Coatings World - July 2011

Rhodia and SIBUR form JV Rhodia and SIBUR have signed a letter of intent to create a joint venture in specialty surfactants. This strategic alliance would be focused on creating a leader in the CIS market where specialty surfactants are used particularly in home and personal care, and oil and gas industries, with the surfactants sector growing at more than six percent per year.

Omnova expands
manufacturing of Pliotec
acrylic coating
Omnova Solutions has expanded manu-
facturing capability for its Pliotec water-
based acrylic coating resins to include three
locations in the U.S. The expansion is part
of the integration of Eliokem—acquired in
December 2010—into Omnova’s Perform-
ance Chemicals business unit. In
addition to existing manufactur-
ing at the former Eliokem site in
Akron, Ohio/USA, Pliotec resins
will be produced at Omnova’s facilities in
Chester, South Carolina and Fitchburg,
Massachusetts. Pliotec 7104 and Pliotec
PA05 resins will be available immediately
from the Chester facility. CW

Evonik and Taiyo Nippon Sanso
open plant for monosilane and
Aerosil

Evonik Industries and its partner Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation (TNSC) officially started up the new integrated production facility for monosilane and Aerosil in Yokkaichi, 400 kilometers south of Tokyo, Japan. Evonik has realized a future-oriented project to serve the growing photovoltaic and electronic markets. The project volume was approximately €150 million and the facility was the company’s largest single project in 2010. Evonik has a long-term agreement to supply monosilane to TNSC. Monosilane is used in the production of thin film solar cells, flat-screen displays and semiconductors for the electronics industry. Applications for Aerosil include processing into plastics, colorants and coatings.

GEO Specialty Chemicals, Inc. to acquire BASF’s bisomer monomer business GEO Specialty Chemicals, Inc. has entered into an agreement with BASF to acquire the Bisomer monomer business (hydroxy methacrylates, multifunctional methacrylates (MFM) and specialty adducts) and conventional contact lens business of Cog-nis UK. The transaction includes a manufacturing facility in Hythe, England that produces hydroxy methacrylates, multifunctional methacrylates (MFM) and specialty adducts, polyalkylene glycols (PAG) and PAG-based lubricants. As a part of the transaction, approximately 140 employees are expected to transfer to the new owner, GEO Specialty Chemicals UK Limited. Hydroxy monomers are intermediates that are primarily used in high performance automotive paints and high-gloss product lacquers, and in industrial finish applications.