LEVERKUSEN, Germany (March 11, 2010)—Lanxess A.G. has said it is considering producing emulsion styrene-butadiene rubber black masterbatch in Brazil.
The company said that wet mixing during black masterbatch manufacturing leads to better dispersion of the filler particles, but did not clarify the process.
The company's sites in Triunfo and Caxias, Brazil, are under consideration for the project.
Lanxess said the move would serve to meet the growing raw material demands of the retread industry, which is strongly represented in North and South America.
Lanxess said its entire range of oil-extended ESBR grades has been offered with safe processing oils since Jan. 1. The company also said starting April 1 only metal boxes will be used for the primary packaging to offer customers better protection against contamination than is possible with wood or cardboard.