Toyochem Co., Ltd., the polymers and coatings arm of Japan’s Toyo Ink Group, today launched a new low-odor, low-VOC acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA), the Oribain™ EXK 21-046, for use in enclosed spaces such as vehicles and building interiors. EXK 21-046 PSAs not only demonstrate good bonds to metals, plastics, textiles and other substrates, but they are also are capable of reducing total volatile organic compounds (T-VOCs), or the indoor air concentration of a mixture of multiple VOCs, to levels less than one-tenth of that of conventional products. The new low-VOC acrylic PSAs also effectively reduce odor levels, resulting in the increased health and comfort of indoor occupants.

The demand for low-impact interior materials has become a global trend as VOC emission regulations tighten worldwide due to growing public and industry awareness of the importance of indoor air quality. VOCs are suspected to be one of the major causes of sick building syndrome and sensory irritation, so building interior materials made from low VOC-emitting materials are being used where possible. In addition, the rise in electric vehicles and automated driving technology is expected to drive the demand for low-odor, low-VOC materials used in automobile interiors.

“While our conventional PSAs clear the indoor VOC concentration guidelines set by the Japanese government, the newly developed EXK 21-046 system were able to dramatically reduce trace amounts of T-VOCs that remain in standard-type products and to improve air quality,” explains Nao Nakamura, general manager of Toyochem’s adhesives division. “Toyochem research teams achieved this by developing a material that is not easily retained in the adhesive system and by applying our original polymerization and compounding technologies to better control viscoelasticity of the adhesive material. This results in a substantial reduction in T-VOC concentrations and lower odor intensity without compromising adhesive performance – a feat that had once been difficult to achieve. We believe the new EXK 21-046 PSA will help to realize indoor living spaces that are healthier for their occupants and for the Earth.”

As depicted in Figure 1, the EXK 21-046 PSA achieves T-VOC emissions rates of 18 µgC/g, substantially down from 310 µgC/g registered by Toyochem’s conventional PSAs. Moreover, the new PSA system realizes a 3.5 grade (clearly noticeable, but still not objectionable) on a 6-grade odor intensity scale, a reduction of 1.5 points from the typical 5 grade (very objectionable) recorded by the company’s standard-type products.

BB Engineering GmbH (Germany), a subsidiary of Oerlikon Textile, is pleased to announce that Thai Polyester Co., Ltd (Thailand) has placed a major order for four VacuFil systems for recycling bottle flakes with connected direct spinning. The polyester manufacturer, established in 2001 and with an overall annual capacity of 316,800 tons, is one of Thailand’s leading producers and exclusively uses German technology. To this end, the company already operates Oerlikon Barmag and Oerlikon Neumag systems. The BB Engineering VacuFil systems will be deployed to convert existing spinning plant equipment from processing polyester to processing PET bottle flakes without loss of performance.

BB Engineering supplies the complete recycling process – from the drying stage and extrusion, all the way through to the spinning plant-appropriate fine filtration stage. Thanks to decades of experi- ence in spinning plant technology, the German machine constructor also provides comprehensive spinning plant know-how and is aware of how the recycling process must be designed to ensure that the product manufactured using the spinning plant ultimately has the right quality. The four new VacuFil systems will be integrated into the existing building infrastructure and process landscape at Thai Polyester, with a total output of approx. 4,000 kg/h. The VacuFil systems will be complemented by BB Engineering 3DD mixers for directly feeding dyes into the recycled melt flow. Commissioning has been scheduled for 2023.

Thai Polyester will be using the new VacuFil systems to manufacture its ‘EcoTPC’ recycling-brand yarns. 100% of these polyester yarns are produced from bottle, fiber and yarn waste and are all GRS certified.

The Brazilian company, with 27 years of experience in the sector, chooses the Comexi flexographic press for its production quality and development

Girona, March 24, 2022.- Comexi, a specialist in solutions for the flexible packaging printing and converting industry, and Bomplastic, a company that specializes in practical and innovative solutions for the flexible packaging sector, have reached an agreement for the Brazilian company to acquire a Comexi F2 MB flexographic press. This acquisition will allow Bomplastic to offer more diversified and innovative products, thus meeting the needs of various market niches.

“We are very pleased with the acquisition of a Comexi F2 MB”, explains César Mangaravite, manager of Bomplastic, who highlights that “we are among the leading Brazilian companies in the packaging sector, and this flexographic press will allow us to enter new markets”. In this regard, Mangaravite adds that the Comexi F2 MB will contribute to the development of the company, which invariabily pursues continuous improvement, as well as innovative and distinctive technologies. “We are going to generate more employment opportunities in the region”, concludes the manager of the Brazilian company.

The quality of production and development are the two main principal characteristics that have made Bomplastic choose the Comexi F2 MB; the Brazilian company will use the flexographic press to print packaging of high-quality and high-definition. Mangaravite highly and positively values the relationship between the two companies. Furthermore, he expresses that Bomplastic is interested in acquiring more Comexi machinery in the future, thus reinforcing the new partnership between the two companies.

“At Comexi Brazil we are very delighted with this new business relationship; we are certain that the acquisition of an F2 MB press by Bomplastic will be successful. This is the first step of many”, explains Ariston Galli, the commercial manager of Comexi Brazil.

Bomplastic, founded in 1994 in the city of Bom Jesus do Itabapoana (Rio de Janeiro), has 27 years of experience in the development, manufacturing, and production of plastic containers. The company prints high-performance technical films, polyethylene and polypropylene containers, laminates, 3-barrier protected coextruded materials, food containers, and a variety of bags. “We produce 350 tons per month as a result of our investment in state-of-the-art machinery,” says the company’s manager. Bomplastic has a strategic position in Brazil, as it is located on the border between the states of Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo. Furthermore, the company is a few kilometers from the border with the state of Minas Gerais.

The Comexi F2 MB press is an advanced machine designed to satisfy the print needs of medium runs in the flexible packaging sector of the retail and wholesale channel. This flexographic press shares the patented FLEXOEfficiency concepts of ergonomics and accessibility, as well as the level of performance and robustness with the rest of the Comexi F2 range. This is all integrated with a simplified drying system design. Without a doubt, the Comexi F2 MB is a highly productive and performing machine.

• Graphene nanotubes ensure compliance with international ESD safety standards for personal protective equipment at automotive, electronics, and ATEX facilities.
• Nanotubes outperform competing anti-static solutions in all elements of uninterrupted grounding chain of industrial wear, including gloves, clothing, and footwear.
• Ultra-low dosage of nanotubes provides stable anti-static properties and makes it possible to maintain standard material processing and final product color flexibility.

Automotive, electronics manufacturing, oil and gas, chemical, medical, even flour-milling facilities—all require the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) with anti-static properties. Beyond protection of workers from ignition risk, the use of anti-static clothing prevents the failure of static-sensitive devices that can lead to large financial losses. Further growth of the PPE market is driven by new safety regulations aimed at keeping pace with the increasing automation of industrial facilities.

Graphene nanotubes, applied as an advanced conductive material, are being rapidly adopted by the growing PPE market. The world’s largest graphene nanotube manufacturer OCSiAl has developed a multitude of solutions for protective wear applications, from safety suits shielding the body from extreme temperatures and flames to anti-static shoes and clean room gloves.

Thanks to their high strength, electrical conductivity, and flexibility, the working dosage of graphene nanotubes is 10-40 times lower than that of other solutions. A content of just 0.05-0.06% graphene nanotubes makes it possible to produce anti-static latex gloves with electrical resistance of 10^7 Ω. In contrast to ammonium salts, which are easily evaporated, nanotubes grant permanent and humidity-independent resistance in full compliance with the new European standard EN 16350:2014 and ATEX regulations. The anti-static properties of these gloves also allow for smooth operation of touchscreens without the gloves having to be removed to ensure worker and product protection.

Besides all types of latexes, graphene nanotubes are being applied in the silicone, fluoroelastomer, and PVC plastisol-based textile coatings used for workers’ ESD protection against aggressive fuels, chemicals, hot temperatures, and sparks to ensure they match the global standards for protective wear. One remarkable example is fireproof and anti-static clothing designed for protection against sparks, splashes of molten metal, high temperatures, and risk of sudden electrostatic discharge. In this application, anti-static metal yarn has been replaced with graphene nanotubes, giving anti-static properties to the fabrics at the fluoroorganic treatment stage. Nanotube technology has proven effective after 15 washes, demonstrating uniform anti-static protection throughout the product, with electrical resistance of 10^7 Ω.

To ensure proper grounding, polyurethane elastomer with graphene nanotubes is used in the outsole and midsole of footwear, enabling anti-static shoes to be used in various static-sensitive facilities in the chemistry, oil and gas, electronics, and mining industries.

The use of graphene nanotubes grants a unique combination of permanent anti-static properties with original production processing and color saturation of the product—a combination that is difficult to achieve with other conductive solutions. A tiny dosage of nanotubes facilitates the creation of safer, longer lasting, colorful clothing and contributes to the global sustainable consumption approach thanks to the use of less raw materials to obtain better performing products.

Learn more on graphene nanotubes at tuball.com.

Covestro pioneers the supply of renewable TDI

• For more sustainable mattresses, upholstered furniture, shoes and automotive seats
• Significant reduction of CO2 emissions from cradle-to-gate2
• Rapidly implementable solution with consistently high quality

Covestro is again expanding its range of more circular raw materials and now offers customers in various regions renewable toluene diisocyanate (TDI) which provides a significant reduction of the CO2 footprint from cradle to factory gate2 – with the same high quality as fossil-based products. TDI is an important raw material for flexible polyurethane foam, and provides a high level of comfort in mattresses and upholstered furniture, but also in car seats and shoes. Covestro manufactures the renewable TDI both in Dormagen, Germany, and in Caojing, China, using the mass balance method. Both sites are certified according to the ISCC PLUS standard.

For Covestro, offering renewable TDI via mass balance is only a logical next step of making this important chemical raw material even more sustainable, as Dr. Klaus Schäfer, Chief Technology Officer of Covestro, explains: “Already years ago, our unique gas phase technology was a milestone towards more energy efficiency in the production of TDI. After that we committed ourselves to ensure a further reduction in emissions from our production by switching to green electricity. This additional improvement now makes it clear how consistently we are pursuing our path to climate-neutral production3 and the circular economy: By using mass-balanced renewable raw materials, we are now also striving to significantly reduce our indirect emissions in the supply chain and to offer products with a reduced carbon footprint.”

“With our shift to mass-balanced products, we are helping customers in various industries achieve their climate targets and drive the transition to a circular economy,” says Sucheta Govil, Chief Commercial Officer of Covestro. “At the same time, we are strengthening the use of alternative raw materials and reducing CO2 emissions along various value chains.” Customers can use this TDI as a drop-in solution, meaning it can be implemented rapidly and easily in existing production processes without the need for technical modification.

Flexible PU foams made with TDI and long-chain polyols are important materials in the manufacture of seat cushions and mattresses. Renewable TDI meets demands for more sustainable production while ensuring the good quality, optimal comfort and high breathability known from fossil-based TDI. It also meets the expectations of the automotive industry, which is looking for alternative raw materials for car seat cushions with a lower carbon footprint.

Sinomax as pioneer for more sustainability

Only late last year, Covestro signed its first commercial supply contract with Sinomax, a global manufacturer and distributor of polyurethane comfort products based in China. Both companies share a clear commitment toward the circular economy, and Sinomax wants to be the first customer to use the new TDI to reduce its CO2 emissions. The mass-balanced TDI required for this is supplied by the ISCC PLUS-certified Shanghai site of Covestro. Thanks to its global presence, the company can also supply larger amounts of mass-balanced TDI.

In this mass balance approach, raw materials derived from biomass or waste are fed in at an early stage of raw material extraction and mathematically attributed to the finished products. This saves fossil raw materials and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, while the quality of the mass-balanced products remains the same compared to purely fossil-based ones. Manufacturers can continue to use their proven formulations, equipment and processes, meanwhile gradually transforming their product portfolio towards a more sustainable one and achieving their climate targets.