VANCOUVER, Wash.—Emerald Kalama Chemical introduced two new proprietary innovations in its Vitroflex plasticizers range, launched last year: Kalama Vitroflex A90 and A99.
The new products are used in the polymer side of two-part polysulphide sealants, providing formulators with high performance, environmentally friendly alternatives to existing technology, Emerald said in a release.
With polysulphides, current solutions have a number of pain points for manufacturers, including performance, regulatory status and long supply chain, said Scott Neuheardt, vice president and general manager for Emerald's industrial specialties business. The new Vitroflex line is a part of a company initiative to minimize or eliminate those issues.
Vitroflex A90 and A99 have been optimized for processing characteristics, pot life, development of mechanical properties and adhesion, Emerald said. They also exhibit low volatility. The properties ensure proper bonding and maintenance of the seal, as well as low fogging in insulated glass, the largest application for polysulphide sealants. They also are used in applications such as construction joints and sealants, transportation fuel tanks and secondary spill containment.
Emerald said Vitroflex A90 and A99 are complementary technologies to the company's Vitroflex B polymeric plasticizer, introduced in 2017 as a solution for the catalyst side of polysulphide sealants. Vitroflex A90 is the fundamental offering for the polymer side of polysulphides, while Vitroflex A99 maximizes purity to meet higher performance requirements of specialty applications.
Together, they represent a complete package option for both sides of polysulphide sealants, said Julie Vaughn, global business development director for Emerald's industrial specialties business. They offer formulators the ability to replace chemistries that are being reduced in use by regulatory and consumer pressure: benzyl phthalates and some chlorinated paraffins.
The plasticizers are REACH-compliant, produced in Europe and enable polysulphide formulators to replace plasticizers under scrutiny or regulatory restriction, said Emerald. That includes chlorinated paraffins, which have been classified as probable human carcinogens in the case of short-chain lengths.
Emerald, a business group of Emerald Performance Materials L.L.C. and headquartered in Vancouver, is a producer of benzoic acid, benzaldehyde and related chemistries, as well as a producer of antioxidants and accelerators. It has manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and Europe and a global sales and distribution network. It manufactures aroma chemicals, plasticizers, antimicrobials, synthesis intermediates, antioxidants and rubber accelerators.
For information on Vitroflex A90 and A99, visit emeraldkalama.com or contact Emerald Kalama Chemical Customer Service at 800-223-0035 or 1-360-954-7100 and by email at [email protected].
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