ECS 2011: WACKER Presents Novel Polymer Dispersions and Alpha-Silanes for Ecologically Sound Adhesives and Sealants

Munich, March 29, 2011 – At the European Coatings Show (ECS) 2011, WACKER will unveil two innovations for the adhesives and sealants industry: its VINNAPAS® EAF 68 polymer dispersion and GENIOSIL® N organofunctional silanes. VINNAPAS® EAF 68 stands for a new generation of all-round, high-performance binders for floor coverings that are difficult to bond, such as linoleum and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). These binders are manufactured without the use of alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEO). GENIOSIL® hybrid technology is used to produce fast-curing, one-component adhesives and sealants, with applications ranging from highly flexible, paintable sealants through to high-strength assembly adhesives. WACKER will also showcase innovative dispersions for wood glues and paper and packaging adhesives, as well as pyrogenic silica for use in wind-turbine adhesives.

For the adhesives and sealants sector, WACKER will premiere its VINNAPAS® EAF 68, an aqueous dispersion based on the monomers vinyl acetate, ethylene and acrylate. There were two fundamental reasons for this new development. On one hand, the market is looking increasingly for flooring adhesives with a minimum of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). On the other, the use of alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEO) in the manufacture of adhesives is increasingly being restricted.

The challenge was to eliminate APEO-containing substances while matching or even exceeding the quality and performance characteristics of existing binders – such as VINNAPAS® EAF 60, which has been a standard in dispersions for flooring adhesives for 30 years.
WACKER’s solution was to develop VINNAPAS® EAF 68. This new dispersion features excellent technical properties, such as high cohesion, good heat resistance, and excellent transfer to various floor-covering backings. At the same time, it improves the dimensional stability of bonded flexible floor coverings. The new dispersion also exhibits good adhesion to various substrates, a good open time and an excellent price/performance ratio compared to alternative technologies, such as acrylates.

The new dispersion VINNAPAS® EAF 68 thus makes an ideal all-round product for floor coverings, ranging from those that are difficult to bond, such as linoleum and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), right through to easy-to-lay carpeting. Due to its fine balance of adhesion and cohesion, the product also acts as an adhesion promoter, so that it can be added to VINNAPAS® VAE-based adhesives for paper and packaging applications.

GENIOSIL® STP-E – Hybrid Adhesives with Turbo Power
The future belongs to adhesives offering the combination of strength and elasticity needed for a broad range of challenging applications. WACKER has developed its innovative GENIOSIL® STP-E techno-logy especially for this class of adhesives. They are based on alpha-silanes that exhibit extremely high reactivity. This can be exploited to produce completely novel, fast-curing, one-component adhesives and sealants. The ?-effect even permits the formulation of tin-free systems – representing a technological leap in user safety. Adhesives formulated with GENIOSIL® STP-E possess outstanding mechanical properties. They do not require labeling, formulations being free of plasticizers and solvents. GENIOSIL® STP-E is used in numerous sophisticated adhesive formulations, e.g. in the automotive sector, in container construction and for bonding parquet floors.
WACKER also uses GENIOSIL® STP-E prepolymers for the formulation of a new range of adhesives and sealants called GENIOSIL® N. The product line includes a large selection of ready-formulated products. These range from highly elastic sealants (GENIOSIL® N25 and GENIOSIL® N35) to the mirror adhesive GENIOSIL® N45, to the high-strength, plasticizer-free adhesive GENIOSIL® N70. WACKER’s crystal-clear sealant GENIOSIL® N35C is indispensible for interior applications such as furniture and cabinet construction, especially when the adhesive joint shouldn’t be visible.

Further Highlights for the Adhesives and Sealants Sector:
VINNAPAS® EP 441 for Nozzle-Applicable Adhesives
WACKER has developed VINNAPAS® EP 441 specifically for the needs of the paper and packaging industry. The vinyl acetate/ethylene-based dispersion is a versatile binder featuring a good balance between adhesion and cohesion, good cleanability, high setting speed and good machine processability. The dispersion’s major strength, however, is its excellent suitability for nozzle application. At the same time, it shows good machine running properties for roller application. VINNAPAS® EP 441 thus speeds up production processes, increasing paper-processing productivity and reducing daily operating expenses.
Cost-Competitive, Environmentally Compatible Packaging Adhesives VINNAPAS® XD 05 is a VAE copolymer dispersion developed specifically for the needs of the paper and packaging industry. The product is a cost-competitive and also sustainable alternative to existing packaging adhesives based on polyvinyl acetate (PVAc). Its VAE basis enables adhesives to be formulated with a significantly reduced amount of supplementary additives, such as plasticizers. The product also sets fast and is well suited to machine processing. VINNAPAS® XD 05 is thus ideal for formulating packaging adhesives which have an extremely low migration potential and are therefore especially suitable for food applications.

VINNAPAS® DPX 271 for Exceptional Wood Glue
With its VINNAPAS® DPX product line, WACKER has developed a technology for wood glues that are highly water-resistant. The patented VINNAPAS® DPX 271 dispersion features D3 water resistance yet requires no reactive co-monomer. In consequence, sensitive woods do not discolor. The dispersion tolerates the addition of large quantities of filler, such as calcium carbonate, without impairment of its water resistance. It also boasts enhanced heat resistance and is highly cost-effective. Since it requires no reactive co-monomers or external crosslinkers and has a low formaldehyde content (below 5 ppm), VINNAPAS® DPX 271 also meets the latest environmental and safety standards and is thus in keeping with WACKER’s commitment to the Responsible Care® initiative.
HDK® – Specialist for Perfect Flow Properties

HDK® pyrogenic silica from WACKER has the important task of controlling the rheology during the manufacture of adhesives and sealants. The thixotropic effect of HDK® makes systems stable during storage and application, and easy to handle. HDK® confers stable viscosities on end products as well as high sag resistance and prevents separation effects and the settling out of fillers. These qualities make pyrogenic silica from WACKER a useful component, for example, in the production of modern wind turbines: HDK® is added to control the rheology of the widely employed epoxy or vinyl-ester adhesives. All in all, WACKER offers a versatile, application-specific product portfolio of hydrophilic and hydrophobic pyrogenic silicas for a broad range of adhesives and sealants formulations.

Visit WACKER at the European Coatings Show 2011 in Hall 9, Booth 417.