10.09.06
Cognis Focuses on Performance Chemicals
Working in Harmony With Nature
At this year’s Eurocoat trade show for the coatings industry held in Barcelona, Spain, Cognis’ Polymers, Coatings & Inks (PCI) business unit presented market-ready concepts for a variety of industrial applications, including the company’s award-winning environmentally friendly Disponil AFX surfactant systems and Perenol S 57, a 100-percent active matter, silicone-based slip modifier and leveling agent for printing inks, coatings and paints. These are intended to provide Cognis’ customers with solutions that combine superior performance, sustainability and convenience, while helping them to reduce costs.
Surfactants have proven their value in household detergents and cleansing products, as well as in technical applications, such as the manufacture of polymer dispersions. However, the alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs) traditionally employed for this purpose are environmentally problematic, which has led to the European Union banning them from being used in many applications. Cognis presented its Disponil AFX surfactant systems at the trade show, a high-performance, biodegradable alternative for use in a variety of technical applications. Disponil AFX is made from renewable raw materials and is comparable to APEs in terms of both cost-effectiveness and performance. Using such alternatives to APEs enables manufacturers of emulsion polymerization, paints and varnishes to comply with environmental regulations.
To satisfy growing demand for high-quality surface coatings and inks, Cognis has developed a new 100-percent silicone-based additive. Perenol S 57 significantly reduces the surface tension in UV-based systems, and provides excellent substrate wetting, even on critical substrates. The additive also improves surface slip which enhances scratch resistance in a variety of systems. Orange-peel effects can be reduced, increasing gloss values. Perenol S 57 is effective even in very low concentrations and can be used in UV-based systems, as well as in water- and solvent-borne coatings and inks.
Cognis’ PCI business unit has identified sustainability, convenience and performance as trends where market requirements are becoming more exacting and has concentrated its innovation strategy on these fields. “With environmentally compatible production processes, and products that are ecologically superior and toxicologically safe in their application, we can offer our industrial customers solutions which they can use to carve out a lead for themselves, both on the manufacturing side and in their consumer markets,” said Uwe Held, technical sales functional products.
Myers Engineering
Offers Quad Shaft Mixer
Myers Engineering, Inc. has added a quad mixer to its product line. The unit was designed to handle a variety of applications, not only the range of heavy viscosities common to this style of mixer but also those lighter products having troublesome flow characteristics.
When a mixing stage demands a fast but delicate outcome, the blade configuration can be designed to complete a mix cycle in virtually minutes.
This Myers’ quad mixer was configured with a slow speed sweep blade and three high-speed shafts. Specially designed paddle blades were provided to keep the entire product flow moving downward to increase product circulation and minimize mixing time. More info: Myers Engineering, Inc., (323) 560 4723; e-mail: sales @myersmixer.com.
Ross Offers
Vertical Blender
Charles Ross and Son Company offers the vertical blender for the blending of easily degradable solids. The mixing screw rotates around the periphery of the cone and simultaneously lifts materials from the bottom to the top of the blender. This dual blending action results in short cycle times. Vertical blenders are ideal for use in blending high-density powders, as less power is required than when using horizontal blenders. The unit also discharged fully and is easily cleaned. Designs are available from one through 500 cubic feet.
A variety of options are available including choppers for size reduction, spray nozzles for minor liquid addition and cleanout doors. More info: Charles Ross and Son Company, (800) 243-ROSS; fax: (631) 234-0691; e-mail: sales@mixers.com; web: www.mixers.com.
Gardco Offers
Temperature Meters
Gardco offers two new temperature meters. The IQ340 is a water-proof, handheld, non-glass conductivity meter. This meter system has the ability to measure conductivity and temperature. The IQ350 is a water-proof, handheld, non-glass conductivity, TDS and salinity meter. More info: Paul N. Gardner Company, (954) 946-9454; fax: (954) 946-9309; e-mail: gardner@gardco.com; via the web: www.gardco.com.
Michelman Launches
Paperboard Coatings
Michelman offers a variety of decorative coatings for paperboard packaging. The ColorCoat line of coatings provides box makers with an easy way to add color to customers’ boxes. The GlossCoat line of coatings adds light luster to corrugated and solid fiber, and can significantly reduce liner porosity to improve sheet feed and case erector performance. GlossCoat coatings are typically used to enhance the visual appeal of packaging. More info: Michelman, (800) 333-1723, (513) 793-7766; fax: (513) 793-2504; or on the web: www.michem.com.