Arkema presents its product range for Nanomaterials

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Naomi Richards
5 years ago
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Arkema presents its product range for Nanomaterials Graphistrength carbon

polymerization technology A global chemical player and acknowledged leader in

developments with three product groups: carbon nanotubes trademarked as

exclusive controlled radical polymerization technology BlocBuilder.

Nanostrength Arkema microscope image Reconstitution of an Arkema multi-walled

Development Contacts: Graphistrength : Jean-Marc Corpart Tel : + 33 (0)6 18 97

1 Arkema presents its product range for Nanomaterials Graphistrength carbon nanotubes Nanostrength acrylic block copolymers BlocBuilder controlled radical polymerization technology A global chemical player and acknowledged leader in nanostructured materials, Arkema confirms its ongoing commitment to these developments with three product groups: carbon nanotubes trademarked as Graphistrength, a range of Nanostrength acrylic block copolymers, and the exclusive controlled radical polymerization technology BlocBuilder. Arkema microscope images Microscope images of materials nanostructured with Nanostrength Arkema microscope image Reconstitution of an Arkema multi-walled carbon nanotube Surface of raw carbon nanotube grain at reactor outlet Arkema Development Contacts: Graphistrength : Jean-Marc Corpart Tel : + 33 (0) jean-marc.corpart@arkema.com Nanostrength and BlocBuilder : Daniel Lebouvier Tel :+ 33 (0) daniel.lebouvier@arkema.com

2 Arkema, a chemical manufacturer, emerges in the global race for the carbon nanotube market with Graphistrength Two years ago, Arkema inaugurated a 10 ton/year carbon nanotube pilot production plant in Lacq, France, the first stage of what was poised to become a legitimate industrial project. Meanwhile, Arkema put in place an ambitious development drive in nanomaterials within its organisation. The result of this work to date ranks Arkema as a major world player, with extensive intellectual property and efficient industrial processes. Arkema is now resolutely committed to manufacturing on an industrial scale a large number of products based on carbon nanotubes, and offers a comprehensive product range, while also being part of many research partnerships with established leaders in public laboratories, universities, converters and manufacturers around the world. Throughout its operations, Arkema makes a responsible and environmentally sound approach a priority. Development prospects in many applications Carbon nanotubes are used as additives in materials such as thermoset composites, thermoplastics and rubber. They offer remarkable opportunities in a large number of applications, due to their outstanding mechanical properties as well as their electrical and thermal conductivity, including existing material improvement to creating new materials for the aerospace, sports and automotive sectors. Studies into new fields are ongoing; in particular the energy sector with the development of more efficient energy storage systems, such as supercapacitors, fuel cells, and lithium ion batteries. Arkema s carbon nanotubes, an ever growing product range Arkema is developing multi-walled carbon nanotubes of a high and consistent quality under the trademark Graphistrength. Thanks to their excellent inherent properties, Graphistrength products can be used successfully in very small quantities and still impart outstanding characteristics in terms of mechanical properties and electrical conductivity. For the last two years, Arkema has continually enhanced its carbon nanotube range to fulfill the requirements and demands of its customers and research partners. In addition to powder carbon nanotube grades, the Graphistrength product range now includes the following new formulated masterbatches: Graphistrength C100 and U100: high purity (> 90 and > 97% respectively) powder multi-walled carbon nanotubes for a wide range of applications in thermoplastics, thermoset composites, elastomers, coatings, and electrode materials for batteries. Masterbatches formulated from carbon nanotubes dispersed in thermoplastic or thermoset matrices. These new products from the Graphistrength range afford optimum dispersion of the carbon nanotubes and a particularly safe application form for users. Several grades are now available on the market, with the range constantly growing. A strategic partnership with Zyvex Performance Materials in thermoset composites Zyvex Performance Materials has developed the Kentera technology in its laboratories to optimize the action of carbon nanotubes when they are added into composite materials, with spectacular results in terms of superior mechanical properties.

3 Arkema and Zyvex Performance Materials have been working together for a number of years in this application area: products incorporating Graphistrength carbon nanotubes based on the Kentera technology are already being developed for the American market by Zyvex Performance Materials under the brand Epovex. Arkema and Zyvex Performance Materials are currently strengthening their partnership further with a view to distributing this type of products around the world within a few months from now. Graphistrength : Jean-Marc Corpart Tel : + 33 (0) jean-marc.corpart@arkema.com

4 Nanostrength, a unique acrylic block copolymer offering In the nanotechnology age, changing matter at the nanometer scale offers some very interesting property trade-offs. However, until now, these new nanotechnologies have yielded very few industrial achievements, with the main obstacle being the difficulty in fabricating matter down to this scale using available industrial techniques. Therefore, for many years, composite materials were not able to benefit from nanotechnologies. To fulfill this need, Arkema has developed a solution consisting of acrylic block copolymers marketed as Nanostrength. Today, Arkema is the world s first chemicals producer to market such a product range and its main innovation entails an acrylic block that is miscible with multiple polymers, including most industrial epoxy resins. Two classes of Nanostrength are currently available: - MMA copolymers: with poly(methylmethacrylate) endblocks and a poly(butylacrylate) central block - SBM copolymers: with polystyrene, -polybutadiene and polymethylmethacrylate Block copolymers are made up of two or more chemically distinct segments, which inherently selfassemble at the molecular scale. Nanostructuration is due to the covalent linkage between the two dissimilar blocks, which typically have a strong repulsion for each other. The thermodynamic driving force behind this organization leads to highly reproducible and accurate ordering. Block copolymers can be readily blended with (and nanostructured within) homopolymers as long as one block segment is miscible with the homopolymer. Nanostrength imparts the following properties to the polymers they are added to: - superior mechanical strength with no loss of the matrix s inherent properties - highly reproducible nanostructuration - compatibility with and a uniform dispersion of fillers. Nanostrength have applications in wide-ranging markets, including: - adhesives, - coatings, - cutting-edge materials for the aerospace sector, sports, and car manufacture, - thermoplastic elastomers. Nanostrength : Daniel Lebouvier Tel :+ 33 (0) daniel.lebouvier@arkema.com

5 BlocBuilder controlled radical polymerization technology: an exclusive Arkema technology offering Arkema developed and is promoting a unique technology based on controlled radical polymerization using nitroxides. This technology, trademarked as BlocBuilder, is used to produce copolymers with controlled architectures using standard industrial equipment. BlocBuilder technology consists of an initiating species and a nitroxide polymerization controller combined into one molecule. When copolymerizing two or more monomers with traditional radical initiators, the resultant polymers have a random structure and the properties are an average of the monomers used. BlocBuilder provides a straightforward and robust method to produce novel block copolymers from two or more monomers (the composition of each polymer segment is controlled) and this controlled material preserves the inherent properties of each polymer segment combining them into one composite material. BlocBuilder technology offers many other advantages including, process flexibility (bulk, solvent, and aqueous), broad selection of monomer types (styrenic, acrylic, methacrylic, functional, etc.), and the absence of metallic and sulfur by-products. BlocBuilder controlled radical polymerization technology enables the design of compounds with very different architectures and compositions, including block copolymers, functionalized copolymers, gradient copolymers, hybrid organic/inorganic systems, star polymers, polymer brushes, and many others. The potential uses of BlocBuilder are varied and can include: modification of thermoplastic and thermoset polymers (impact strength, improvement of optical qualities), dispersants for paint and ink, latex for paint, adhesives, encapsulation and controlled release of active compounds, oil and lubricant additives, dispersion stabilizers, modification of surface properties and many others. The US magazine Nanotech Briefs recently announced BlocBuilder as a winner of the third annual Nano 50 awards, which recognizes the top 50 technologies and product innovations that are expected to impact significantly the state of the art in nanotechnology, by helping them move into key mainstream markets. A global chemical player, Arkema consists of 3 coherent and related business segments: Vinyl Products, Industrial Chemicals, and Performance Products. Present in over 40 countries with 17,000 employees, Arkema achieves sales of 5.7 billion euros. With its 6 research centers in France, the United States and Japan, and internationally recognized brands, Arkema holds leadership positions in its principal markets. BlocBuilder : Daniel Lebouvier Tel :+ 33 (0) daniel.lebouvier@arkema.com

Arkema will exhibit at the JEC Composites 2007 Show, in Paris (France), from April 3rd to 5th 2007.

Arkema at JEC Composites 2007 Show Hall 1 Stand M22 Paris, April 3 rd to 5 th, 2007 Arkema will exhibit at the JEC Composites 2007 Show, in Paris (France), from April 3rd to 5th 2007. Arkema today is the