Arkema, Barrday form composites JV for oil and gas market

COLOMBES, France—Advanced materials and composites supplier Barrday Corp. and French specialty chemicals company Arkema S.A. have formed a joint venture to manufacture and market carbon fiber and specialty polymer tapes for the oil and gas industrial market.

The new JV will be named Barrflex T.U. and will supply efficient thermoplastic composite solutions to players within the oil and gas industrial markets, Arkema said Sept. 21.

The corrosion-resistant tapes are geared toward suitable use in metal-replacement applications, because they deliver a substantial reduction in weight, the companies said. Potential uses include flexible pipes in deep offshore as well as onshore operations.

The two companies will combine Barrday's experience in thermoplastic composites and Colombes-based Arkema's range of specialty polymers and resins—such as PVDF, nylon 11 and 12, PEKK—to introduce a new "comprehensive and integrated range of solutions."

"This partnership with Arkema provides us with access to a unique and wide range of proven polymer solutions for this sector," said Michael Buckstein, chief executive officer of the Charlotte, N.C.-based Barrday Inc.

Particularly, Arkema's fluoropolymer Kynar PVDF, specialty polymer Rilsan PA11 and Kepstan PEKK resins, were of interest to Barrday.

Also commenting, Christophe Andre, executive vice-president advanced materials, Arkema, said the two companies' capabilities and expertise were "highly complementary."

"This new integrated offering will deliver high added value to our pipe manufacturing customers as well as the major oil groups," he added.