AKRON, Ohio—Shin-Etsu Chemical Co. Ltd. has developed a new technology that drastically lowers the amount of platinum used in silicone release coatings.
The new Reduced-Platinum Reaction Curing System Technology lowers platinum usage by about half compared to conventional technology, the company said.
Silicone release coatings generally use a platinum-based curing catalyst, the company explained. But its cost and the depletion of its limited resources caused Shin-Etsu to seek a new approach.
"The advanced system is achieved by implementing a silicone composition that exhibits high reactivity," the company said in a statement. "Shin-Etsu Chemical, and its U.S. subsidiary Shin-Etsu Silicones of America, Inc. (SESA), is proceeding with commercialization by integrating this technology into silicone release coatings.
"Silicone release coatings add peelability (releasability) to adhesive agents by coating such backing materials as paper and film. These applications include coated release paper for stickers, labels and adhesive tapes. Additionally, they work for release films and manufacturing process release liners," the company said.
Shin-Etsu Chemical is based in Tokyo and its U.S. business is headquartered in Akron.
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