First biobased coating hardener for lightfast polyurethane coatings

Wed, 17 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0200

At eMove360° Europe 2018, the international trade fair for Mobility 4.0 in Munich, ��AV was awarded one of the coveted MATERIALICA Design + Technology Awards 2018. With the world's first biobased hardener for lightfast polyurethane coatings, the company managed to prevail in the “CO₂ Efficiency” category.

For years, ��AV has been increasingly using alternative raw materials to manufacture its products, also to reduce its own dependence on fossil resources. The material manufacturer is thus meeting the growing interest in products on this basis and is presenting itself as a pioneer in terms of sustainability.

Improved ecological footprint
“Our hardener is of similar high quality to its petrochemical counterparts,” explains Hiep Tran, project manager for the biobased hardener in the Coatings, Adhesives, Specialties segment at ��AV. “With a biomass proportion of 70 percent, however, it achieves a 30 percent better ecological footprint than comparable fossil products.”

In addition, its properties are also comparable, enabling processors to use formulated coatings on their systems with minimal adaptation costs. Coatings based on Desmodur^® eco N are equally suitable for automotive, plastics, wood, furniture and industrial coatings.

Promising drop-in solution
Along with alternative raw materials, industries such as the automotive industry rely above all on energy savings and the possibility of using existing processes and plants – at competitive prices for the products they use.

The polyurethane raw material Desmodur^® eco meets all these requirements: The hardener is produced from fermented feed maize and thus conserves fossil resources. Compared to conventional products, several process steps are saved during its manufacture.

First near-series car paint job
Last year, a project team consisting of employees from the vehicle manufacturer Audi, the BASF Coatings division and ��AV reached a new milestone: for the first time, Audi Q2 test bodies were successfully coated with a clear coat of the bio-based hardener. The application took place at the Ingolstadt plant under near-series conditions on existing systems. One of the vehicles was exhibited at the European Coatings Show from 4 to 6 April 2017 in Nuremberg.

Desmodur^® eco N is just the beginning: ��AV is expanding its product range to include a large number of variants with different properties – such as the recently launched water-soluble product Bayhydur^® eco, which is perfectly tailored to the requirements of high-performance waterborne coatings. At the same time, ��AV and its partners are working on the development of next-generation biobased raw materials from cellulose and waste biomass.

Renowned award
The MATERIALICA Design + Technology Award is presented to products and concepts that meet demanding criteria such as intelligent material selection, competent engineering, a high degree of innovation and convincing design. The prize has been awarded since 2003 and addresses designers and engineers alike. eMove360° Europe 2018 is one of the world's leading technology trade fairs for sustainable mobility solutions.

About ��AV:
With 2017 sales of EUR 14.1 billion, ��AV is among the world’s largest polymer companies. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, construction, wood processing and furniture, and electrical and electronics industries. Other sectors include sports and leisure, cosmetics, health and the chemical industry itself. ��AV has 30 production sites worldwide and employs approximately 16,200 people (calculated as full-time equivalents) at the end of 2017.

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Forward-looking statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by ��AV. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in ��AV’s public reports which are available at www.covestro.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

First automotive refinish coating with bio-based hardener

Fri, 22 Sep 2017 00:00:00 +0200

Electric mobility and photovoltaics play a vital role in protecting the climate and conserving fossil resources. Combining them leads to even more innovative and sustainable mobility concepts. To show that these kinds of solutions are already feasible using state-of-the-art materials and technologies, a team of around 45 young researchers has developed a solar-powered electric car. Calling themselves “Team Sonnenwagen,” the students from RWTH Aachen University and Aachen University of Applied Sciences intend to enter their vehicle in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge 2017 in Australia, probably the toughest race in the world for solar cars.

��AV is supporting the Sonnenwagen project with materials and technical service and as a gold sponsor. The company wants to use the project to test coatings under the harsh climate conditions prevailing along the race’s route. Temperatures in the Australian desert can soar to as much as 45 degrees Celsius in October, with intense UV radiation. This time of year also typically sees a high particle concentration in the air.

Road test: automotive coating with sustainable raw material
The most important product application is a three-layer polyurethane coating from PPG, world leaders in paints, coatings and specialty materials, and experts in automotive coatings. The coating system is particularly suited to coating body parts made of carbon fiber composites. Climate conditions have a significant impact on the top clearcoat. The Sonnenwagen uses an innovative automotive refinish coating that contains ��AV’s bio-based hardener Desmodur® eco N 7300. “Some 70 percent of its carbon content comes from biomass,” explains Ulf Wentzien, global head of Industrial Marketing in the Coatings, Adhesives, Specialties Business Unit at ��AV. “This reduces the environmental footprint by around 30 percent.”

“The bio-based hardener achieved the highest sustainability standards and meets both our customers’ and our own requirements,” says Ignasi Roig, EMEA Product Platform Manager at PPG Refinish. “The coating is to the same outstanding quality as a polyurethane clearcoat with a conventionally produced hardener.”

Easy processing
The two-component coating is also impressive on the practical side. In PPG’s training center in Hilden, it was applied to the Sonnenwagen's bodywork parts under similar conditions to an automotive paint shop. The application can be viewed in a video, see . The coating is particularly suitable for the temperature-sensitive surface of the solar-powered car as it hardens at low temperatures.

��AV and PPG have been working together in the field of coatings development for many years now. Both partners are using the Sonnenwagen project to demonstrate the role coatings can play in sustainable mobility.

Tough test for solar cars
The World Solar Challenge is considered to be the toughest race on Earth for solar cars and this year celebrates its 30th anniversary. From October 8 to 15, 2017, approx. 40 teams from all over the world will be competing in their “homemade” vehicles to win the 3,000 kilometer race from Darwin to Adelaide – without using one drop of fuel. The Sonnenwagen from Aachen will be the only German car going to the starting line in the Challenger Class this year.

��AV has a long-standing partnership with the RWTH Aachen University. “Through our developments and this project partnership, we are committed to future mobility and aim to show that these kinds of concepts are already feasible,” says ��AV’s Ulf Wentzien. “At the same time, we have the opportunity to inspire and support young people at universities.”

About ��AV:
With 2016 sales of EUR 11.9 billion, ��AV is among the world’s largest polymer companies. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, construction, wood processing and furniture, and electrical and electronics industries. Other sectors include sports and leisure, cosmetics, health and the chemical industry itself. ��AV has 30 production sites worldwide and employs approximately 15,600 people (calculated as full-time equivalents) at the end of 2016.

PPG: WE PROTECT AND BEAUTIFY THE WORLD™
At PPG (NYSE:PPG), we work every day to develop and deliver the paints, coatings and materials that our customers have trusted for more than 130 years. Through dedication and creativity, we solve our customers’ biggest challenges, collaborating closely to find the right path forward. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, we operate and innovate in more than 70 countries and reported net sales of $14.3 billion in 2016. We serve customers in construction, consumer products, industrial and transportation markets and aftermarkets. To learn more, visit .

We protect and beautify the world is a trademark and the PPG Logo is a registered trademark of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.

More information is available at www.covestro.com, and .

Forward-looking statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by ��AV. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in ��AV’s public reports which are available at www.covestro.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

����AV Press

First biobased coating hardener for lightfast polyurethane coatings

First automotive refinish coating with bio-based hardener

��AV Press