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16 Apr 2008  - 

New emulsion polymer for direct rovings

Paris, France, 2 April 2008 – Celanese Emulsion Polymers exhibited its broad range of leading edge products at the JEC Composites show in Paris during April  1, 2 and 3, 2008. A leader in delivering performance solutions to the glass fiber industry for decades, Celanese’s portfolio of polymer emulsions and starches optimize performance and improve handling for glass fiber sizing, in the production of chopped strand mats (CSM) and in secondary binder applications. Celanese also highlighted new technology that will lower costs and improve performance for direct rovings – Vinamul® 8868.

According to Paolo Bavaj, global marketing manager for Glass Fiber, the keys to Celanese’s ability to deliver performance to the glass fiber industry are its extensive technology portfolio and the company’s experience in putting that technology to work in a broad range of applications. “For more than 40 years, Celanese products have been at the heart of the glass fiber industry’s impressive growth around the world. More than ever, Celanese is focused on the future of the global glass fiber industry,” he said. Bavaj enumerated the many investments by the business including its new manufacturing plant in Nanjing, China, new R&D facilities in Frankfurt, Germany and new technical service centers in Shanghai, China, Frankfurt, Germany and Houston, Texas. “With our continued investments in technology, manufacturing and application expertise, Celanese Emulsions is ready to help our regional and global customers in all the major regions of the world,” he said.

Support at every stage of production
Celanese products are improving quality and performance in a range of critical glass fiber manufacturing operations. Our synthetic polymer emulsions and natural polymers assist customers in improving the handling of fibers during processing and optimize how they perform as part of the composite. Many of Celanese Emulsions’ products have been specified in leading producers of glass fiber and yarn sizing recipes for decades. In support of CSM production, the business has expertise in the relationship between the polymer and the plasticizer as well as understanding the effects of various emulsion polymer characteristics (particle size, Tg, etc.) on CSM and process related properties including LOI, tensile strength and moldability. In the area of secondary binder polymers, Celanese offers both stiff and cross-linked binders for hard touch applications as well as soft VAE and acrylic binders for soft handle applications. Applications include wall covering, scrims and tissues/veils.

New Options for Direct Roving Sizing
Celanese highlighted Vinamul 8868, a vinyl acetate emulsion for direct roving sizing applications. This functionalized polymer dispersion technology is highly compatible with epoxy resins and dispersions and can be added up to 50 - 70% to these systems in well established sizing formulations. Vinamul 8868 has a fine particle size and is highly compatible with sizing additives, like organosilanes and lubricants.

According to Bavaj, Vinamul 8868 offers both performance and value in single-end roving applications, like filament winding. "Mechanical tests on glass fiber reinforced epoxy resin laminates have indicated excellent performance in both tension and elongation values. Outstanding mechanical properties are measured when Vinamul 8868 is included in epoxy and polyester matrices," Bavaj said. "All of this performance comes at a good value. Vinamul 8868 will lower the system costs for manufacturing direct rovings while retaining very good performance," he added.

According to Bavaj, the kind of technology represented by Vinamul 8868 is indicative of the continuing effort on behalf of the company for the glass fiber industry. “At Celanese Emulsion Polymers, our R&D center in Frankfurt and our regional technical service centers are constantly at work developing our technologies for new and emerging applications as well as supporting our customers and the issues they are facing today,” he said. “When combined, our technology portfolio and our industry-leading experience allow us to deliver the cutting edge of performance that helps our customers compete in a global marketplace today and offers them a source for product innovation in the future,” he added. 

About Celanese 
Celanese Corporation is a global leader in the chemicals industry . Its products, found in consumer and industrial applications, are manufactured in North America, Europe and Asia. Net sales totaled $6.4 billion in 2007, with approximately 70% generated outside of North America. Based in Dallas, Texas, the company employs approximately 8,400 employees worldwide. 

About the Emulsion Polymers Business of Celanese
The Emulsion Polymers business of Celanese is a global leader in developing products and application technology to improve performance, create value and drive innovation in a broad range of industrial and consumer end-use applications including adhesives, coatings, engineered fabrics, glass fibers, paper, textiles and more. The business has manufacturing facilities worldwide and is supported by expert technical service regionally. 

Source : Celanese