Functional Additives

Overview  |  Recent Advances

Recent Advances

We recently developed technologies to deposit multilayer, infrared reflecting and metal oxide films onto flat glass by CVD. These films bring improved optical properties to window glass, reflecting the mid infrared wavelengths to keep heat in a building during winter and reflecting the near infrared to keep heat outside in summer, while still providing high visible transmission. Our R&D team is assisting in the commercialization of this technology at glass manufacturers around the world.

We are using similar CVD technology to develop lower cost transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) for use in photovoltaic cells and as an electrode in the development of OLED lighting devices. Coated glass produced with our CVD coatings is now being sold for the production of solar cells in Asia. We are commercializing new coating technologies that improve the appearance of refillable glass bottles. The coating eliminates the scuff marks that limit the number of times a bottle can be refilled. Our technology allows bottlers to double the life of a refillable glass bottle.

Working with our French research team, we have developed a family of lower cost, proprietary impact modifiers for use in PVC for siding and window profiles. These new modifiers are being commercialized and provide improved cost-performance benefits to producers of PVC building products. We are also developing new, high efficiency modifiers for these applications.

In addition, we are developing new acrylic process aids that improve the properties of foamed PVC. Foamed PVC is being used in building products as a replacement for wood, where it brings lower cost and low maintenance requirements. Our process aids provide improved density and cell structure in the PVC foams.

We have a significant effort in developing additives for biopolymers, with an emphasis on polylactic acid (PLA). We have commercialized new impact modifiers for clear PLA for use in packaging applications and we are developing high performance impact modifiers for opaque PLA for use in durable applications. We are also commercializing proprietary process aids that improve the melt strength of PLA to be more easily processed into films.

Working with our French research team, we also developed a number of proprietary organic peroxide products for use in crosslinking the EVA encapsulants used to seal photovoltaic cells. These crosslinking formulations provide improved product quality and increased production rates. These are now being commercialized globally. We are commercializing organic peroxides for the crosslinking of rotational molded polyethylene; the crosslinking allows producers to reduce the amount of polyethylene while maintaining the required physical properties.

We are using Arkema’s proprietary radical control technology to improve radical cured thermoset materials. The ability to control the reactivity of carbon radicals produced from our organic peroxides leads to significant improvements in the strength of these composites. The composites can be used in wind turbine blades, as well as infrastructure and anti-corrosion applications.

New forms of benzoyl peroxide are being produced for use in acne medication, cheese and whey bleaching. These pastes of micronsized benzoyl peroxide are easily incorporated into acne treatment creams and dissolved in food bleaching operations. The small particle size brings increased efficacy in these applications.

We have commercialized a proprietary, tetrafunctional organic peroxide initiator that is especially suited for styrene polymerization. This initiator enables the production of higher molecular weight grades with increased output. A unique aspect of multifunctional initiators is its ability to serve as a source of long-chain branching in the polymer for improved melt strength. Different polystyrene grades can benefit from the improved physical properties created with this initiator.