its special properties, the company says. Its temperature stability and chemical resistance make it applicable for a wide range of uses, such as filters, scraper sponges for windscreens, underlays for ironing boards, vehicle interiors, paint rollers or ink cartridges. Unlike flexible polyether slabstock foam, these applications frequently demand a very even cell structure. The challenge facing the foam manufacturer is to ensure the right specifications quickly and safely since the individual foam blocks are often fairly short and accurate adjustment has to be performed quickly. The company has also recently extended its product range with a highly active dithiophosphate accelerator for use with silica tyres. Rhein Chemie says tests show that use of its new Rhenocure® ZBOP/S accelerator allows the substitution of the secondary accelerator diphenyl guanidine without any problems in highly loaded silica compounds based on styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) and, at the same time, brings the benefits of improved vulcanization, reversion behaviour, heat aging resistance and the mechanical-dynamic properties of the vulcanizate. These benefits are especially marked in natural rubber compounds, the company says. As with other dithiophosphate accelerators, Rhenocure ZBOP/S increases the coupling intensity between the rubber and the silica filler, allowing higher dynamic elastic modulus at service temperatures, while the good dampening properties remain unimpaired at low temperatures. In other news, the company’s Rhein Chemie (Qingdao) Ltd Chinese joint venture opened its new Qingdao production plant on schedule in March. The state-of-the-art plant manufactures Rhein Chemie’s Rhenogran® line of masterbatch additives for rubbers. Rhein Chemie has invested 2.8 million in the construction of the
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Additives for Polymers
new plant to enable the site to double annual production capacity for polymer dispersions to 4800 tonnes [ADPO, September 2005]. Company CEO/president Dr Anno Borkowsky says the expansion has been made necessary “by increasing demand” for the Rhenogran products in China and other Asian countries. Founded in 1995, Rhein Chemie (Qingdao) is 90% owned by Rhein Chemie with the Qingdao Red Star Chemical Group Co, Ltd holding the remaining 10% share. The site employs around 150 people out of Rhein Chemie’s total workforce of some 970 worldwide. Contact: Rhein Chemie Rheinau GmbH, Düsseldorfer Str. 23–27, 68219 Mannheim, Germany; tel: +49-621-8907-455; fax: +49621-8907-8455; URL: www.rheinchemie.com
COMPANY STRATEGIES Danisco increases production capacity for phthalate-free plasticizer Danish food giant Danisco is to invest DKK35 million (c. 4.7 million) to increase capacity for its phthalate-free Grindsted® Soft-N-Safe plasticizer in response to “great customer interest”. Production capacity for the vegetable oil-based, food-safe plasticizer is to be increased by 5000 tonnes annually at Danisco’s plant in Grindsted, Denmark. The company launched Grindsted Soft-N-Safe early last year [ADPO, March 2005], targeting the market for phthalate-free plasticizers. Danisco reports that the plasticizer, a 1:1 replacement for phthalates with no hormone-disrupting effects, has proven commercially viable, receiving many small orders and recently landing its first major contract. A wide array of customers ranging from producers of food packaging, toys, medical equipment and vinyl flooring have shown interest in the additive, the company says. Danisco says it maintains its forecast of sales for the plasticizer in the DKK three-digit million range within the next two to four years. A 1% market share of the existing phthalate market would generate sales of at least DKK500 million.
4
May 2006
Contact: Danisco A/S, Langebrogade 1, PO Box 17, DK-1001 Copenhagen K, Denmark; tel: +45-3266-2000; fax: +45-3266-2175; URL: www.danisco.com
Ciba to partner with Biosignal for antimicrobial product development Ciba Specialty Chemicals and Biosignal Ltd of Sydney, Australia, have finalized a joint development and licensing agreement to develop novel antimicrobial compounds for consumer and industrial products based upon Biosignal’s novel antibiofilm technology, which mimics natural defences seen in seaweed. Biosignal has granted Ciba an exclusive licence in some of Ciba’s key markets including plastics, coatings, paints, fibres and paper products. The formation of biofilms in many industrial environments can lead to fouling, corrosion, material degradation and general contamination. Biosignal’s anti-biofilm technology is based on the discovery that the eastern Australian seaweed Delisea pulchra produces natural furanones that disable bacteria’s ability to colonize. The fundamental problem with existing antibacterials, including antibiotics, is their tendency to generate bacterial resistance. Bacteria rapidly produce resistant strains when faced with strong selective pressure from killing agents or growth-inhibitory agents. Biosignal’s anti-biofilm technology lulls bacteria into inaction and appears to avoid the problem of bacterial resistance. Biosignal produces synthetic compounds effective on inanimate surfaces such as pipes, membranes and medical devices; and animate surfaces such as lungs, skin and teeth. The joint development is seen as complementing Ciba’s existing antimicrobial businesses. Commenting for Biosignal, managing director Michael Oredsson says the consumer and industrial product development collaboration is its most important to date “because of the considerable resources that will be devoted to product development and the strength of the agreement”. Ciba is an ideal partner because of its strong market position and its chemicals manufacturing experience could play a big role in scale-up of low-cost production of Biosignal’s anti-biofilm compounds, he says.
properties of polypropylene, such as stiffness, impact properties, hardness, heat distortion temperature, etc. This improvement of mechanical properties generally enables down-gauging and weight reduction of the finished parts. Additionally, the higher crystallization speed of polypropylene in the presence of the Irgastab NA 287 nucleator can lead to a reduction of the cycle time in moulding processes and generally can result in increased output as well. Last but not least, by reducing the crystallite size, Irgastab NA 287 improves haze control such that the ‘see through’ characteristics of thermoformed polypropylene products can be enhanced. Ciba says that Irgastab NA 287 can be used in a variety of injection moulding applications, including the manufacture of thin-walled packaging, bottle caps & closures, automotive products, furniture, appliances, and crates, boxes & containers. It can also be used in the thermoforming of trays, cups and tubs and for general-purpose blow moulding. “Irgastab NA 287 has been designed to round off the market offerings in high-performance nucleation. It shows an excellent cost/performance balance and allows our customers to meet the varied requirements of the polypropylene moulding and thermoforming industry,” says Philipp Walter, global marketing head, Nucleators & Clarifiers, Ciba Specialty Chemicals. Contact: Ciba Specialty Chemicals, Plastic Additives, Klybeckstrasse 141, PO Box, Basel 4002, Switzerland; tel: +41-61-636-4090; fax: +41-61-636-8212; URL: www.cibasc.com
Rhein Chemie develops new additive for PU slabstock foam, opens Chinese jv plant Rhein Chemie Rheinau GmbH, the wholly owned subsidiary of Lanxess Deutschland GmbH, has introduced a new high-performance additive blend of emulsifier and stabilizer to enhance the production of polyurethane foam. The new RC-PUR® additive KE 9859 is said to guarantee the precise and safe setting of the cell parameters for flexible polyester-based polyurethane slabstock foams. The cell structure can be set from very fine to very coarse without having to make any special changes to the formulation, the company says; density and hardness can be adjusted as usual.
Additives for Polymers
RC-PUR additive KE 9859 achieves these properties by ensuring a good balance between nucleation, cell stabilization and cell opening. The product is safe to use and guarantees a high level of productivity. The foam only has minor bottom and edge zones, meets the highest standards in terms of cell size distribution and is free of distortions, according to Rhein Chemie. Although flexible polyester-based polyurethane slabstock foam counts for only 5% of the global flexible slabstock foam business, it is remarkable for its special properties, the company says. Its temperature stability and chemical resistance make it applicable for a wide range of uses, such as filters, scraper sponges for windscreens, underlays for ironing boards, vehicle interiors, paint rollers or ink cartridges. Unlike flexible polyether slabstock foam, these applications frequently demand a very even cell structure. The challenge facing the foam manufacturer is to ensure the right specifications quickly and safely since the individual foam blocks are often fairly short and accurate adjustment has to be performed quickly. The company has also recently extended its product range with a highly active dithiophosphate accelerator for use with silica tyres. Rhein Chemie says tests show that use of its new Rhenocure® ZBOP/S accelerator allows the substitution of the secondary accelerator diphenyl guanidine without any problems in highly loaded silica compounds based on styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) and, at the same time, brings the benefits of improved vulcanization, reversion behaviour, heat aging resistance and the mechanical-dynamic properties of the vulcanizate. These benefits are especially marked in natural rubber compounds, the company says. As with other dithiophosphate accelerators, Rhenocure ZBOP/S increases the coupling intensity between the rubber and the silica filler, allowing higher dynamic elastic modulus at service temperatures, while the good dampening properties remain unimpaired at low temperatures. In other news, the company’s Rhein Chemie (Qingdao) Ltd Chinese joint venture opened its new Qingdao production plant on schedule in March. The state-of-the-art plant manufactures Rhein Chemie’s Rhenogran® line of masterbatch additives for rubbers. Rhein Chemie has invested 2.8 million in the construction of the
3
Additives for Polymers
new plant to enable the site to double annual production capacity for polymer dispersions to 4800 tonnes [ADPO, September 2005]. Company CEO/president Dr Anno Borkowsky says the expansion has been made necessary “by increasing demand” for the Rhenogran products in China and other Asian countries. Founded in 1995, Rhein Chemie (Qingdao) is 90% owned by Rhein Chemie with the Qingdao Red Star Chemical Group Co, Ltd holding the remaining 10% share. The site employs around 150 people out of Rhein Chemie’s total workforce of some 970 worldwide. Contact: Rhein Chemie Rheinau GmbH, Düsseldorfer Str. 23–27, 68219 Mannheim, Germany; tel: +49-621-8907-455; fax: +49621-8907-8455; URL: www.rheinchemie.com
COMPANY STRATEGIES Danisco increases production capacity for phthalate-free plasticizer Danish food giant Danisco is to invest DKK35 million (c. 4.7 million) to increase capacity for its phthalate-free Grindsted® Soft-N-Safe plasticizer in response to “great customer interest”. Production capacity for the vegetable oil-based, food-safe plasticizer is to be increased by 5000 tonnes annually at Danisco’s plant in Grindsted, Denmark. The company launched Grindsted Soft-N-Safe early last year [ADPO, March 2005], targeting the market for phthalate-free plasticizers. Danisco reports that the plasticizer, a 1:1 replacement for phthalates with no hormone-disrupting effects, has proven commercially viable, receiving many small orders and recently landing its first major contract. A wide array of customers ranging from producers of food packaging, toys, medical equipment and vinyl flooring have shown interest in the additive, the company says. Danisco says it maintains its forecast of sales for the plasticizer in the DKK three-digit million range within the next two to four years. A 1% market share of the existing phthalate market would generate sales of at least DKK500 million.
4
May 2006
Contact: Danisco A/S, Langebrogade 1, PO Box 17, DK-1001 Copenhagen K, Denmark; tel: +45-3266-2000; fax: +45-3266-2175; URL: www.danisco.com
Ciba to partner with Biosignal for antimicrobial product development Ciba Specialty Chemicals and Biosignal Ltd of Sydney, Australia, have finalized a joint development and licensing agreement to develop novel antimicrobial compounds for consumer and industrial products based upon Biosignal’s novel antibiofilm technology, which mimics natural defences seen in seaweed. Biosignal has granted Ciba an exclusive licence in some of Ciba’s key markets including plastics, coatings, paints, fibres and paper products. The formation of biofilms in many industrial environments can lead to fouling, corrosion, material degradation and general contamination. Biosignal’s anti-biofilm technology is based on the discovery that the eastern Australian seaweed Delisea pulchra produces natural furanones that disable bacteria’s ability to colonize. The fundamental problem with existing antibacterials, including antibiotics, is their tendency to generate bacterial resistance. Bacteria rapidly produce resistant strains when faced with strong selective pressure from killing agents or growth-inhibitory agents. Biosignal’s anti-biofilm technology lulls bacteria into inaction and appears to avoid the problem of bacterial resistance. Biosignal produces synthetic compounds effective on inanimate surfaces such as pipes, membranes and medical devices; and animate surfaces such as lungs, skin and teeth. The joint development is seen as complementing Ciba’s existing antimicrobial businesses. Commenting for Biosignal, managing director Michael Oredsson says the consumer and industrial product development collaboration is its most important to date “because of the considerable resources that will be devoted to product development and the strength of the agreement”. Ciba is an ideal partner because of its strong market position and its chemicals manufacturing experience could play a big role in scale-up of low-cost production of Biosignal’s anti-biofilm compounds, he says.