The latest development from leading specialty chemicals company Perstorp, is the Oxymer® range for high performance polyurethanes. The new range of polycarbonate diols is set for launch at the European Coatings Show 2007 in mid-May and will enable formulators to secure excellent UV and chemical resistance, hydrolytic stability and outdoor weatherability of polyurethane dispersion (PUD) coatings and elastomers.
Large-scale production of Perstorp’s new Oxymer® polycarbonate diols has now begun and the first two products to be rolled out, Oxymer® M112 for hard surface coatings and Oxymer® M56 for leather coatings and elastomers, are now available worldwide. The Oxymer® range is the result of the company’s largest development project in recent years and is an extension of their already substantial contribution to polyurethanes formulators. Oxymer® takes this contribution one step further with a new range of high quality products from Perstorp. These competitively priced polycarbonate diols aim to help formulators achieve outstanding outdoor durability and chemical resistance in end products.
“Polycarbonate diols represent a winning technology that is growing very quickly and taking market shares from other macrodiols,” explains Håkan Björnberg, Perstorp Business Development Director. “The polyurethane dispersions market especially is expected to benefit from our new Oxymer® products.”
The carbonate linkage of polycarbonate macrodiols gives them several attractive properties such as resistance to UV and chemical damage as well as protection from hydrolysis and fungi. Formulators will value these properties that enhance PUD coatings and keep high performing end products like leather car interiors and hardwood floors from yellowing and wearing, even when exposed to direct sunlight and other harsh conditions.
Polyurethane formulators often face a dilemma when balancing demands on performance and properties of various end products. For elasticity and hydrolytic stability, formulators often rely on polyether polyols, while chemical resistance and outdoor durability require the use of polyester polyols. These polyester polyols, however, inhibit the elasticity and hydrolytic stability of the formulation, creating a troublesome no-win situation. The solution to securing all of those valuable properties at once is found in the polycarbonate polyols of Perstorp’s new Oxymer® range.
Polycarbonate polyols are also used in polyurethane elastomers or thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), to improve the durability and resilience of elastomers and sealants in high performance machinery and car engines.
“We expect to have a competitive advantage in the market since the Oxymer® range is produced based on our own polyols,” Björnberg adds. “This means we can guarantee secure availability, ensure the highest product quality and use our polyol expertise to tailor precise performance properties.”
The launch coincides with the company’s participation in the prestigious European Coatings Show 2007 held in Nuremberg, Germany in mid-May. The Oxymer® technology will also be presented at the Nuremberg Congress, Europe’s largest coatings conference, held in conjunction with the exhibition.
“We intend to develop the Oxymer® range with new products based on market response,” Björnberg confirms. “Our customers have been very positive to the Oxymer® range since the early stages of our development process and we believe that the Oxymer® products show great potential for success in this market.”